University of North Texas Athletics
#NFLMeanGreen Draft Preview
4/23/2020 1:00:00 PM | Football
DENTON – It's draft day, as the NFL's three-day extravaganza kicks off Thursday night in a new virtual format, at 7 p.m. CT with the first round.
Several Mean Green hopefuls await their professional fates, including edge rusher LaDarius Hamilton, quarterback Mason Fine, wide receiver Michael Lawrence, as well as offensive lineman Elex Woodworth and running back Loren Easly.
EDGE | LaDarius Hamilton | #2 | 6-3 | 260 | Corrigan, Texas | Corrigan-Camden HS
Hamilton, who was the Mean Green's lone representative at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis back in late February, finished his North Texas career tied for sixth in career sacks (17) and sixth all-time in program history for tackles for loss (28.5). As a senior, Hamilton finished 2019 with 39 tackles (23 solo, 16 assist), 10.5 tackles for loss, a team-high 8.5 sacks and one forced fumble in 12 games. On three occasions in 2019, Hamilton recorded two sacks – at SMU, at Cal, and at Louisiana Tech, while also recording 1.5 sacks against UAB on senior day. The Corrigan, Texas, native had a breakout junior season, when he was a first team all-conference selection in Conference USA as voted on by the league's 14 head coaches. He finished with 33 tackles (16 solo) with 11.0 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks and three quarterback hurries in 13 appearances, 11 of which were starts. Like he did as a senior, Hamilton recorded two sacks in a game on three occasions – at Arkansas, vs. Southern Miss and at Old Dominion.
Hamilton tested very well at the combine, posting 27 reps on the bench press (ranked 10th among the 38 defensive linemen who participated), clocked a 4.89 in the 40-yard dash with a 1.84 second 10-yard split (tied for 16th out of 38 participating defensive linemen), had a vertical jump of 30.0 inches (tied for 17th among 32 participating defensive linemen), recorded a jump of 9'6" on the broad jump (tied for 14th among 29 participating defensive linemen), ran the three-cone drill in 7.66 seconds (ranked 16th out of 27 participating defensive linemen) and the 20-yard shuttle in 4.49 seconds (ranked 11th out of 26 participating defensive linemen).
See more here about his journey in Indianapolis at the combine.
QB | Mason Fine | #6 | 5-10 | 190 | Peggs, Oklahoma | Locust Grove HS
Fine (Peggs, Oklahoma) leaves Denton as its most decorated quarterback in program history, owning eight career records and several single-season records. He finished his collegiate career as the FBS active leading passer (12,505 yards) and is in 28th on the all-time FBS passing list and 40th all-time in passing touchdowns (93). He put an exclamation point on his career at North Texas with 3,088 yards, 29 passing touchdowns to just nine interceptions and two more scores on the ground, while completing 257-414 passes as a senior. A two-time Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year, Fine was a constant on national award watch lists throughout his career, among the best signal-callers in the nation. Fine was instrumental in the Mean Green's turnaround from a 1-11 2015, helping lead North Texas to three consecutive bowl games (2016-18) and a pair of nine-win seasons (2017-18).
Fine, like Hamilton, competed at the Shrine Bowl in Tampa back in January, where he showcased himself well for scouts and team personnel throughout the week. Should Fine be drafted, he'd be the first North Texas quarterback selected since 1970, when Steve Ramsey was a fifth-round choice of the New Orleans Saints.
WR | Michael Lawrence | #32 | 5-10 | 187 | Sweetwater, Texas | Sweetwater HS
Lawrence concluded his North Texas career with 143 receptions (ninth most in program history) for 1,929 yards (12th in program history) and nine touchdowns, averaging 13.5 yards per catch across 46 career appearances. Nicknamed "The Standard" early in his collegiate career for his extremely technical route-running, the slot receiver was one of five team captains and a member of the leadership council. He finished his senior season in 2019 with 48 catches for 661 yards and three touchdowns while appearing in all 12 games, eight of which were starts. As a junior, he caught 32 catches for 433 yards and two touchdowns in 13 games, eight of which were starts and really burst onto the scene as a sophomore, posting a team-high 62 catches for 819 yards and four touchdowns in 14 appearances and earned all-conference honorable mention status.
OL | Elex Woodworth | #77 | 6-4 | 296 | Mesquite, Texas | Horn HS
Woodworth made 45 career starts in 48 appearances throughout his career in Denton. Woodworth, a versatile offensive lineman, played at every position along the line except center for the Mean Green during his career at UNT. A member of the team's leadership council in 2018 and 2019, Woodworth was an all-conference honorable mention selection as a redshirt sophomore in 2017, as selected by the 14 Conference USA head coaches.
RB | Loren Easly | #23 | 5-11 | 201 | Houston, Texas | Stephen F. Austin
Easly concluded his North Texas career with 129 carries for 629 yards with five rushing scores and six receptions for 84 yards in 11 career appearances across two seasons. The Houston native was off to a very strong start as a redshirt junior in 2018, but his season was lost due to a knee injury, which he battled back from in 2019. Easly is a physical runner who fit in nicely in head coach Seth Littrell's offensive scheme and had 55 carries for 243 yards and caught two passes for 26 yards in seven appearances in 2019. He topped the century mark twice, both in 2018, including a 177-yard performance on 27 carries with a pair of touchdowns in a win at Liberty.
Should Hamilton, Fine or any of the other Mean Green players eligible for the draft be selected, it would mark the first time a North Texas player was drafted since Cody Spencer was selected by the Oakland Raiders in 2004, in the sixth round.
Others in the mix include safeties Khairi Muhammad and Taylor Robinson, tight end Kelvin Smith, defensive lineman Darrian McMillan, defensive back Nick Harvey and punter Alvin Kenworthy.
Where to Watch NFL Draft Coverage
Fans can also follow along with the NFL.com draft tracker.
Several Mean Green hopefuls await their professional fates, including edge rusher LaDarius Hamilton, quarterback Mason Fine, wide receiver Michael Lawrence, as well as offensive lineman Elex Woodworth and running back Loren Easly.
EDGE | LaDarius Hamilton | #2 | 6-3 | 260 | Corrigan, Texas | Corrigan-Camden HS
Hamilton, who was the Mean Green's lone representative at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis back in late February, finished his North Texas career tied for sixth in career sacks (17) and sixth all-time in program history for tackles for loss (28.5). As a senior, Hamilton finished 2019 with 39 tackles (23 solo, 16 assist), 10.5 tackles for loss, a team-high 8.5 sacks and one forced fumble in 12 games. On three occasions in 2019, Hamilton recorded two sacks – at SMU, at Cal, and at Louisiana Tech, while also recording 1.5 sacks against UAB on senior day. The Corrigan, Texas, native had a breakout junior season, when he was a first team all-conference selection in Conference USA as voted on by the league's 14 head coaches. He finished with 33 tackles (16 solo) with 11.0 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks and three quarterback hurries in 13 appearances, 11 of which were starts. Like he did as a senior, Hamilton recorded two sacks in a game on three occasions – at Arkansas, vs. Southern Miss and at Old Dominion.
Hamilton tested very well at the combine, posting 27 reps on the bench press (ranked 10th among the 38 defensive linemen who participated), clocked a 4.89 in the 40-yard dash with a 1.84 second 10-yard split (tied for 16th out of 38 participating defensive linemen), had a vertical jump of 30.0 inches (tied for 17th among 32 participating defensive linemen), recorded a jump of 9'6" on the broad jump (tied for 14th among 29 participating defensive linemen), ran the three-cone drill in 7.66 seconds (ranked 16th out of 27 participating defensive linemen) and the 20-yard shuttle in 4.49 seconds (ranked 11th out of 26 participating defensive linemen).
See more here about his journey in Indianapolis at the combine.
QB | Mason Fine | #6 | 5-10 | 190 | Peggs, Oklahoma | Locust Grove HS
Fine (Peggs, Oklahoma) leaves Denton as its most decorated quarterback in program history, owning eight career records and several single-season records. He finished his collegiate career as the FBS active leading passer (12,505 yards) and is in 28th on the all-time FBS passing list and 40th all-time in passing touchdowns (93). He put an exclamation point on his career at North Texas with 3,088 yards, 29 passing touchdowns to just nine interceptions and two more scores on the ground, while completing 257-414 passes as a senior. A two-time Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year, Fine was a constant on national award watch lists throughout his career, among the best signal-callers in the nation. Fine was instrumental in the Mean Green's turnaround from a 1-11 2015, helping lead North Texas to three consecutive bowl games (2016-18) and a pair of nine-win seasons (2017-18).
Fine, like Hamilton, competed at the Shrine Bowl in Tampa back in January, where he showcased himself well for scouts and team personnel throughout the week. Should Fine be drafted, he'd be the first North Texas quarterback selected since 1970, when Steve Ramsey was a fifth-round choice of the New Orleans Saints.
WR | Michael Lawrence | #32 | 5-10 | 187 | Sweetwater, Texas | Sweetwater HS
Lawrence concluded his North Texas career with 143 receptions (ninth most in program history) for 1,929 yards (12th in program history) and nine touchdowns, averaging 13.5 yards per catch across 46 career appearances. Nicknamed "The Standard" early in his collegiate career for his extremely technical route-running, the slot receiver was one of five team captains and a member of the leadership council. He finished his senior season in 2019 with 48 catches for 661 yards and three touchdowns while appearing in all 12 games, eight of which were starts. As a junior, he caught 32 catches for 433 yards and two touchdowns in 13 games, eight of which were starts and really burst onto the scene as a sophomore, posting a team-high 62 catches for 819 yards and four touchdowns in 14 appearances and earned all-conference honorable mention status.
OL | Elex Woodworth | #77 | 6-4 | 296 | Mesquite, Texas | Horn HS
Woodworth made 45 career starts in 48 appearances throughout his career in Denton. Woodworth, a versatile offensive lineman, played at every position along the line except center for the Mean Green during his career at UNT. A member of the team's leadership council in 2018 and 2019, Woodworth was an all-conference honorable mention selection as a redshirt sophomore in 2017, as selected by the 14 Conference USA head coaches.
RB | Loren Easly | #23 | 5-11 | 201 | Houston, Texas | Stephen F. Austin
Easly concluded his North Texas career with 129 carries for 629 yards with five rushing scores and six receptions for 84 yards in 11 career appearances across two seasons. The Houston native was off to a very strong start as a redshirt junior in 2018, but his season was lost due to a knee injury, which he battled back from in 2019. Easly is a physical runner who fit in nicely in head coach Seth Littrell's offensive scheme and had 55 carries for 243 yards and caught two passes for 26 yards in seven appearances in 2019. He topped the century mark twice, both in 2018, including a 177-yard performance on 27 carries with a pair of touchdowns in a win at Liberty.
Should Hamilton, Fine or any of the other Mean Green players eligible for the draft be selected, it would mark the first time a North Texas player was drafted since Cody Spencer was selected by the Oakland Raiders in 2004, in the sixth round.
Others in the mix include safeties Khairi Muhammad and Taylor Robinson, tight end Kelvin Smith, defensive lineman Darrian McMillan, defensive back Nick Harvey and punter Alvin Kenworthy.
Where to Watch NFL Draft Coverage
| Date | Round(s) | Time (CT) | Coverage |
| Thursday, April 23 | 1 | 7 p.m. | ABC, ESPN, NFL Network, ESPN Deportes, NFL.com/Watch |
| Friday, April 24 | 2-3 | 6 p.m. | ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, NFL Network, ESPN Deportes, NFL.com/Watch |
| Saturday, April 25 | 4-7 | 11 a.m. | ABC, ESPN, NFL Network, ESPN Deportes, NFL.com/Watch |
Fans can also follow along with the NFL.com draft tracker.
Players Mentioned
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