Jaguars select Yasir Abdullah in Fifth Round of 2023 NFL Draft

The linebacker is the second Louisville football player to be selected in this year's draft.

Matthew McGavic | Apr 29, 2023

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LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Louisville outside linebacker Yasir Abdullah has been selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars with the No. 136 overall pick in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft.

Abdullah is the second former Cardinal to be selected in this year's draft, following defensive end YaYa Diaby. He is also the school's 155th all-time NFL Draft selection, and the 26th former Louisville player to be drafted in the last 10 years.

The 6-foot-1, 242-pound 3-4 edge rusher was the driving force behind one of the most aggressive front sevens in all of college football. Abdullah led Louisville with 9.5 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss, which was good for first and sixth in the ACC, respectively, while also tallying 63 total tackles (34 solo) for the fourth-most on the team. He also had two interceptions, four pass breakups, four forced fumbles and seven quarterback hurries.

The Miramar, Fla. native was voted as a First-Team All-ACC Selection, and was second in ACC Defensive Player of the Year voting to Pitt defensive tackle Calijah Kancey. Assisted heavily by Abdullah, Louisville led all of FBS in sacks with 50 and placed seventh in tackles for loss with 97.

Abdullah concluded his Louisville career as one of the most productive defenders in school history. In 60 appearances and 40 starts over five years, he collected 210 total tackles (124 solo), 43.0 tackles for loss, 23.5 sacks, eight forced fumbles, eight pass break ups and three interceptions. He is tied for the second-most tackles for loss, has the eighth-most sacks and is tied for the fourth-most forced fumbles in Louisville history.

(Photo of Yasir Abdullah: Jamie Rhodes - USA TODAY Sports)

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Published Apr 29, 2023

MATTHEW MCGAVIC

McGavic is a 2016 Sport Administration graduate of the University of Louisville, and a native of the Derby City. He has been covering the Cardinals in various capacities since 2017, with a brief stop in Atlanta, Ga. on the Georgia Tech beat. He is also a co-host of the 'From The Pink Seats' podcast on the State of Louisville network. Video gamer, bourbon drinker and dog lover. Find him on Twitter at @Matt_McGavic