Louisiana Connections To 2020 NFL Draft (Fourth & Fifth Round Recap)

by Jace LeJeune

As Louisiana fans cheer on their high school and college teams, it is now time to acknowledge the players that have represented the Bayou state. Whether these players below are from Louisiana or decided to become one of the state’s own by signing with a Louisiana team, these players are next in line to represent Louisiana in the NFL. These players have worked hard all their lives, and now their hard work has paid off as their names have been called to be a part of the National Football League.

To check out our first round NFL Draft recap, click the link here: https://www.lafootballmagazine.com/news/c48-recruiting/louisiana-connections-to-2020-nfl-draft-first-round-edition/

To check out our second and third round NFL Draft recap, click the link here: https://www.lafootballmagazine.com/news/c48-recruiting/louisiana-connections-to-2020-nfl-draft-second-third-round-recap/

Fourth Round: (Louisiana Natives or Louisiana College Football Players Only)

108th Pick: OT Saahdiq Charles

Former LSU OT Saahdiq Charles (77) is drafted by the Washington Redskins with the 108th pick in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft. (Photo courtesy of LSU Athletics)

Selected By: Washington Redskins

Louisiana Connection: Played At LSU From 2017-2019

Journey To NFL: Originally from New Orleans, LA, Saahdiq Charles and his family moved to different cities before settling in Jackson, Mississippi. Coming out of Madison-Ridgeland Academy, Charles decided to sign with the LSU Tigers over the Mississippi State Bulldogs. Charles immediately made an impact for the Tigers making the All-SEC freshman team. After starting all season as a sophomore, Charles had a setback as he was suspended for the Tigers’ entire non-conference schedule due to violation of team rules. When the 6-4, 320 pound tackle did see the field, he was effective in protecting LSU Heisman Trophy winning QB Joe Burrow’s blindside. Following the Tigers’ championship season, Charles decided to forgo his senior season in order to enter the 2020 NFL Draft. As a result, the Washington Redskins decided to draft Charles with one of the earliest picks in the fourth round.

Former Neville High School and LSU Defensive Tackle Rashard Lawrence was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals with the 131st pick in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft. (Property of LAFM)

131st Pick: DT Rashard Lawrence

Selected By: Arizona Cardinals

Louisiana Connection: Played High School Football At Neville High School and Played At LSU From 2016-2019

Journey To NFL: As the nephew of former Neville and LSU standout Oliver Lawrence, Rashard Lawrence was destined to take that same path since day one. At Neville High School, Lawrence was one of the most dominant and highly recruited defensive lineman in the country as a five star recruit and Under Armor All-American. Lawrence, who was once on the front cover of Louisiana Football Magazine as a high school senior, signed with the LSU Tigers in 2016. Lawrence first became a starter his sophomore season when he had 32 tackles and 1.5 sacks. As a junior in 2018, Lawrence began to emerge not only on the LSU defensive front, but also as a leader on the Tigers’ team posting 54 tackles and four sacks along with being named the Defensive MVP of the 2018 Fiesta Bowl. Deciding to help bring LSU a national championship, Lawrence returned for his senior season and made sure to help the Tigers reach their goal. The LSU fan favorite was selected by the Arizona Cardinals with the 131st pick in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

135th Pick: OG Kevin Dotson

Kevin Dotson, Plaquemine High School, Plaquemine Demons, Plaquemine Football

Former Plaquemine High School and UL OG Kevin Dotson was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers with the 135th pick in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft. (Property of LAFM)

Selected By: Pittsburgh Steelers

Louisiana Connection: Played High School Football At Plaquemine High School and Played College Football At UL From 2015-2019

Journey To NFL: Along with his twin brother Kenny Dotson (Nicholls State), Kevin Dotson anchored a Plaquemine High School offensive line as a three time All-District selection and All-State selection. Dotson signed with the UL Ragin’ Cajuns at the conclusion of his senior season. After redshirting as a freshman, Dotson took his opportunity starting the second game of the season and then running with it as he went on to start 52 more games during his playing days for the Ragin’ Cajuns. Along with fellow guard Robert Hunt (Miami Dolphins) as well as a three headed running back rotation, the Ragin’ Cajuns consistently had one of the best running games in the state with the 6-4, 321 pound Plaquemine product clearing the way. During his career, Dotson cemented himself as one of the best offensive linemen in Ragin’ Cajun history being named 2019 Associated Press First Team All-American, 2019 USA Today First Team All-American, 2019 Sports Illustrated First Team All-American, 2019 Pro Football Focus First Team All-American, 2019 Sporting News Second Team All-American, 2019 First Team All-Sun Belt Conference, 2019 All-Louisiana First Team, 2018 First Team All-Sun Belt Conference, 2017 Second Team All-Sun Belt Conference, 2017 Second Team All-Louisiana, and also on the 2016 Sun Belt Conference All-Newcomer Team. The 2nd generation football player was then drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers with the 135th pick in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

138th Pick: S L’Jarius Sneed

Former Minden High School and Louisiana Tech S L’Jarius Sneed was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs with the 138th pick in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft. (Property of LAFM)

Selected By: Kansas City Chiefs

Louisiana Connection: Played High School Football At Minden High School and Played College Football At Louisiana Tech From 2016-2019

Journey To NFL: L’Jarius Sneed played his high school football at Minden High School where he was a star wide receiver and defensive back for the Crimson Tide. At the conclusion of his senior season, Sneed chose to sign with Louisiana Tech over the likes of Arkansas State and UL. Once Sneed signed with the Bulldogs, he switched over to play cornerback permanently, and it turned out to be a great move. Over Sneed’s career with the Bulldogs, he accumulated over 172 tackles and eight interceptions while also playing both cornerback and safety. Sneed’s versatility intrigued the defending Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs so much that he was selected by them with the 138th pick in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

139th Pick: CB Amik Robertson

Former Thibodaux High School and Louisiana Tech CB Amik Robertson was drafted by the Las Vegas Raiders with the 139th pick in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft. (Property of LAFM)

Selected By: Las Vegas Raiders

Louisiana Connection: Played High School Football At Thibodaux High School and Played College Football At Louisiana Tech

Journey To NFL: At only 5-9, 183 pounds, Amik Robertson was always told that he was too small, but Robertson made sure to prove the doubters wrong throughout his NFL journey. Coming out of Thibodaux High School in Thibodaux, LA, Robertson was an All-State playmaker for the Tigers on the football field and was also a track and field standout as well. Robertson signed with the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs where he made his name as one of the top defensive players in the country. Despite his size, Robertson made up for it with his aggressiveness and his play making ability with 184 tackles, 14 interceptions, four sacks and three touchdowns during his prolific career. As an All-Conference and All-American selection, Robertson decided to forgo his senior season and enter the 2020 NFL Draft. The newly named Las Vegas Raiders picked up Robertson with the 139th pick in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft just a selection after his former teammate L’Jarius Sneed was selected.

Fifth Round: (Louisiana Natives or Louisiana College Football Players Only)

173rd Pick: WR Darnell Mooney

Former Tulane WR Darnell Mooney was drafted by the Chicago Bears with the 173rd pick in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL Draft. (Photo courtesy of Tulane Athletics)

Selected By: Chicago Bears

Louisiana Connection: Played College Football For Tulane From 2016-2019

Journey To NFL: Coming from Gagsden City High School in Gagsden City, Alabama, Darnell Mooney turned out to be a great addition for the Tulane Green Wave under head coach Willie Fritz. Mooney was one of the team’s most impactful players over the last two seasons leading the Green Wave not only leading the offense in receiving both seasons, but also leading the team to two straight bowl game appearances for the first time in Tulane’s football program history. Mooney’s impressive 4.38/40 time at the 2020 NFL Combine impressed the Chicago Bears enough to select the Tulane speedster with the 173rd pick in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

***Come check out our website tomorrow as we continue to recap all of the Louisiana high school and college players that were selected in the 2020 NFL Draft!

Hey football fans. Like our recruiting interviews, stories, and other content on our website? Click on our website daily to view articles on recruits, coaches, and so much more at our website: https://www.lafootballmagazine.com/. Also, we have exciting news that for the third straight year, we will have our North and South LA issues and both are now out! Both issues will continue to cover all the Louisiana colleges as well as all the high schools in state, but there will be 16 pages that will focus on North Louisiana as well as South Louisiana. For more information, please check the following link to where you can find the magazine in a store near you. Also, below are the two covers as well as where you can order both magazines on our website.

Store Link: https://www.lafootballmagazine.com/news/2019-louisiana-football-magazine-north-and-south-editions-now-available-in-stores-near-you/

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