BERKELEY – A trio of Cal players – Ashtyn Davis, Jaylinn Hawkins and Evan Weaver – were selected in the 2020 NFL Draft that concluded Saturday. Davis was the first member of the trio to come off the board on Friday when he was selected in the third round by the New York Jets with the 68th overall pick. Hawkins (Atlanta Falcons, fourth round, No. 134 overall) and Weaver (Arizona Cardinals, sixth round, No. 202 overall) were selected on Saturday.

"We are excited for all three of our players who were selected in the 2020 NFL Draft," Cal head coach Justin Wilcox said. "This is a moment that for a very long time they have dreamt about and worked so hard for. I'm confident that they will each represent themselves very well in the NFL and make all of us at Cal proud."

Cal's three defensive selections are the most since three Golden Bears were also taken on that side of the ball in both 2011 and 2012, while the three picks overall equal the most total Cal selections in a single draft since three were also taken in 2017. Cal had never previously had two safeties selected in the same draft or two defensive backs in the first four rounds. Cal has had a total of 242 players selected since the draft began in 1936 including at least one in 32 of the last 34 years.

The draft was televised live on ABC, ESPN, NFL Network and ESPN Deportes in a single multi-network presentation of all seven rounds. The draft also served 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 also hosted a "Draft-A-Thon" that was live streamed on NFL social and digital platforms as well as featured on the live televised coverage. Donations can be made online at NFL.com/RELIEF and there is also a text-to-donate option.by texting DRAFT to 21000 (standard messaging and data rates may apply).

The draft was originally scheduled to take place in Las Vegas but due to the COVID-19 pandemic was conducted as a "virtual" draft from homes across the nation. The telecast originated from ESPN's studios in Bristol, Conn., and adhered to proper social distancing guidelines and local workplace rules. Draft hosts and a limited number of commentators were in-studio, while NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell as well as a majority of analysts, reporters and other experts contributed 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 is being provided via the Cal Athletics social media outlets listed below and online at CalBears.com. Cal now has 28 former players on active NFL rosters including nine that were undrafted free agents. 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 and quotes on all three of Cal's draft selections with extended bios available by clicking on each of their names.
 
Ashtyn Davis, S, 6-1, 200, Santa Cruz, CA (Santa Cruz HS)
Cal (2015-19), New York Jets (Third Round, No. 68 Overall)

Notes

• One of three former Cal football student-athletes that participated in the 2020 NFL Combine along with Jaylinn Hawkins and Evan Weaver
• Bench pressed 14 reps of 225 pounds at the 2020 NFL Combine but did not do measurable testing in any other category due to injury
• Was scheduled to participate in Cal's 2020 Pro Day before it was cancelled due to COVID-19
• Attended the 2020 Senior Bowl and events surrounding it as a roster invitee but did not play in the game due to injury
• Cal's J. Scott Duncan Award winner as its Most Valuable Player on Special Teams as both a 2016 redshirt freshman and 2017 sophomore, while he picked up the team's Joe Roth Award for his courage, attitude and sportsmanship as a 2019 senior
• Played in 48 of 50 games possible with 33 starts including a string of 29 consecutive contests that included the final six games of his sophomore season, all 13 contests of his 2018 junior campaign and his first 10 as a 2019 senior
• Had consecutive games played and started streaks of 47 and 29 both come to an end when he missed the Big Game at Stanford as a senior and also did not play two games later in the Redbox Bowl against Illinois due to injury
• Registered career defensive totals of 171 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss (-7 yards), seven interceptions that he returned for 121 yards and one touchdown, 12 pass breakups, 19 passes defended, three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries
• Had a total of 1758 all-purpose yards, adding 70 kick returns for 1604 yards and one touchdown as well as two punt returns for 33 yards
• Had career averages of 22.9 yards per kick return and 16.5 yards per punt return
• Had career highs of 57 tackles, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries as a senior when he was one of three finalists for the Burlsworth Trophy given annually to the nation's top player who began his collegiate career as a walk-on, while also being named second-team All-Pac-12 by the league's coaches and third-team All-Pac-12 by Pro Football Focus
• Earned first-team (Associated Press, Athlon Sports, Pro Football Focus), second-team (Phil Steele) and honorable mention (Pac-12 Coaches) All-Pac-12 honors as a 2018 junior all on defense other than his second-team special teams selection by Phil Steele as a kick returner when he had 56 tackles, four interceptions that he returned for 59 yards and his lone career pick-six, five pass breakups and nine passes defended, as well as a career-high 1.5 tackles for loss (career-high -4 yards), his first career fumble recovery and his lone career kick return touchdown on a career-long 89-yarder against Idaho State
• Posted career-high kick return and all-purpose yardage totals as a 2017 sophomore when he co-led the nation with 39 kick returns and ranked ninth nationally with 826 kick return yards among his 857 all-purpose yards
• Wore No. 27 for most of his Cal career but also suited up in No. 28

Quotes

• Ashtyn Davis – "I was excited, obviously," Davis said. "I don't know how to describe it other than that. My hands were shaking. I didn't expect myself to really get too nervous, but I did. It was awesome seeing my parents' and everybody else's reaction and how excited they got."
• Justin Wilcox – "Ashtyn has such an incredible story from walk-on to the NFL. His road to success couldn't have happened to a better guy, and I'm so happy for him. He's just scratching the surface of his potential, and it's going to be exciting to see what he does at the next level."

Jaylinn Hawkins, S, 6-2, 210, Buena Park, CA (Buena Park HS)
Cal (2016-19), Atlanta Falcons (Fourth Round, No. 134 Overall)

Notes

• One of three former Cal football student-athletes at the 2020 NFL Combine along with Ashtyn Davis and Evan Weaver, and put up measurable testing marks of 35.5 in the vertical jump and 117.0 in the broad jump
• Played in 2020 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl and had three tackles for National team that won 30-20 over American squad 
• The only Cal player to participate in all 50 games possible from 2016-19 after redshirting his first season at Cal in 2015, while also leading all Cal players during the period with 38 starts including each of his final 20 consecutive games
• Contributed career totals of 158 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss (-31 yards), 2.0 sacks (-6 yards), 10 interceptions that he returned 90 yards, seven pass breakups, 17 passes defended, three forced fumbles and nine kick returns for 129 yards
• His 10 career interceptions rank tied for eighth on Cal's all-time list with nine of them coming over his final two campaigns including a career-high six as a 2018 junior and three more in his 2019 senior season
• Registered career highs of 56 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks (-6 yards), two forced fumbles and 47 kick return yards in a career-high-tying 13 games and a career-high 13 starts as a senior when he was selected honorable mention All-Pac-12 and earned Cal's Ken Cotton Award as the Golden Bears' Most Courageous Player
• Led the Pac-12 and team in total interceptions with a career-high six and interceptions per game (career-high 0.5) that ranked tied for third and tied for fifth nationally, with the six interceptions also tied for the eighth-most by a Cal player in a single season as a 2018 junior
• Also had career highs of 39 interception return yards, 17 tackle for loss yards, three pass breakups, nine passes defended, one quarterback hurry and four kick returns as a junior
• Named the Cheez-It Bowl Defensive MVP as a junior after recording a career-high and Cheez-It Bowl record three interceptions that he returned a career-high 29 yards against TCU that were the most in any bowl game during the 2018 campaign and earned him a spot on Sports Illustrated's All-Bowl team, while adding a season-high six tackles and 0.5 tackles for loss (-1 yard)
• Recruited to Cal as a wide receiver then spent the 2015 season working out with the cornerbacks before moving to safety in the spring of 2016
• Changed his uniform to No. 6 beginning with the 2016 season after wearing No. 20 during his first campaign at Cal as a 2015 true freshman and during 2016 spring football

Quotes

• Jaylinn Hawkins – "I'm just thankful and extremely blessed. I can't think God enough – can't thank my supporting cast, can't thank my family, can't thank my best friends, can't thank my agent. It's just a blessing to get that call. It's once in a lifetime. It's priceless. I can't even explain it. Right now, I'm still in shock, but I'm ready to get to work. I'm ready to go out there and just make an impact, and just go out there and do what I do."
• Justin Wilcox – "There is so much to like about Jaylinn and it looks like Atlanta must have liked what it saw. Jaylinn will do everything he can to maximize this opportunity and will not be outworked. He has been such a joy to be around at Cal, and I wish him all the success in the NFL."

Evan Weaver, LB, 6-3, 235, Spokane, WA (Gonzaga Prep)
Cal (2016-19), Arizona Cardinals (Sixth Round, No. 202 Overall)

Notes

• One of three former Cal football student-athletes that participated in the 2020 NFL Combine along with Ashtyn Davis and Jaylinn Hawkins, putting up measurable testing marks of 4.21 in the 20-yard shuttle (tied for second-fastest time among 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 canceled 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 are tied 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 NCAA's all-time 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 first given to him as a prep sophomore by his high school (Gonzaga Prep) as a number that is given to a younger player on the football team who shows promise of playing at the next level

Quotes

• Evan Weaver – "I thought I was going to go off the board earlier, but I'm super excited where I ended up. It couldn't have been any better. They need some LB's and with Isaiah Simmons and the guys they already have there, I'm just super blessed and honored to be able to help us go win a Super Bowl."
• Justin Wilcox – "Arizona is getting a good football player in Evan Weaver. He's a throwback and the consummate middle linebacker. His primary role at Cal was to tackle the football and he did a great job of it. Evan is one of the most productive players I have ever coached and there is a ton to be said for that."

Cal Football 2020 NFL Draft Coverage

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