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Jerry Tillery, a defensive tackle who clogged middles and generally wreaked havoc on Notre Dame Fighting Irish opponents, was selected 28th overall by the Los Angeles Chargers.
All-American, @jerrytillery is the ninth Player to be taken in the first round under Coach Kelly.#GoIrish ☘️ #IrishInTheNFL pic.twitter.com/XnhUfH0FyZ
— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) April 26, 2019
The 6-foot-6, 295 pound Shreveport product will make an instant impact with the Chargers, as the club currently employs only three defensive tackles.
Tillery’s four-year rookie contract will be worth $11,422,088, according to Over the Cap. Of that, $6,326,972 will be paid as a signing bonus. He also helps Notre Dame break a 25-year-old drought of having a defensive tackle not selected in the first round. Tillery is the first interior defensive lineman since Bryant Young was picked seventh overall in the 1994 NFL Draft.
The Chargers already have a former Notre Dame player on their roster: defensive end Isaac Rochell, who the team drafted in the seventh round of the 2017 NFL Draft.
Congratulations and kudos arrived on Twitter immediately after the pick:
GOT OUR GUY.
— Los Angeles Chargers (@Chargers) April 26, 2019
Welcome to LA, @JerryTillery ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/CdhErLUJJl
So proud of @JerryTillery! His journey was unconventional but the destination is just as sweet. You’ll do great things. Congrats my man!! pic.twitter.com/gvp41Lz7ov
— Mike Elston (@CoachMikeElston) April 26, 2019
Notre Dame's most interesting man is headed to the @Chargers. Congratulations, @JerryTillery! #ChargersDraft #GraduatingChampions pic.twitter.com/31Xw6vONCE
— Brian Kelly (@CoachBrianKelly) April 26, 2019
Kelly has had nine players drafted in the first round of the NFL Draft, and at least once in six of the last eight years. Notre Dame has also had a player drafted for 81 consecutive years, if the supplemental draft is counted. If it’s not, the Irish have had one picked for the last 41 years.
Really like the Jerry Tillery pick. The ND DT is a bully at the LOS with a bull in a china shop game. He long and physical with very good movement skills. He’s a nice fit in the @Chargers defensive scheme
— Bucky Brooks (@BuckyBrooks) April 26, 2019
Jerry Tillery to the Chargers is my favorite pick of the first round. Which makes it two straight years for the Chargers after landing Derwin James last year.
— Robert Mays (@robertmays) April 26, 2019
Jerry is Hollywood bound!
— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) April 26, 2019
With the 28th pick in the 2019 #NFLDraft, the @Chargers select @JerryTillery.#GoIrish #IrishInTheNFL pic.twitter.com/ZrzbjWjxMO
Read more from Bolts from the Blue, SB Nation’s Chargers site.