Ledbetter Taken By Detroit Lions In 6th Round

Ledbetter’s Bio & StatsArkansas’ All-Time Draft Picks | Bielema’s All-Time Draft Picks

PHILADELPHIA – University of Arkansas defensive lineman Jeremiah Ledbetter was selected in the sixth round of the 2017 NFL Draft when he was taken with the 205th overall pick by the Detroit Lions on Saturday.

Ledbetter becomes the 30th Arkansas defensive lineman to ever be drafted, including the fifth in the Bret Bielema era. He is the third Razorback drafted from this year’s class. Defensive lineman Deatrich Wise Jr. was selected by the New England Patriots in the fourth round, while tight end Jeremy Sprinkle went in the fifth round to the Washington Redskins.

Bielema’s career total of NFL Draft picks now stands at 42, including 17 at Arkansas. Bielema has had 13 defensive lineman drafted in his 11-year head coaching career.

In two seasons with the Razorbacks, Ledbetter compiled 104 tackles, including 15.0 for loss and 7.5 sacks across 26 games played. The Orlando, Florida, product took over as a starter on the defensive line in the second game of the 2015 season and never relinquished that role, finishing his career with a streak of 25 straight starts.

Ledbetter led the Razorbacks with 5.5 sacks, tallied 49 tackles, including 7.5 for loss, to go along with two pass breakups and a forced fumble as a senior in 2016.

In his first season on The Hill, Ledbetter tied for fourth on the team in tackles (55), ranked fourth on the team in tackles for loss (7.5) and tied for third in sacks (2.0). He made at least one-half tackle behind the line of scrimmage in seven contests and was credited with four or more tackles in eight games.

Prior to Arkansas, Ledbetter played two seasons at Hutchinson Community College in Hutchinson, Kansas. He finished his junior college career with 144 total tackles and 22.5 career sacks. In 2014, he posted 24.5 tackles for loss and 15.5 sacks en route to second-team NJCAA All-American honors and first-team all-conference recognition.

Ledbetter’s father, Weldon, was a running back at Oklahoma from 1979 to 1982 and was drafted by Tampa Bay in the seventh round of the 1983 draft.

Ledbetter’s Quick Hits
Totaled at least one-half sack in eight career games at Arkansas.
Recorded at least one tackle in 25 of 26 career contests with the Razorbacks.
Tied for third on the team and first among defensive linemen in tackles (49) in 2016.
Registered at least one-half sack in six games as a senior, including each of the first three.
Collected 17 tackles, including 2.5 for loss, and 2.5 sacks through the first three games of the 2016 season.
Logged a career-high 1.5 sacks twice in 2016 (Texas State on Sept. 17; Virginia Tech on Dec. 29).
Posted a career-high eight tackles, including 0.5 for loss in his Razorback debut vs. UTEP on Sept. 5, 2015.

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