Saints Draft 2019 | NewOrleansSaints.com

McCoy was not highly recruited despite earning second-team all-state honors at Lufkin High School in Texas. Aggies coaches saw enough to give him a scholarship, however, and he worked himself into a three-year starter. He redshirted in 2015 before earning the starting center spot for all 13 contests in 2016. McCoy started all 13 games for A&M in 2017, as well, 11 at center and two at guard. He was a team captain in 2018, again starting all 13 games in the middle of the offensive line called the "Maroon Goons."

Heading into his junior season, Gardner-Johnson lengthened his last name from Gardner to honor Brian Johnson, or "Pops", who has been with his family since Chauncey was young. He played quite well with the new name, starting 11 of 13 games played and making 71 stops, nine for loss, three sacks, a team-high four interceptions and two pass breakups. As a sophomore, Gardner-Johnson started all 11 games for the Gators, posting 58 stops, six for loss, two interceptions and seven pass breakups. In 2016, Gardner-Johnson started as a reserve defensive back and special teams contributor (team-high eight of his 32 tackles that year on coverage units), but eventually started three times in 13 games played. He tied for the team lead with three interceptions, two of which came in the Outback Bowl. He was the game's MVP, becoming the first freshman to win that honor at Florida since Hall of Fame running back Emmitt Smith. Gardner-Johnson was a USA Today All-Florida selection as a high school senior at Cocoa High before going to Gainesville.

Hampton showed glimpses of becoming a potential star during his first three years with the Scarlet Knights, but injuries to both shoulders shortened his sophomore and junior seasons. The New Jersey native got into the lineup as a redshirt freshman, starting 1 of 12 games played (28 tackles, one interception, two pass breakups). He started seven game in 2016, but missed five games and played with a harness through the second half of the year (46 tackles, three for loss, one interception). He started 7 of 8 games played in 2017 due to another shoulder problem (38 tackles, three pass breakups). Hampton played well during a healthy senior season, earning honorable mention All-Big Ten honors as well as his team's MVP Award after leading the conference with 1.3 passes defended per game (three interceptions, 13 pass breakups in 12 starts). He posted 65 tackles on the year, three for loss.

Mack came to the Irish with great expectations after starring at Las Vegas powerhouse Bishop Gorman, which had won six straight state high school titles as well as the mythical national championship in one of the seasons he was there. He started five games as a true freshman at Notre Dame, catching 13 passes for 190 yards (14.6 average) in 13 games played. Mack was academically ineligible in 2016 and did not play. He practiced with the team that fall, and then worked through the summer to become eligible in 2017. He started six games as a junior, grabbing 19 passes for 166 yards (8.7 average) and a touchdown on a team that lacked consistency in the passing game. Mack started 12 games in 2018 for the College Football Playoff participants, receiving 36 passes for 360 yards (10.0 per) and three scores.

Kaden is the son of Luther Elliss, a first-round pick in 1995 for the Detroit Lions who played 10 years in the NFL. The older was the defensive line coach at Idaho for the past four years, seeing his son excel from Day 1. Kaden was the Utah High School Most Valuable Player in 2013 as a quarterback and defensive end after leading his high school to its first state title in 30 years. He grayshirted the 2014 season, and then finished second on the team with 83 tackles (eight for loss, one sack) in 2015. Ellis was an honorable mention All-Sun Belt pick in 2016 after intercepting five passes to lead all FBS linebackers (also 65 tackles, eight for loss). Sun Belt coaches named him second-team all-conference in 2017 (80 tackles, 16 for loss, six sacks, four pass breakups, two forced fumbles) and showed off his athleticism by lining up at wide receiver and tight end (7-156-22.3, two TD). Ellis was a first-team pick in 2018, leading his team with 16 tackles for loss and seven sacks (60 tackles, three pass break-ups). He played some offense, as well (3-20-6.7 receiving).