Courtesy of Tim Nott, Grand Valley State Associate Athletic Director for Media Relations

ALLENDALE, Mich. -- Grand Valley State senior defensive end Matt Judon was selected in the 2016 NFL draft by the Baltimore Ravens with the seventh pick in the fifth round (146) Saturday afternoon.  Judon, the first D2 player taken in the 2016 NFL draft, was the seventh player drafted from the State of Michigan (MSU 3, UM 2, WMU 1). In addition, Judon is now the second highest GVSU football player to be drafted behind Brandon Carr who was the 140th pick in the 2008 NFL draft by the Kansas City Chiefs.

Judon, a consensus 2016 D2 Defensive Player of the Year and the 2016 Gene Upshaw Award winner as the top lineman in the country, turned in a record-setting season for the Lakers on the gridiron. He led all of college football, regardless of division, in QB sacks with 21 (-127). In addition, Judon set a GVSU single-season record for QB sacks (21), tackles for loss with 23.5 (-134) and his 81 total tackles was a GVSU single-season record for a defensive lineman. Judon tallied a TFL in 10 games and QB sack nine games during the 2015 campaign. Judon finished his career as the all-time leader in career QB sacks at GVSU with 34 and sixth in TFL (51.5), while recording 204 tackles, 11 pass deflections and eight forced fumbles. Grand Valley State won its ninth NCAA Regional crown since 2001 during the 2015 campaign and advanced to the NCAA DII National semifinals for the second time in the last three years and the ninth time in school history.