Apr. 29, 2011
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(NEW YORK CITY) - Former Cal defensive back Chris Conte was taken Friday by the Chicago Bears in the third round of the 2011 NFL Draft with the 93rd overall pick. Conte becomes the third Cal player chosen in the 2011 draft, following the first-round selection (No. 24 overall) of defensive lineman Cameron Jordan by the New Orleans Saints on Thursday and the second-round pick (No. 56 overall) earlier Friday of tailback Shane Vereen by the New England Patriots.
Conte played in 50 of 51 possible games and made 17 starts during his four seasons at Cal from 2007-10. He compiled career totals of 157 tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss (-13 yards), two interceptions (no return yards), 11 pass breakups, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, three kick returns for 55 yards (18.3 ypr) and one blocked punt that he returned six yards for a touchdown.
Conte had the biggest season of his collegiate career as a senior when he moved full-time to the safety, earning first-team All-Pac-10 honors while starting all 12 games at the position after spending the previous two seasons primarily as a reserve defensive back shuffling between cornerback and safety. Conte ranked third on the team with 72 tackles and tied for No. 23 in the Pac-10 with an average of 6.0 stops per game. He also added 2.0 tackles for loss (-5 yards), an interception, three pass breakups, a forced fumble, two kick returns for 41 yards and the team's only blocked kick of the season on an Arizona State punt attempt, which he returned six yards for his first career touchdown. His signature game came at USC when he recorded career highs of 16 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss (-4 yards). He posted seven or more tackles on seven occasions.
As a junior in 2009, Conte played in all 13 games with one start, when he was in for the opening defensive snap vs. Utah in the Poinsettia Bowl. He finished the season with 25 tackles and one pass breakup.
Conte played in 12 games with one start as a 2008 sophomore, totaling 28 tackles, 1.0 tackle for loss (-5 yards), one interception and seven pass breakups to rank No. 18 in the Pac-10 with an average of 0.58 per game. He recorded a season-high eight tackles and had a career-high-tying two pass breakups vs. Colorado State.
In his 2007 true freshman season he earned honorable mention Freshman All-American honors from Sporting News and Scout, playing in all 13 games with three starts and recording 32 tackles, 1.0 tackle for loss (-3 yards) and a fumble recovery. His campaign included a season-high 10 tackles in the first start of his collegiate career vs. Washington State. His 32 tackles were the most recorded in a season by a true freshman at Cal since Donnie McCleskey had 45 in 2002.
Visit 2011 Cal NFL Draft Central for extensive coverage on all former Cal football players selected in the three-day 2011 NFL Draft that concludes Saturday with the final four rounds of the seven-round draft beginning at 9 a.m. PDT. ESPN and the NFL Network will televise the event live all three days.
The Candid Cam and NFL Draft blogs are also featured on the 2011 Cal NFL Draft Central site, with contributions from Jordan, Cal Bears.com blogger David Seawright and the CalBears.com staff. Announcements, photos, quotes, notes, links to media stories and whatever else the group can get their hands on about former Cal players selected will be posted.
