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Less than 24 hours after the Ducks fell to Ohio State in the national championship, Arik Amstead filed the necessary paperwork to declare for the 2015 NFL Draft. The 6-foot-8, 290-pound tackle has been projected to go in the first round and purchased a $5 million disability and loss of value insurance policy prior to the season. That policy was increased to $8 million during the season as Amstead's stock rose and the positive draft reviews began to roll in.
Info gathered by Arik Armstead's family bolsters the notion that he's a 1st round prospect. http://t.co/wAEbVZPxwh pic.twitter.com/FGSRPpc37G
— Rand Getlin (@Rand_Getlin) January 14, 2015
This season, Amstead played in 13 games and had 46 total tackles (25 solo, 21 assisted) with 5.5 tackles for a loss and 2.5 sacks. His 46 tackles were by far a career-high, with his previous best coming during his freshman season in 2012 when he made 26 tackles. Amstead also had six quarterback hurries and a forced fumble. His six quarterback hurries were the most among the team. Armstead missed two games this season with an ankle injury, but looked impressive against Ohio State.
Against the Buckeyes on Monday night, Armstead had a big night with nine tackles (five solo, four assisted). His previous career-high for tackles in a game was five, which he did against Wyoming, Michigan State and Utah.
If Marcus Mariota also decides to declare for the draft, it could become just the third time in history the Ducks have two players selected in the first round of the NFL draft. The first time that happened was in 1972 when Ahmad Rashad and Tom Drougas were selected in the first round. It also happened in 2013 when Dion Jordan and Kyle Long were both first round picks.