University of North Carolina Athletics
Stewart Selected In Second Round By Tampa Bay
April 27, 2018 | Football
North Carolina cornerback M.J. Stewart was selected by Tampa Bay in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft Friday night at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. UNC's all-time leader in pass breakups, Stewart went to the Buccaneers with the 21st pick of the second round and the 53rd pick overall.
A second-team All-ACC corner in 2015 and two-time honorable mention selection, Stewart etched his name in the Carolina defensive record books with 12 pass breakups in his senior campaign, giving him 41 for his career. That established a new UNC record, surpassing Robert Williams' mark of 40 set from 1995-97. The Arlington, Virginia, native also had 45 tackles, 5.0 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks in 2017 while providing senior leadership for a youth-laden defense. He also had six career interceptions, four of which came during the 11-win 2015 season.
Stewart is the 17th Tar Heel draft pick to play for head coach Larry Fedora in his six seasons at the helm. Six of those selections have been in the first two rounds, with Stewart joining Jonathan Cooper (first, 2013), Sylvester Williams (first, 2013), Giovani Bernard (second, 2013), Eric Ebron (first, 2014) and Mitch Trubiksy (first, 2017).Â
The last UNC product to be selected by Tampa Bay was Jeb Terry, who was a fifth-round pick in 2004.Â
A second-team All-ACC corner in 2015 and two-time honorable mention selection, Stewart etched his name in the Carolina defensive record books with 12 pass breakups in his senior campaign, giving him 41 for his career. That established a new UNC record, surpassing Robert Williams' mark of 40 set from 1995-97. The Arlington, Virginia, native also had 45 tackles, 5.0 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks in 2017 while providing senior leadership for a youth-laden defense. He also had six career interceptions, four of which came during the 11-win 2015 season.
Stewart is the 17th Tar Heel draft pick to play for head coach Larry Fedora in his six seasons at the helm. Six of those selections have been in the first two rounds, with Stewart joining Jonathan Cooper (first, 2013), Sylvester Williams (first, 2013), Giovani Bernard (second, 2013), Eric Ebron (first, 2014) and Mitch Trubiksy (first, 2017).Â
The last UNC product to be selected by Tampa Bay was Jeb Terry, who was a fifth-round pick in 2004.Â
Players Mentioned
Cornerback
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