2 more Houston Cougars players selected in NFL draft

HOUSTON – Two more Houston Cougars players were selected during the sixth and seventh rounds of the 2016 NFL draft.

University of Houston Athletics officials said Elandon Roberts and Demarcus Ayers followed the path set by William Jackson III Thursday night when they were selected by the New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers respectively.

The three selections in the NFL draft give the Houston program its most NFL draft selections since 1997 when four members of the Houston program were drafted, led by running back Antowain Smith with the 23rd overall pick to the Buffalo Bills, UH team officials said.

Roberts will join two Houston alums within the Patriots organization -- Sebastian Vollmer and Chad O’Shea. UH team officials said Roberts is the sixth Houston player to be drafted by the Patriots and the first since Vollmer was selected in the second round of the 2009 draft.

Saturday marked the ninth time Pittsburgh has selected a Houston alum as Ayers became the first since defensive end Craig Veasey was selected in the third round of the 1990 draft, UH team officials said.