TEMPE, Ariz. – Sun Devil Football safety Damarious Randall was taken by the Green Bay Packers with the 30th overall selection in the 2015 National Football League draft.
Randall is the 24th Sun Devil to be drafted in the first round of the NFL draft and the first since linebacker Terrell Suggs in 2003. Randall is the fourth defensive back in school history selected in the first round, the first since Craig Newsome in 1995 and the highest pick since Mike Haynes went fifth in 1976.
Arizona State defensive backs selected in the first round
Damarious Randall – Green Bay Packers, 30th overall, 2015
Craig Newsome – Green Bay Packers, 32nd overall, 1995
Mike Haynes – New England Patriots, 5th overall, 1976
John Pitts – Buffalo Bills, 22nd overall, 1967
Randall, a native of Pensacola, Fla., finished his two-year ASU career with 177 tackles, including 133 solo, and added 15 tackles for loss, four forced fumbles and 18 passes defended. A two-time Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week, he collected three interceptions in both of his seasons and returned one for a touchdown in both 2013 and 2014.
He earned First Team All-Pac-12 honors and was a Sports Illustrated All-American Honorable Mention in 2014. He paced the team with 106 tackles in 13 games to become the first safety to lead the Devils in tackles since Josh Barrett in 2006, and his 85 solo tackles were the most for a Sun Devil defender since 2000 and the fifth-most all-time in a single season.
Randall tied for the team lead with three interceptions in 2014 and led the team with nine pass breakups and 12 passes defended. He ranked fourth on the team in tackles for loss at 9.5, and added two forced fumbles forced, one fumble recovery and one sack.
He joins fellow Sun Devil letterwinners linebacker Carl Bradford and center Garth Gerhart on the Packers.
ASU defensive backs on active NFL rosters under co-defensive coordinator Chris Ball (2012-present)
Deveron Carr – Indianapolis Colts
Alden Darby – Pittsburgh Steelers
Keelan Johnson – Dallas Cowboys
Robert Nelson – Cleveland Browns
Damarious Randall – Green Bay Packers
Defensive backs selected in the NFL draft under Chris Ball
Marcus Trufant – 11th overall, Seattle Seahawks
Deone Bucannon – 27th overall, Arizona Cardinals
Damarious Randall – 30th overall, Green Bay Packers
Lamont Thompson – 41st overall, Cincinnati Bengals
Roman Harper – 43rd overall, New Orleans Saints
Karl Paymah – 76th overall, Denver Broncos
Rashad Johnson – 95th overall, Arizona Cardinals
Jason David – 125th overall, Indianapolis Colts
Erik Coleman – 143rd overall, New York Jets