Former ASU wide receiver Jaelen Strong was selected with the 70th overall pick in the third round of the 2015 NFL Draft by the Houston Texans Friday.
The @HoustonTexans select former @FootballASU wide receiver @JaelenStrong with the 70th overall pick.
— State Press Sports (@statepresssport) May 2, 2015
Strong slipped to the third round after being initially projected as a late first-round pick due to reported character concerns.
Several fans, coaches and teammates tweeted out their congratulations to Strong:
Here it comes #StrizzyTime
— Michael Bercovici (@MikeBerco) May 2, 2015
#TooStrong #TooStrong #TooStrong #TooStrong #TooStrong #TooStrong
— Sun Devil Football (@FootballASU) May 2, 2015
Congrats to @JaelenStrong drafted by Houston! Texans got a steal! One of the smartest and hardest workers I've coached!
— Todd Graham (@CoachGrahamASU) May 2, 2015
S/O to @JaelenStrong, one of the best to ever wear the Maroon & Gold, on AND off the field! #21 #TooStrong pic.twitter.com/WD4nw3MlkX
— Sun Devil Football (@FootballASU) May 2, 2015
Despite the drop, Jaelen Strong goes No. 70 -- that's the highest draft selection for an Arizona State receiver since 1988.
— Doug Haller (@DougHaller) May 2, 2015
Congratulations to ASU's own Jaelen Strong on being drafted by the Houston Texans @JaelenStrong pic.twitter.com/83DO2oUliN
— ASU Confessions (@ASUConfessions) May 2, 2015
There it is!!!!! @JaelenStrong congrats bro! #letemknow!!!
— Kyle Williams (@KyleWilliams_10) May 2, 2015
The @HoustonTexans are #TooStrong! Jaelen Strong becomes the 17th @Pac12 player taken in the #NFLDraft!
https://t.co/oYwUljkkR0
— Pac-12 Networks (@Pac12Networks) May 2, 2015
Jaelen Strong goes to the @HoustonTexans in Round 3 #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/sWkhPe1BaQ
— #NFLDraft (@nfl) May 2, 2015
Strong had 157 catches for 2,287 yards and 17 touchdowns in two seasons for the Sun Devils after transferring from Pierce College in Los Angeles.
He had 82 catches for 1,165 yards and 10 touchdowns in 12 games for the Sun Devils in 2014. Strong has only missed one game in two seasons for ASU, missing their 2014 game against Washington State with a concussion.
Strong is one of the most decorated wide receivers in ASU football history, known for his trademark back shoulder catches and perhaps the most important play of the 2014 season — the "Jael Mary" catch against USC.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported on April 15 that Strong would need surgery on a fractured bone on his wrist. Strong denied that the injury affected him, and said on Twitter that the injury was "old news," and occured during ASU's game against Utah on Nov. 1.
Strong participated in a documentary series through SNPGD TV, detailing his pre-draft process.
Damarious Randall was selected with the No. 30 overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft Thursday evening to the Green Bay Packers.
Reach the assistant sports editor at fardaya@asu.edu or follow @fardaya15 on Twitter.
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