Siaki Ika selected in third round of NFL Draft

The long wait is over, and the Bears are on the board, as defensive lineman Siaki Ika heard his name called in the third round of Friday night's NFL Draft in Kansas City. 

The man affectionately known as 'Apu' was picked by the Cleveland Browns in round three with the 98th overall pick. 

Ika is the first Baylor player selected in the 2023 NFL Draft and the first Bear chosen by the Browns franchise since they double-dipped with first-round WR Corey Coleman and fifth-round OL Spencer Drango in 2016. In addition, Ika is the program's first defensive tackle drafted since Bravvion Roy in the sixth round back in 2020. 

Thanks to his connection with Dave Aranda, Ika transferred to Baylor from LSU after a 2020 season that saw both men help the Tigers win a National Championship and SEC title. And both added to those accolades during his two seasons in Waco, helping lead the Bears to a Big 12 Championship and Sugar Bowl title while also earning back-to-back All-Big 12 first-team honors and the conference's 2021 Defensive Newcomer of the Year award.