COSTA MESA (CNS) - The Los Angeles Chargers selected Notre Dame linebacker Drue Tranquill with the first of their four choices on the final day of the NFL draft.
Tranquill was chosen in the fourth round, the 130th overall selection. The Chargers had chosen his Fighting Irish teammate, defensive tackle Jerry Tillery, in Thursday's first round with the 28th overall selection.
Tranquill received the Wuerffel Trophy for the 2018 season, presented to the college football player who best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement.
The trophy is named for Danny Wuerffel, the 1996 Heisman Trophy
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heisman_Trophy> winner who quarterbacked Florida to the national championship.
“He's very athletic and very smart,” Chargers general manager Tom Telesco said. “He's another player with just great make up and intangibles as far as his work ethic, football intelligence, his drive to be great.
“He has all of the traits that we look for on special teams. He can play multiple linebacker positions for us.”
The Chargers also selected North Dakota State quarterback Easton Stick in the fifth round, Houston linebacker Emeke Egbule in the sixth and Cincinnati defensive tackle Cortez Broughton in the seventh Saturday.
Following the conclusion of the draft, the Chargers announced the signings of 19 undrafted free agents, including USC guard Chris Brown, receiver Trevion Thompson from national champion Clemson and Notre Dame punter Tyler Newsome.
The other undrafted free agents signed were North Carolina State nose tackle Eurndraus Bryant; South Carolina offensive tackle Blake Camper; Northern Illinois defensive end Josh Corcoran; Old Dominion receiver Jeremy Cox; North Texas cornerback Kemon Hall; Duke tight end Daniel Helm; Toledo defensive tackle Reggie Howard; Furman cornerback Bradford Lemmons; Syracuse guard Koda Martin; Findlay receiver Jason Moore; Virginia outside linebacker Chris Peace; Lamar cornerback Rodney Randle; Michigan State tight end Matt Sokol; Tulane safety Roderic Teamer Jr.; North Dakota State center Tanner Volson and Pittsburgh linebacker Elijah Zeise.
“Those guys can come in and compete for jobs like the rest of these players,” Telesco said. “Hopefully we hit on one or two more this year."
In 14 of the past 16 seasons, at least one undrafted rookie has made the Chargers initial 53-man roster after final roster reductions, including three last season, cornerback Brandon Facyson, receiver JJ Jones and running back Detrez Newsome.
The Chargers selected five defensive players and two offensive players over the three days of the draft.
“It's just the way the board fell,” Telesco said.
The drafted players and undrafted free agents will participate in rookie minicamp, set to begin May 10.