2015 NFL Draft: Waynes Selected By Minnesota In First Round

2015 NFL Draft: Waynes Selected By Minnesota In First Round 2014 first-team All-Big Ten and second-team All-American becomes Michigan State’s 35th

2015 NFL Draft: Waynes Selected By Minnesota In First Round

2014 first-team All-Big Ten and second-team All-American becomes Michigan State’s 35th first-round selection, including its second-straight cornerback.

CHICAGO – Michigan State junior cornerback Trae Waynes, a first-team All-Big Ten and second-team All-America selection in 2014, has been selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round (No. 11 overall) of the 2015 National Football League Draft on Thursday, April 30. Waynes, who announced his decision to forgo his senior season on Jan. 4, becomes MSU’s 35th first-round selection, including its second-straight cornerback, joining Darqueze Dennard, who was the No. 24 pick by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2014.

Michigan State becomes just the sixth school to have cornerbacks selected in the first round of the NFL Draft in consecutive years, joining Alabama (2012-13), LSU (2011-12), Miami-Florida (2005-06), Ohio State (1999-2001) and Notre Dame (1993-94). It marks the first time the Spartans have produced first-round selections in back-to-back NFL Drafts since 2002-03 (2002: running back T.J. Duckett, No. 18 overall by Atlanta; 2003: wide receiver Charles Rogers, No. 2 overall by Detroit). Waynes is the highest drafted Spartan in the head coach Mark Dantonio era.

The 6-foot-1, 182-pound Waynes started 27 consecutive games but elected to forgo his senior season and enter the 2015 NFL. As a two-year starter, he helped the Spartans to a combined record of 24-3, including back-to-back bowl victories over No. 5 Stanford (24-20) in the 2014 Rose Bowl and No. 4 Baylor (42-41) in the 2015 Cotton Bowl Classic.

Waynes ranked second on the team in interceptions (3) and pass break-ups (career-best 8) and finished sixth in tackles with 46 (34 solos, 12 assists), with two resulting in losses (9 yards) including a 4-yard sack. He helped anchor a Spartan secondary that ranked 10th (tied) in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision in interceptions (18) and 21st in passing efficiency defense (113.1 rating).

Waynes earned All-America honors from the Walter Camp Football Foundation (second team), Sporting News (second team), Athlon Sports (second team), Associated Press (third team), Phil Steele (third team), and SI.com (honorable mention). In addition, he was named one of 15 semifinalists for the Jim Thorpe Award, presented annually to the nation’s top defensive back by the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame.

The Kenosha, Wisconsin, native was selected first-team All-Big Ten by both the league’s head coaches and media, becoming MSU’s third first-team all-conference cornerback under Dantonio (Johnny Adams, 2011-12; Darqueze Dennard, 2012-13). He also was presented MSU’s Jim Adams Award as the team’s unsung hero on defense.

“Trae Waynes is a tremendous football player, with great toughness and hitting ability,” Dantonio said. “Trae is a lock-down corner, who played an important role in our success the last two years. He’s an excellent press corner, who’s often been isolated against our opponent’s top wide receiver. He has great deep-ball judgment and the ability to tackle in space. Physically, Trae has length and great make-up speed. He has a lot of experience playing in big games and high-pressure situations. There’s no question that he’ll be an outstanding corner at the next level.”

Waynes closed out his collegiate career with three solo tackles and a pass break-up in MSU’s 42-41 come-from-behind win over No. 4 Baylor in the 79th Cotton Bowl Classic.

In the regular-season finale at Penn State, Waynes recorded his third interception of the season and sixth of his career. He also broke up a pass and had four stops against the Nittany Lions.

Waynes was selected the Spartan Defensive Player of the Week after limiting Rutgers’ Leonte Carroo to one catch for 6 yards while recording three tackles. Carroo entered the game ranked second in the Big Ten, averaging 93.3 receiving yards per game.

He led the secondary with 20 production points, including four tackles and a pass break-up, in Michigan State’s 37-15 win at Maryland.

Waynes recorded five tackles and a pass break-up in MSU’s 35-11 win over Michigan Oct. 25, the Spartans’ biggest win (24 points) over the Wolverines since 1967. He helped the secondary limit Michigan to 125 yards passing.

Waynes recorded a career-best two tackles for loss (9 yards), including a 4-yard sack, in MSU’s 56-17 win at Indiana Oct. 18. He led the secondary with 20 production points at Purdue after collecting five tackles and recovering a fumble in the fourth quarter.

In the Big Ten opener against No. 19 Nebraska, Waynes tied his career high with two interceptions and also posted career bests in tackles (7) and pass break-ups (2). His second interception with 30 seconds remaining in the game sealed the 27-22 victory over the Huskers.

Waynes recorded 101 tackles, six interceptions and 13 pass break-ups in 36 career contests. He also was credited with four tackles for loss (14 yards), including 1.5 sacks (5 yards), and two fumble recoveries.

Schools with cornerbacks selected in the first round of the NFL Draft in consecutive years

Michigan State: 2014 – Darqueze Dennard, 2015 – Trae Waynes

Alabama: 2012 – Dre Kirkpatrick, 2013 – Dee Millner

LSU: 2011 – Patrick Peterson, 2012 – Morris Claiborne

Miami-Florida: 2005 – Antrel Rolle, 2006 – Kelly Jennings

Ohio State: 1999 – Antoine Winfield, 2000 – Ahmed Plummer, 2001 – Nate Clements

Notre Dame: 1993 – Tom Carter, 1994 – Jeff Burris

Spartan First Round NFL Draft Picks (35)

1936 – Sig Wagner, Detroit

1938 – John Pingel, B, Detroit

1950 – Lynn Chandnois, B, Pittsburgh

1952 – Bob Carey, E, LA Rams

1956 – Earl Morrall, QB, San Francisco

1957 – Clarence Peaks, B, Philadelphia

1958 – Dan Currie, C, Green Bay

1958 – Walt Kowalczyk, B, Philadelphia

1961 – Herb Adderley, B, Green Bay

1963 – Dave Behrman, C, Chicago

1963 – Ed Budde, T, Philadelphia

1967 – Bubba Smith (#1 overall), DE, Baltimore

1967 – Clinton Jones (#2 overall), HB, Minnesota

1967 – George Webster (#5 overall), LB, Houston

1967 – Gene Washington (#8 overall), FL, Minnesota

1973 – Billy Joe DuPree (#20 overall), TE, Dallas

1973 – Joe DeLamielluere (#26 overall), G, Buffalo

1977 – Mike Cobb (#22 overall), TE, Cincinnati

1978 – Larry Bethea (#28 overall), DE, Dallas

1984 – Carl Banks (#3 overall), LB, NY Giants

1986 – Anthony Bell (#5 overall), LB, St. Louis

1987 – Mark Ingram (#28 overall), WR, NY Giants

1988 – Lorenzo White (#22 overall), RB, Houston

1989 – Tony Mandarich (#2 overall), T, Green Bay

1989 – Andre Rison (#22 overall), WR, Indianapolis

1990 – Percy Snow (#13 overall), LB, Kansas City

1991 – Bobby Wilson (#17 overall), DT, Washington

1994 – Rob Frederickson (#22 overall), LB, LA Raiders

1999 – Dimitrius Underwood (#29 overall), DE, Minnesota

2000 – Plaxico Burress (#8 overall), WR, Pittsburgh

2000 – Julian Peterson (#16 overall), DE, San Francisco

2002 – T.J. Duckett (#18 overall), RB, Atlanta

2003 – Charles Rogers (#2 overall), WR, Detroit

2014 – Darqueze Dennard (#24 overall), CB, Cincinnati

2015 – Trae Waynes (#11 overall), CB, Minnesota