Seven ALL-USA alumni selected in Rounds 2 and 3 of NFL Draft

After five former American Family Insurance ALL-USA football players were selected in the first round of the NFL Draft on Thursday, another seven were chosen on Friday in the second and third rounds. Here is the rundown:

Notre Dame linebacker Jaylon Smith works with Bryan Bouncier, a physical therapist with Parkview Athletic Rehabilitation, before a workout at in Fort Wayne. Smith was selected by the Dallas Cowboys on Friday. ( Matt Cashore USA TODAY Sports)

Named to the American Family Insurance first team in 2012, Smith was selected with the No. 34 overall pick by the Dallas Cowboys. He was named Mr. Football in the state of Indiana, playing for a four-time state 2A champions, and won the Butkus Award as the nation’s top high school linebacker.

The Notre Dame linebacker can play inside or out and cover nearly the entire field — when healthy. Of course, he tore two knee ligaments and suffered nerve damage in his leg during January’s Fiesta Bowl. He likely won’t play in 2016, but the Cowboys might have found an all-pro caliber player for 2017 and beyond. Smith had more than 100 tackles and double-digit tackles for loss each of the past two seasons.

“I’m going to be fine,” Smith told the team website. “I’ll be able to play again. Timing is everything. For Dallas to draft me, they’re going to get a great player. I’m looking forward to playing for a great team.”

Arkansas tight end Hunter Henry during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports ORG XMIT: USATSI-264590 ORIG FILE ID: 20160227_szo_ss1_157.JPG

HUNTER HENRY, PULASKI ACADEMY (LITTLE ROCK, ARK.)

Named to the ALL-USA first team in 2012, the top tight end in the draft went to the San Diego Chargers with the No. 35 overall pick. With the Chargers, he can learn from Antonio Gates, a near lock for the Hall of Fame but quite possibly entering his final NFL season. Henry’s a solid receiver who averaged 14.3 yards per catch during his three years at Arkansas and also can block.

“A position we needed to add someone, no doubt,” Charger general manager Tom Telesco told news reporters, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune. “To have someone on the other side of Antonio (Gates) was important.”

NOAH SPENCE, BISHOP McDEVITT (HARRISBURG, PA.)

Named to the ALL-USA first team in 2011, the outside linebacker/defensive end was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at No. 39. Spence might have first-round talent, but character questions from his days at Ohio State and a slow 40 time (4.8) hurt him.

But Spence is a productive player, and his drug tests have all come back clean recently. He can certainly help in Tampa, where most of the team’s pass rush comes inside courtesy of Pro Bowl DT Gerald McCoy. And pressure is key in the NFC South, where every team starts a stud quarterback.

“I just wanted to prove to everybody that that was a past mistake … and wanted to show everybody that I’m on a straight and narrow path and ready to do all I can with football,” Spence said during a conference call with news reporters.  “Football is my life. I don’t ever want to feel the way it felt to have it taken away from me again, so you don’t have to worry about me doing anything that would hinder that.”

Alabama running back Derrick Henry runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings) ORG XMIT: INDC1

DERRICK HENRY, YULEE (FLA.)

A first-team ALL-USA selection in 2012, the Heisman Trophy winner was selected by the Tennessee Titans with the no. 45 pick. Henry finished his high school career with 12,124 career rushing yards, breaking a national mark that had stood for nearly six decades. He ran for a state record 4,261 yards during a senior season that included 55 TDs.

Now, fresh off a 2,219-yard season, he heads to Nashville to pair up with DeMarco Murray in Tennessee’s new-look backfield. Henry is a better receiver than he showed at Alabama and is pure north-south, almost always getting positive yardage. A team that ranked 25th rushing the ball in 2015 should be much better.

“When they got DeMarco, I didn’t think they would choose me, which I am glad they did,” Henry said. “After the combine, we didn’t get to talk much.”

A’SHAWN ROBINSON, ARLINGTON HEIGHTS (FORT WORTH)

A second-team ALL-USA choice in 2012, the defensive tackle was selected one spot after his former Alabama teammate with the No. 46 pick by the Detroit Lions. Robinson was the No. 1 ranked defensive tackle coming out of high school in the recruiting rankings.

Detroit is a year removed from losing DTs Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley to free agency, and Haloti Ngata, 32, only has so many snaps left. Robinson could be a defensive cornerstone. He can shut down run lanes and also tie up blocks on passing downs, which should help turn loose DE Ziggy Ansah off the edge.

“Honestly, being a part of the Detroit Lions is a blessing,” said Robinson. “It’s something that most people dream of it and I dream of, too.”

USC linebacker Su’A Cravens runs a drill at the NFL scouting combine (Photo: Darron Cummings, Associated Press)

SU’A CRAVENS, VISTA MURIETTA (CALIF.)

The ALL-USA Defensive Player of the Year in 2012, Cravens was selected by the Washington Redskins at No. 53 out of USC.

Cravens is another safety/linebacker ‘tweener that every team seems to want now. Washington’s bigger needs appear to be secondary, where DeAngelo Hall is moving into the deep safety role. But Cravens could definitely take over at strong safety and move into a linebacker role in sub packages.

“I had no idea (it would be the Redskins), but my dad actually predicted the Redskins would draft me,” Cravens said, according to the team website. “He said, ‘There’s an SC guy there [defensive coordinator Joe Barry] and I have good feeling for him, so you’re gonna be a Redskin soon.’”

Cravens wore No. 21 in memory of former Redskins safety Sean Taylor during his college career.

CODY KESSLER, CENTENNIAL (BAKERSFIELD, CALIF.)

A first-team ALL-USA selection in 2010, Kessler was chosen in the third round by the Cleveland Browns with the No. 93 overall pick. Kessler threw for more than 10,000 yards in his career at USC and never had a single-season completion percentage less than 65.4

Kessler could be solid if unspectacular as a pro, and begins his career as a potential backup to Robert Griffin III and can be groomed by new Browns coach Hue Jackson.