Villanova's Tanoh Kpassagnon
VU's Kpassagnon, Seaton Chosen In NFL Draft
PHILADELPHIA, PA. -- Villanova University defensive end Tanoh Kpassagnon was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft, while Wildcats' offensive tackle Brad Seaton went in the seventh round to the Tennessee Titans.
Kpassagnon was the 59th overall pick. He becomes the first Wildcat to be drafted since offensive tackle Ben Ijalana was selected in the second round of the 2011 draft. Seaton was the 236th overall pick.and gave Villanova two players chosen in the same draft for the first time since 1981.
Kpassagnon, a native of Ambler, Pa., and a graduate of Wissahickon High School, started all 13 games for the Wildcats in 2016 and led the CAA and ranked in the top 15 nationally in both quarterback sacks (11) and tackles for loss (21.5). He also tallied 45 total tackles, two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble and a blocked kick. He finished the season with at least one sack in nine of the 13 games.
He helped anchor a Villanova defense that led all of FCS football in both total defense (259.8 ypg) and scoring defense (15.0 ppg.) and ranks fourth in rushing defense at 87.6 yards per game.
In addition to being the 2016 CAA Defensive Player of the Year, Kpassagnon was a consensus first team All-American earning All-America acclaim from the Associated Press, Sports Network, Walter Camp Foundation and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA).
He played in 41 career games at Villanova and registered 105 total tackles (65 solo stops), 37.5 tackles for loss, 22 quarterback sacks, three fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles and one interception.
During his Villanova career, Kpassagnon helped lead the Wildcats to a 32-17 overall record and two appearances in the FCS playoffs.
A three-time member of the CAA All-Academic Team, Kpassagnon graduated in May of 2016 with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance. He earned a second degree in December of 2016 in Accountancy.
Seaton started all 13 games on the Wildcats offensive line in 2016 and finished his collegiate career with a streak of 30 consecutive starts dating back to the beginning of the 2014 season. He started all but three of the 33 career games he played in. Villanova averaged 206.3 rushing yard and 378.8 yards of total offense per game during the 2016 season. The team ranked third in CAA Football and 24th nationally in rushing offense, and was also fourth in the league in total offense and fifth with a scoring average of 24.4 points per game.
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Kpassagnon was the first NCAA FCS player to be selected in the 2017 NFL Draft and it's the second straight year that the CAA Football Defensive Player of the Year was the first draft selection in the conference. W&M's DeAndre Houston-Carson was chosen in the sixth round a year ago. Dating back to 2008, it's the fourth time that CAA Football has had the first FCS player taken in the draft.
With Seaton's selection, it was the 12th straight year CAA Football has had at least two players chosen in the NFL Draft.