Warner, South Dakota native drafted by Denver Broncos

FARGO, N.D. (GoBison.com) — The Denver Broncos selected North Dakota State defensive end and Warner, South Dakota native Derrek Tuszka with the 254th overall pick in the seventh round of the NFL Draft on Saturday, April 25.

Tuszka, the 2019 Missouri Valley Football Conference Defensive Player of the Year, was one of just six FCS players selected in the draft. He was a three-year starter at NDSU, first team All-American in 2019, and finished fifth in NDSU history with 29.5 career sacks totaling 202 yards.

The 37th draft pick out of North Dakota State, Tuszka is just the second defensive end selected in the program’s Division I era. The first was 2014 Buck Buchanan Award winner Kyle Emanuel, who played four seasons with the Chargers before retirement.

North Dakota State had two other players agree to terms as undrafted free agents. Tight end Ben Ellefson signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars and offensive lineman Zack Johnson signed with the Green Bay Packers.