Michigan State University Athletics
Photo by: Matthew Mitchell Photography
Justin Layne Selected by Steelers in Third Round
4/26/2019 11:00:00 PM | Football
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State cornerback Justin Layne was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round (No. 83 overall) of the 2019 National Football League Draft on Friday, April 26.
Michigan State is one of just five schools to have had at least one player chosen every year since the inception of the common NFL Draft in 1967. In addition, at least one Spartan has been selected in the NFL Draft since 1941, the third-longest streak in the FBS (79 straight).
Layne is the eighth Spartan defensive back selected in the NFL Draft under Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio (CB Jeremy Ware, seventh round by Raiders in 2010; CB Chris L. Rucker, sixth round by Colts in 2011; S Trenton Robinson, sixth round by Redskins in 2012; CB Darqueze Dennard, first round by Bengals in 2014; CB Trae Waynes, first round by Vikings in 2015; CB/WR Tony Lippett, fifth round by Dolphins in 2015; S Montae Nicholson, fourth round by Redskins in 2017).
"Justin is an outstanding athlete with great ball skills," said Dantonio. "He was recruited here as a wide receiver but really developed and excelled as a corner. He's an outstanding competitor and a great tackler. He should have an outstanding NFL career."
A three-year letterwinner, Layne played in 34 career games, including 26 starts at cornerback (five in 2016, nine in 2017, 12 in 2018). He also saw brief time at wide receiver in 2016 and 2018. Layne finished his career with 130 career tackles, including 4.5 tackles for loss (15 yards) and a half sack (3 yards), and had 24 career pass break-ups and three interceptions. He began his Spartan career as a wide receiver before transitioning to cornerback midway through his first season in 2016, but saw action as wide receiver in two games in 2018 due to injuries on the offensive side of the ball. He elected to forgo his senior season to enter the 2019 NFL Draft.
A first-team All-Big Ten selection by Pro Football Focus and a second-team All-Big Ten choice by the media, coaches, Associated Press, Athlon Sports and Phil Steele, Layne was the recipient of MSU's most outstanding underclass back award on defense. He recorded a career-high 15 pass break-ups, tied for eighth most in an MSU single-season; that total also tied for first in the Big Ten and 10th in the FBS. His 16 passes defended also ranked tied for first in the Big Ten (15 PBUs, one interception). Layne ranked fifth on the team with a career-high 72 tackles, including 2.5 for losses, and had at least one pass break-up in eight of 12 games.
The 6-3, 185-pound native of Cleveland, Ohio, played both offense and defense in the win over Purdue on Oct. 27. Layne tallied a career-high four pass break-ups and registered seven tackles in playing 64 defensive snaps against the Boilermakers, and caught one pass for 11 yards and was targeted four times in 16 offensive snaps. He was named to the Pro Football Focus Big Ten Team of the Week for his performance vs. Purdue. Layne was also named to the Pro Football Focus Big Ten Team of the Week after matching career highs with 10 tackles and four pass break-ups against Ohio State on Nov. 10.
Layne had 40 tackles, eight pass break-ups and one interception as a sophomore in 2017 and 18 tackles, one interception and one pass break-ups as a freshman in 2016.
Michigan State is one of just five schools to have had at least one player chosen every year since the inception of the common NFL Draft in 1967. In addition, at least one Spartan has been selected in the NFL Draft since 1941, the third-longest streak in the FBS (79 straight).
Layne is the eighth Spartan defensive back selected in the NFL Draft under Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio (CB Jeremy Ware, seventh round by Raiders in 2010; CB Chris L. Rucker, sixth round by Colts in 2011; S Trenton Robinson, sixth round by Redskins in 2012; CB Darqueze Dennard, first round by Bengals in 2014; CB Trae Waynes, first round by Vikings in 2015; CB/WR Tony Lippett, fifth round by Dolphins in 2015; S Montae Nicholson, fourth round by Redskins in 2017).
"Justin is an outstanding athlete with great ball skills," said Dantonio. "He was recruited here as a wide receiver but really developed and excelled as a corner. He's an outstanding competitor and a great tackler. He should have an outstanding NFL career."
A three-year letterwinner, Layne played in 34 career games, including 26 starts at cornerback (five in 2016, nine in 2017, 12 in 2018). He also saw brief time at wide receiver in 2016 and 2018. Layne finished his career with 130 career tackles, including 4.5 tackles for loss (15 yards) and a half sack (3 yards), and had 24 career pass break-ups and three interceptions. He began his Spartan career as a wide receiver before transitioning to cornerback midway through his first season in 2016, but saw action as wide receiver in two games in 2018 due to injuries on the offensive side of the ball. He elected to forgo his senior season to enter the 2019 NFL Draft.
A first-team All-Big Ten selection by Pro Football Focus and a second-team All-Big Ten choice by the media, coaches, Associated Press, Athlon Sports and Phil Steele, Layne was the recipient of MSU's most outstanding underclass back award on defense. He recorded a career-high 15 pass break-ups, tied for eighth most in an MSU single-season; that total also tied for first in the Big Ten and 10th in the FBS. His 16 passes defended also ranked tied for first in the Big Ten (15 PBUs, one interception). Layne ranked fifth on the team with a career-high 72 tackles, including 2.5 for losses, and had at least one pass break-up in eight of 12 games.
The 6-3, 185-pound native of Cleveland, Ohio, played both offense and defense in the win over Purdue on Oct. 27. Layne tallied a career-high four pass break-ups and registered seven tackles in playing 64 defensive snaps against the Boilermakers, and caught one pass for 11 yards and was targeted four times in 16 offensive snaps. He was named to the Pro Football Focus Big Ten Team of the Week for his performance vs. Purdue. Layne was also named to the Pro Football Focus Big Ten Team of the Week after matching career highs with 10 tackles and four pass break-ups against Ohio State on Nov. 10.
Layne had 40 tackles, eight pass break-ups and one interception as a sophomore in 2017 and 18 tackles, one interception and one pass break-ups as a freshman in 2016.
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