Louisville fans all know who Mekhi Becton is. He’s a 6’7 369 lbs OT who has an even bigger personality. The Big Ticket is a irresistible force on the offensive line. His power allows him to throw 260 lbs men around like rag dolls. His footwork and quickness allow him to stonewall speed rushers and get to the second level and bull doze defenders for his running backs. After a season learning under the tutelage of renowned OL Coach Dwayne Ledford, Mekhi took his game to another level this season. He is a potential (and likely) franchise left tackle.
He entered the draft and his highlights and physical tools made teams take notice. Tonight, he lived his dream and was drafted with the 11th pick in the First Round of the NFL Draft by the J-E-T-S Jets, Jets, Jets.
With the 11th pick in the 2020 #NFLDraft, the @nyjets select @BigTicket73!#GoCards pic.twitter.com/hx9Hdmx5wq
— Louisville Football (@LouisvilleFB) April 24, 2020
Mekhi is a mountain of a man and a player that can be the anchor for the Jets offensive line. With a young and promising QB in Sam Darnold and an All-Pro RB in Le’Veon Bell, Mekhi can both open holes for Bell to run through and protect Darnold’s blindside. The size, speed, the quickness, and athleticism for a man as big as Becton is are almost superhuman. Mekhi will also bring a great personality to the a city full of personality in NYC.
Big Apple, meet @BigTicket73!#GoCards x #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/nUtqhvhorM
— Louisville Football (@LouisvilleFB) April 24, 2020
Congrats to Mekhi Becton on being a first round NFL Draft pick. He will always be a Cardinal Forever and now Louisville fans can enjoy wearing some Jets green along with Raven purple, Carolina cobalt blue, Green Bay green, and Dolphin teal.
Below you can read UofL’s official press release on Becton’s big night complete with some words from Head Coach Scott Satterfield. You can also read a couple of tweets from the coaching staff, including from UofL OL Coach Dwayne Ledford.
PRESS RELEASE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT:
Louisville’s Becton Selected by the New York Jets With the No. 11 Selection in the NFL Draft
Offensive tackle Mekhi Becton is the highest drafted offensive lineman in school history.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 24, 2020
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – University of Louisville offensive tackleMekhi Becton was selected in the first round and No. 11 overall by the New York Jets in the NFL Draft Thursday evening.
Becton is the eighth first-round selection for the Cardinals since 2014, and the first player taken in the first round since cornerback Jaire Alexander and quarterback Lamar Jackson were the No. 18 and No. 32 picks by Green Bay and Baltimore, respectively, in the 2018 draft.
Becton is Louisville’s 22nd draft pick overall since the 2014 draft.
A 6-foot-7, 364-pounder, Becton is the highest offensive lineman drafted offensive lineman and the third taken in the first round in school history, joining Eric Wood (2009) and Bruce Armstrong (1991). Armstrong was the previously highest drafted offensive lineman in school history when he was selected No. 25 by the New England Patriots, while Wood was drafted by Buffalo as the No. 28 selection.
Becton is only the fourth UofL offensive lineman taken since 2015, and the first since Geron Christian was the No. 74 pick in the third round by Washington in 2018.
“I can’t express how happy I am for Mekhi and his family to be a first-round selection,” UofL head coach Scott Satterfield said. “There aren’t many people that are that big that can move the way he does, and he has such a bright future. He really answered a lot of questions on the way he played this year, and to his credit, he put all the work in to be one the best in the country. He’s just scratching the surface with his potential and he has the opportunity to be an outstanding tackle in the NFL for a long time.”
Becton was a three-year starter at Louisville, starting 34 games at left tackle since signing with the Cardinals in 2017. A first team All-Atlantic Coast Conference selection in 2019, Becton was also voted the winner of the 2019 Jacobs Blocking Trophy, which is given to the top blocker in the ACC.
The third-year player was named ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week on Oct. 7 after his performance in the 41-39 victory over Boston College, which snapped the Cardinals’ nine-game conference losing streak. He graded out better than 80 percent in eight games and registered over 60 knockdown blocks to help the Cardinals finish the season at 8-5 and 5-3 in the ACC — a turnaround of six games from 2018.
A native of Highland Springs, Va., Becton was a dominating force in Louisville’s resurgent offense. The Cardinals finished the regular season having one of the nation’s top offenses in the nation. He has paved the way for running back JavianHawkins to rush for 1,525, the school’s first 1,000-yard season by a running back since Bilal Powell in 2014 and the third-best total by a freshman in league history.
Becton led a Louisville offense that ranked tied for second in scoring offense in the ACC (33.1), third in rushing offense (212.1), and fourth in total offense (447.3).
We're so proud of you @BigTicket73!#GoCards x #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/DanUlG7kO9
— Louisville Football (@LouisvilleFB) April 24, 2020
— Coach Satterfield (@CoachSattUC) April 24, 2020
Words cannot describe how I am feeling right now. Congratulations @BigTicket73 We are sooooooo Happy for you #BOBs💀 #L1C4 Love you brother ✊🏼 pic.twitter.com/39AaMBpt6q
— Dwayne Ledford (@Coach_Ledford) April 24, 2020
NEWWWW YORKKKKK‼️‼️‼️
— Cort Dennison (@Coach_Dennison) April 24, 2020
The Jets just got a GREAT one! Good luck @BigTicket73. Time to leave your legacy in the league like you did in the VILLE! #ProCards #WhosNext pic.twitter.com/yw2Y1RkcJg
