NFL Draft: Marte Mapu of Sacramento State, DJ Johnson of Burbank selected in third round

Marte Mapu of Sacramento State and DJ Johnson of the Oregon Ducks by way of Burbank High School in Sacramento were anyone’s guess as to where they might get selected in the NFL Draft.

Mock drafts projected the defensive stalwarts to go anywhere from the third round to the seventh. They went in the third round Friday night to highlight the local haul of prospects.

A 6-foot-3, 220-pound All-American safety/linebacker hybrid who wowed coaches and NFL scouts with his efforts at the NFLPA and Senior Bowl games, Mapu went 76th overall to the New England Patriots. The hard-hitting, versatile senior from Hawthorne of Los Angeles County was the first Big Sky Conference player and second FCS-level performer to come off the board. He became the highest-drafted player in Sacramento State history after running back John Farley went in the fourth round to the Cincinnati Bengals in 1984.

Johnson went four picks after Mapu at No. 80 to the Carolina Panthers, where the rush-end specialist will join veteran linebacker Shaq Thompson, a Grant High School product, and will be coached by defensive coordinator Ejrio Evero, a UC Davis graduate.

The Panthers traded up to nab Johnson, who dazzled NFL scouts with his athletic ability and his 4.8-second 40-yard dash time, which was tied for fourth among the 28 edge rushers who ran the event at the NFL Scouting Combine.

The 6-4, 260-pound Johnson was one of the most versatile players in college football, including playing linebacker at Miami and starting at tight end and/or defensive end at Oregon, where last season he had six sacks. He caught three touchdown passes as a sophomore with the Ducks.

Alabama linebacker Henry To’oTo’o, who attended Burbank High as a freshman before his transfer to De La Salle, was selected by the Houston Texans in the fifth round on Saturday afternoon.

The 6-1, 225-pound To’oTo’o made 205 tackles over his final two seasons with Alabama.

▪ Offesnive lineman Nick Amoah of Davis High and UC Davis signed with the Chicago Bears as an undrafted rookie free agent.

▪ Running back Elijah Dotson, the one-time Antelope High and Sacramento State star who finished his college career at Northern Colorado, signed with the San Diego Chargers as an undrafted rookie free agent.

▪ Tight end Josh Falo of Inderkum High and USC signed as an undrafted rookie free agent with the New York Jets.

▪ Receiver Joseph Ngata of Folsom High and Clemson signed with the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted rookie free agent.