Dolphins Draft Cornerback Cordrea Tankersley

PHILADELPHIA, PA — The Miami Dolphins chose cornerback Cordrea Tankersley as the team's third pick in the NFL draft on Friday. The Dolphins had the 22nd pick in the second round and the 33rd pick in Round 3. It was the second day of the draft.

Tankersley, an All-ACC Selection, hails from Clemson University. He brings speed and talent to the Dolphins ahead of the 2017 season. The announcement of his selection came around 11:15 p.m. (Sign up for our free Daily Newsletters and Breaking News Alerts for the Miami Patch.)

The Dolphins will have the 22nd, 35th and 41st picks in Round 5 on Saturday.

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The Fins will announce their Day 3 picks of the NFL Draft from the Baptist Health Training Facility at Nova Southeastern University. The team’s Day 3 selections — which begin on Saturday at noon — will celebrate youth football in South Florida. The announcements will be made by team alums Troy Drayton and Patrick Surtain, who is the American Heritage High School head football coach. Jaden Piner from the Academy Award-winning film Moonlight will also participate.

Drayton, who currently serves as the Dolphins Youth Programs Manager, will be joined by the youth flag football team that represented the franchise at this year’s NFL Pro Bowl in Orlando. The team is comprised of players who participated in the Dolphins Academy Summer Camps.

Drayton played tight end for the Dolphins from 1996-99 and appeared in 55 games with 53 starts. He caught 127 passes for 1,511 yards (11.9 avg.) and eight touchdowns. He was a second-round pick in the 1993 NFL draft by the Los Angeles Rams and played eight NFL seasons with three different teams.

Accompanying Surtain for the announcement will be Miami Carol City Senior High School running back and Dolphins High School Player of the Year Nayquan Wright as well as Dolphins Team Mom of the Year Marisella Readon from the Boca Braves of the Gold Coast Pop Warner League. These three announcers were recognized throughout the 2016 NFL season by the Miami Dolphins and the Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality (RISE) for their commitment to being leaders both on and off the field.

Surtain was a second-round pick by the Dolphins in the 1998 NFL draft and played seven seasons for the team (1998-2004). He was selected to three straight Pro Bowls (2002-04) and named All-Pro in 2002 and 2003. Surtain played in 108 games for the Dolphins and had 29 interceptions and 86 passes defensed. As a coach, he helped American Heritage win the FHSAA Class 5A state championship in 2016, defeating Ponte Verde 35-33. Surtain also received the Week 14 High School Coach of the Week award and was named by the Dolphins as the Broward County High School Coach of the Year.

Wright is a running back from Miami Carol City Senior High School and a member of the Chiefs’ 2016 Class 2A State Championship team. He received recognition as the Week 5 High School Player of the Week. Only a sophomore, Wright already has scholarship offers from Alabama, Miami, Notre Dame, Florida State and Georgia.

Readon was the Week 10 Team Mom of the Week award recipient. Readon has overcome tremendous adversity as she lost her son in early 2016, who would have been on the Tiny Mite team (7U), yet she still finds the time and energy to support her older son’s team.

Moonlight cast member Jaden Piner also will announce a selection for the Dolphins. Piner, 13, co-starred in the movie Moonlight that won the Academy Award for Best Picture. He played the young version of Chiron's friend Kevin and had the opportunity to walk the red carpet and attend the Oscars. Piner is a student at Norland Middle School in Miami Gardens and will be joined by his cast members and drama teacher, Tanisha Cidel.

Photo of Hard Rock Stadium Courtesy of Miami Dolphins