Moorpark product Drake London selected eighth overall in 2022 NFL Draft by Atlanta Falcons

The Atlanta Falcons picked Moorpark grad Drake London with the eighth overall selection in the 2022 NFL Draft on Thursday night.

London, a wide receiver, was putting together a generational season at USC before fracturing his right ankle in a game against Arizona on Oct. 30. The injury ended a season where London caught 88 passes for 1,084 yards and seven touchdowns in only eight games. Even though he didn't play the full year, London was still named the PAC-12 Offensive Player of the Year for his efforts. 

London was the first receiver taken off the board in the draft. 

Initially London went to USC with the hope of playing both football and basketball after starring in the two sports at Moorpark. He didn't play varsity football at Moorpark until his junior year, but it quickly became apparent at USC that football was London's ticket to playing professional sports, so he focused exclusively on the sport after his freshman year. 

As a high school basketball player, London's Moorpark teams battled Coastal Canyon League rival Camarillo, the high school current UCLA forward Jaime Jaquez attended. London and Jaquez had some legendary battles on the hardwood including a 2018 game where both players scored 34 points in an 82-68 win for Camarillo. 

(Photo by Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports)