DURHAM, N.C. – Former Duke Blue Devils offensive lineman Laken Tomlinson was selected by the Detroit Lions in the first round (28th overall) of the 2015 NFL Draft on Thursday.
“We are so proud of Laken, and certainly could not be happier for him and his entire family,” Duke head coach David Cutcliffe said.
“Laken’s accountability is second to none. Fifty-two consecutive starts at right guard tell a part of the story, and the Lions will find out quickly just how reliable he is both on and off the field. Obviously, Laken has had a great deal of success on the field while playing at the highest level of college football. I truly believe that will translate into a successful professional career.”
Tomlinson, a six-foot-three-inch, 330-pound offensive guard from Chicago, Ill., who was in attendance at the Draft being held in his hometown, is the highest Blue Devils draft pick since Mike Junkin was a first round choice of the Cleveland Browns in 1987, and just the sixth Duke player to be selected in the first round of the draft.
In 2014, Tomlinson anchored a Duke offensive front which led the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) in fewest sacks allowed per passing attempt (36.23).
A two-time first team All-ACC selection, he served as a team captain in 2014 and helped the Blue Devils offensive unit become the first in school history to average 180-plus rushing yards and 210-plus passing yards per game.
Tomlinson became Duke’s fifth consensus All-America selection in 2014 and was named to eight All-America teams, the most by any player in a year in program history.
Tomlinson was a first team selection by the Associated Press and Walter Camp Foundation, a second team honoree by USA Today, Athlon Sports and Sporting News, a third team choice by Phil Steele Magazine and Lindy’s and an honorable mention pick by Sports Illustrated.
During his career, Tomlinson helped Duke to 28 wins over four seasons including the 2013 ACC Coastal Division championship and three bowl game appearances (2012 Belk, 2013 Chick-fil-A & 2014 Hyundai Sun).
He played in and started 52 games at right guard and was on the field for 3,962 career snaps.
Last Fall, Tomlinson was the recipient of the Courage Award presented by the Football Writers Association of America in conjunction with the Orange Bowl, named to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team which recognizes community service in addition to academic and athletic achievement, and finished second in the balloting for the Jacobs Blocking Trophy, an honor presented annually to the top blocker in the ACC.
The selection of Tomlinson was part of an ACC class of nine players selected in the first round and gives Duke draft picks in three consecutive years for the first time since 1998-2000, as quarterback Sean Renfree was a seventh round choice of the Atlanta Falcons in 2013 and Ross Cockrell went to the Buffalo Bills in the fourth found in 2014.
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2015 NFL Draft – ACC First Round Selections
No. Player, School, Position, Team
1 Jameis Winston, Florida State, QB, Tampa Bay
8 Vic Beasley, Clemson, DE, Atlanta
9 Ereck Flowers, Miami, OT, New York Giants
14 DeVante Parker, Louisville, WR, Miami
16 Kevin Johnson, Wake Forest, CB, Houston
19 Cameron Erving, Florida State, C, Cleveland
28 Laken Tomlinson, Duke, G, Detroit
29 Phillip Dorsett, Miami, WR, Indianapolis
31 Stephone Anthony, Clemson, LB, New Orleans