BERKELEY – Linebacker Evan Weaver was selected Saturday by the Arizona Cardinals in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL Draft with the 202nd overall pick. Weaver became the third Cal player taken in the draft following the earlier selections of Cal safeties Ashtyn Davis (New York Jets, third round, No. 68 overall) and Jaylinn Hawkins (Atlanta Falcons, fourth round, No. 134 overall). Cal's three defensive selections are the most since three Golden Bears were taken on that side of the ball in both 2011 and 2012, while the three picks overall equal the most Cal draft overall since three were also taken in 2017. Cal has had a total of 242 players taken in the NFL Draft including at least one in 32 of the last 34 years.

The three-day 2020 NFL Draft that concludes Saturday is being televised live on ABC, ESPN, NFL Network and ESPN Deportes in a single multi-network presentation of all seven rounds. The draft is also serving as a virtual fundraiser benefiting six charities that are battling the spread of COVID-19 and delivering relief to millions in need. In conjunction with the draft, the NFL is hosting a "Draft-A-Thon" that is being live streamed on NFL social and digital platforms and featured on the live televised coverage. Donations can be made online at NFL.com/RELIEF and there is also a text-to-donate option.

The draft was originally scheduled to take place in Las Vegas but due to the COVID-19 pandemic is being conducted as a "virtual" draft from homes around the nation. The telecast is originating from ESPN's studios in Bristol, Conn., and adhering to proper social distancing guidelines and local workplace rules. Draft hosts and a limited number of commentators are in-studio, while NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell as well as a majority of analysts, reporters and other experts and NFL commentators are contributing to the telecast remotely from their homes.

Extensive coverage of all former Cal football players selected in the 2020 NFL Draft and those that sign undrafted free agent contracts following the draft will be provided via the Cal Athletics social media outlets listed below and online at CalBears.com. Six former Cal players who completed their collegiate eligibility with the Golden Bears in 2019 – Traveon Beck, Davis, Jordan Duncan, Hawkins, Greg Thomas and Weaver – have professional football aspirations. Undrafted free agent signings will not be publicized by Cal Athletics prior to an official announcement from the NFL team.

Below are notes on Weaver with an extended bio available by clicking on his name.
 
Evan Weaver, LB, 6-3, 235, Spokane, WA (Gonzaga Prep)
Cal (2016-19)

• One of three former Cal football student-athletes that participated in the 2020 NFL Combine along with Davis and Hawkins, putting up measurable testing marks of 4.21 in the 20-yard shuttle (second fastest time among 30 linebackers at event), 4.76 in the 40-yard dash, 32.0 in the vertical jump, 117.0 in the broad jump and 7.02.3 in the 3 cone drill while bench pressing 15 reps of 225 pounds
• Played in the 2020 Senior Bowl and contributed four tackles for a North team that was a 34-17 winner over the South
• Was scheduled to participate in Cal's 2020 Pro Day before it was cancelled due to COVID-19 
• Played in 49 of 50 possible games with 31 starts including each of his final 26 contests possible during his last two seasons
• Posted career totals of 412 tackles (fourth all-time at Cal), 23.0 tackles for loss (-88 yards), 8.5 sacks (-54 yards), two interceptions that he returned for 47 yards and one touchdown on a career-long 37-yard return against Washington as a 2018 junior, 11 pass breakups, 13 passes defended, three forced fumbles and six quarterback hurries
• Recorded a school-record and career-high 182 tackles as a senior, breaking Cal's 34-year-old single-season record of 167 set by Hardy Nickerson in 1985 while he also had 159 stops as a junior that tie for third on the school's career list
• Recorded career highs of 4.5 sacks (-28 yards), two interceptions that he returned for 47 yards and his lone career touchdown on a 37-yard return against Washington, and six pass breakups as a junior while playing in and starting all 13 games for the first of two back-to-back seasons
• Led or co-led Cal in tackles 24 times during his career
• First Cal player to earn First-Team Consensus All-American honors (AFCA, AP, The Athletic, Bleacher Report, CBS Sports, ESPN, FWAA, Sporting News, USA Today, Walter Camp, Yardbarker) as a senior since Daymeion Hughes and DeSean Jackson in 2006 and any type of First-Team All-American honors since Alex Mack in 2008
• Also the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year (AP, Pac-12 Coaches) and a finalist for the Butkus Award®, Lombardi, Lott IMPACT Trophy and Senior CLASS Award, as well as a semifinalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award and on the watch list for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy as a senior
• Led the nation at the FBS level in total tackles (school-record and career-high 182), total tackles per game (14.0), solo tackles (103) and solo tackles per game (7.9), while finishing fifth on the all-time NCAA's FBS single-season tackle list as a senior
• Had his lone three career forced fumbles as a senior to rank tied for second in the Pac-12 and tied for 36th nationally with an average of 0.23 per game, while adding a career-high 10.0 tackles for loss (-36 yards) to rank tied for 11th in the Pac-12, 2.5 sacks (-19 yards), three pass breakups, three passes defended and a career-high five quarterback hurries
• Wore No. 89 with the number having a special meaning as it was given to him first as a prep sophomore by his high school (Gonzaga Prep) as a number that is given to a younger player on the football team that shows promise of playing at the next level

CAL FOOTBALL 2020 NFL DRAFT COVERAGE

• Web: CalBears.com
• Twitter: @CalFootball, @CalFootballPR, @CalAthletics, @CalRecruiting
• Instagram: Cal_Football, CalAthletics
• Facebook: CalAthletics
• Hashtags: #GoBears, #EarnIt, #NFLDraft