By Desmond Conner, Hartford Courant
UConn defensive tackle Shamar Stephen and linebacker Yawin Smallwood were selected in the seventh round of the NFL draft Saturday.
Stephen was picked fifth in the seventh round by the Minnesota Vikings, 220th overall. Smallwood, the 38th pick in the seventh by the Atlanta Falcons, was 253rd of 256 players selected overall.
Stephen, a team captain and the Huskies’ Most Valuable Player in 2013, was the first UConn player taken in the ’14 draft. UConn had placed a selection in one of the first six rounds every year since 2007.
Stephen met with the Vikings in April.
“They showed me a lot of love out there,” he said.
Smallwood was an early entry into the draft, having a year of college eligibility left. He was projected to be a middle to late round pick.