April 29, 2016

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CHICAGO – Former University of Notre Dame wide receiver Will Fuller was selected by the Houston Texans with the 21st overall pick in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft Thursday evening at the Auditorium Theater. He became the 66th former Irish player to be drafted in the first round of the NFL Draft.

Fuller is the highest drafted Irish wideout since the Arizona Cardinals chose Michael Floyd with the 13th pick of the 2012 draft. Fuller is also the second Irish wide receiver in the last five years to be selected in the first round of the NFL Draft joining Floyd.

Fuller is the fifth wideout in school history to be taken in the first round of the NFL Draft. In addition to Floyd and Fuller, three other Irish wide receivers have been chosen in the first round, including Tim Brown (sixth overall by the Oakland Raiders in 1988), Jim Seymour (10th overall by the Los Angeles Rams in 1969) and Jack Snow (eighth overall by the Minnesota Vikings in 1965).

Fuller becomes the fourth Notre Dame player ever drafted by the Houston Texans and first since Louis Nix III in the third round of the 2014 draft.

Fuller ranks in the top 10 in five career receiving school records and ranks in the top 10 in eight single-season receiving school lists. He finished his career with 144 receptions for 2,512 yards and 30 touchdowns.

In 2015, Fuller led Notre Dame in receptions (62), receiving yards (1,258), receiving yards per game (96.8) and receiving TDs (14). He ranked fifth in the Football Bowl Subdivision in TD catches, 11th in yards per reception (20.29), 16th in receiving yards, 16th in receiving yards per game (84.2), tied for 34th in total TDs (14) and 73rd in receptions per game (4.8). Fuller registered 15 receptions of at least 30 yards, 10 TD receptions of at least 30 yards and eight TD catches of 45 yards or longer. He eclipsed 100 yards receiving in seven games.

One of four players in school history (Michael Floyd, Jeff Samardzija and Golden Tate) with back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving seasons and only player in school history with five career TD receptions of at least 72 yards (only player with more than two), Fuller had a breakout sophomore season in 2014. His 15 TD receptions, 76 catches and 1,094 receiving yards were the most in single-season school history by a sophomore.

— ND —