With the 182nd pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, the New York Giants selected Cincinnati Darrian Beavers.
Here is everything you need to know about the new member of Big Blue:
OVERVIEW
Height: 6-4
Weight: 237 lbs.
2021: 1st-Team All-American Athletic Conference
2020: 2nd-Team All-American Athletic Conference
Beavers began his career at UConn but transferred back home to Cincinnati (he was a three-sport athlete at Colerain High School) after the 2018 season. He actually led UConn with four sacks playing defensive end in 2018 (23 tackles, 4.5 for loss, two pass break-ups) one year after playing all 12 games for the Huskies as a true freshman (15 tackles, three sacks). In his first year with the Bearcats, Beavers started 10 of 14 contests (36 tackles, 1.5 for loss). His game took a step up in 2020, when he garnered second-team All-American Athletic Conference honors (58 tackles, 7.5 for loss with 2.5 sacks, two interceptions, four pass break-ups). Beavers not only graduated to first-team all-conference honors in 2021 (102 tackles, 11.5 for loss, with 4.5 sacks, one interception, two pass break-ups, two forced fumbles in 14 starts) but was also named a finalist for the Butkus Award, given to the nation's top linebacker.
NFL.COM SCOUTING REPORT
- Big, strong and physical.
- Shows ability to take on or slip a block.
- Well-timed strikes into climbing blockers.
- Powerful base to play under and through an angle block.
- Effective recognition of play development.
- Maintains discipline with backside duties.
- Effective getting around blocker on blitzes.
- Awareness of incoming routes in spot drops.
View photos from sixth round pick and former Cincinnati linebacker Darrian Beavers.
2021: Dick Butkus Award finalist and First-Team All- AAC selection who proved to be one of the nation's top linebackers during his senior season...Selected for the Reese's Senior Bowl...Finished with fifth in the AAC with 102 tackles and 11.5 TFLS...Added 4.5 sacks, an interception, two pass breakups, two fumbles forced and two more recoveries...Got in on a sack in each of the first five games...Totaled nine tackles, one sack and two TFLs in win at Indiana....Finished with six tackles and a half-sack at Notre Dame...Tallied season-high 14 tackles, including one TFL, at Navy...Had a 10-tackle performance versus Tulsa...Finished with seven tackles and one TFL at USF...Finished with four stops, 1.5 TFLs and an interception at East Carolina...Capped the regular season with nine tackles against Houston in the AAC Championship Game...Led UC with 10 tackles, two TFLs and one sack versus No. 1 Alabama in College Football Playoff Semifinals at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic...Gained 100 pounds since high school, where he was a safety and wide receiver before beginning his collegiate career at UConn...Was roommates with current UC offensive lineman James Tunstall in Storrs as well...First Bearcat in contention for Butkus Award since Alex Gordon (semifinalist) in 1986...Played in 38 games for the Bearcats, totaling 195 tackles, 20.5 TFLs and seven sacks.Â
2020:Second-Team All-AAC honors started 10 games at linebacker for the 2020 AAC Champions. UC's elite defense ranked in the NCAA's Top-15 in five categories, including tied for No. 3 in both interceptions (16) and No. 3 in team passing efficiency defense (101.26). The Bearcats have forced a turnover in 20-straight games, the longest active streak in the NCAA FBS, totaling AAC highs with 55 passes defended and 16 interceptions. UC's second-leading tackler on the season with 58 stops. Also finished with 7.5 tackles for a loss, 2.4 sacks, two interceptions, four passes defended, a QB hurry and forced fumble. Had two more more tackles in every game and had five or more on seven occasions. Had a career-best day at UCF, setting highs with 12 tackles, 4.0 tackles for a loss and 1.5 sacks. Picked off interceptions against USF and vs. Tulsa in the AAC Championship game. Forced a fumble in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl against Georgia. Elected to return to UC in 2021 to use his additional year of eligibility.Â
2019: Played in all 14 games, starting in 10 ... totaled 36 tackles, 1.5 for a loss along with a pair of QB hurries ... had a season-best six stops at USF and had three or more tackles on six occasions ... tallied four tackles at Marshall and vs. Temple ... named to the 2019 AAC All-Academic Team.
PRIOR TO UC: Came to UC in the spring of 2019 after two seasons at UConn, playing 24 games and leading the Huskies with 4.0 sacks a year ago. He finished his career there with 38 career tackles, 7.5 tackles for a loss and 7.0 sacks.
2018 (UConn): Played in all 12 games, started in six… Led the Huskies with 4.0 sacks… Recorded 23 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and broke up two passes… Posted career-high five tackles at Syracuse (9/22) including a sack… Registered a sack vs. Cincinnati (9/29)… Tied career-high with five tackles at USF (10/22) and a sack… Added a sack and three tackles at Tulsa (11/3).
2017 (UConn): Played in all 12 games in his freshman season…Notched 15 total tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks…Nabbed his first career tackle vs. Holy Cross (Aug. 31)…Career-high four tackles at UCF (Nov. 11)…Collected career-high two sacks at SMU (Sept. 30).
High School: Played for Tom Bolden at Colerain HS as a safety and WR. Was a scholar athlete. Three-year recipient of the Varsity Starter Award. Senior year recognized for being a 4.0 GPA student. First Team All-Conference on defense in 2015 and 2016. Team finished runner-up in States in 2016, after finishing season undefeated. Three-time GMC Champions. Also earned varsity letter in basketball and track.
View photos of the Giants' draft picks as they tour their new home.