Dawson Drafted by Bengals
5/1/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
CHICAGO -- TCU consensus first-team All-America linebacker Paul Dawson was selected Friday by the Cincinnati Bengals in the third round of the 2015 NFL Draft.
Dawson is the fifth Horned Frog in the last six seasons to be taken in the opening three rounds of the NFL Draft, joining first-round picks Jerry Hughes (2010, Indianapolis Colts) and Jason Verrett (2014, San Diego Chargers) along with second-round selections Daryl Washington (2010, Arizona Cardinals) and Andy Dalton (2011, Cincinnati Bengals).
The Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, Dawson was the only player in the nation in 2014 with at least 100 tackles, six sacks and four interceptions. He was also the lone Big 12 player since 2000 to accomplish the feat. His team-high 136 tackles, including 20 for loss, were the most by a Horned Frog in the 14-season tenure of head coach Gary Patterson.
A Dallas native, Dawson also had three fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles, five pass breakups and five quarterback hurries.
Dawson's fourth quarter 41-yard interception return for a touchdown provided the go-ahead points in TCU's 37-33 win over Oklahoma.
In 14 seasons as TCU's head coach, Patterson has had 35 players drafted with a total of 73 in NFL camps. ESPN.com ranked TCU No. 1 in the nation for developing NFL talent.
