Former Miami DT Nesta Jade Silvera (Arizona State) drafted by Raiders in seventh round
Defensive tackle Nesta Jade Silvera, a four-star prospect when he graduated from Plantation American Heritage in 2017, chose the Miami Hurricanes over offers from several traditional football powers.
He played four seasons for the Hurricanes, surprising many when he announced he was transferring to Arizona State in January 2022. On Saturday, the Las Vegas Raiders drafted Silvera in the seventh and final round of the 2023 NFL Draft — the 231st overall pick.
Silvera started 10 of his 12 games in 2022, amassing 56 tackles, 4 ½ tackles for loss, 1 ½ sacks, three pass breakups, two quarterback hurries and a forced fumble.
Arizona State’s only representative at the NFL Combine, Silvera weighed in at 6-2 and 304 pounds. He ran a 5.16-second 40-yard best there, ranking 10th among defensive tackles. Silvera’s vertical jump was 29 ½ inches, fifth among DTs. His broad jump of 9’3’’ was sixth best.
Silvera’s last season in 2021 with the Hurricanes ended with 38 tackles in 11 games, eight of them starts. He had 5 ½ tackles for loss, one quarterback hurry and a forced fumble.
“It’s with a very heavy heart and a bunch of sleepless nights that I have decided to enter the transfer portal,’’ Silvera said the day of his announcement. “I love the crib but it’s time to do what’s best for me.
“Not one person on earth can change what God got planned for you so I just want to thank him,’’ Silvera said on social media when he announced his transfer. “I want to thank the University of Miami for allowing me to play football at this prestigious university. It was a dream come true and I’ll never forget those moments out on Greentree or at Hard Rock. Nobody can take those moments away.’’
