ARIZONA STATE FOOTBALL

Arizona State DL Nesta Jade Silvera accepts invitation to 2023 Senior Bowl

Jan 15, 2023, 9:29 AM | Updated: 9:35 am

Defensive lineman Nesta Jade Silvera #4 of the Arizona State Sun Devils reacts after a sack during ...

Defensive lineman Nesta Jade Silvera #4 of the Arizona State Sun Devils reacts after a sack during the first half against the Oregon State Beavers at Sun Devil Stadium on November 19, 2022 in Tempe, Arizona. The Beavers beat the Sun Devils 31-7. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)

(Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)

Arizona State Sun Devils defensive lineman Nesta Jade Silvera on Saturday accepted his invitation to play in the 2023 Senior Bowl.

Silvera becomes the first Sun Devil to be playing in the exhibition game at Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile, Alabama, on Feb. 4 in front of NFL scouts.

The 6-foot-2, 315-pound defensive lineman announced his declaration for April’s draft in Kansas City on Dec. 13.

Silvera spent the first four years of his collegiate career as a Miami Hurricane before graduating and transferring to Arizona State for his lone season in Tempe.

In 10 games for the Sun Devils this past season, the graduate student totaled 51 tackles (18 solo), three tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks, two passes defensed and one forced fumble.

Silvera undoubtedly had the best year of his five-year college career at ASU, having accumulated 41 tackles (18 solo), 16 TFLs, 2.0 sacks, one forced fumble and one pass defensed over four seasons at Miami.

He is currently projected to be a Day-3 selection, meaning draft experts expect him to be picked somewhere between the fifth and seventh rounds.

Silvera was the first of six Sun Devils to declare for the 2023 NFL Draft and joins teammate linebackers Merlin Robertson and Kyle Soelle, running back Xazavian Valladay and offensive lineman LaDarius Henderson to have accepted invitations to either the East-West Shrine Bowl (Feb. 2) or Hula Bowl (Saturday) — or both in Soelle’s case.

However, Henderson has since announced his transfer to play his final year of eligibility for the Michigan Wolverines.

Arizona State Football

Arizona Wildcats v. Arizona State Sun Devils...

Arizona Sports

Robbins on realignment: ‘(Arizona, ASU) don’t have to do same thing’

University of Arizona president Bobby Robbins' comments come with the Pac-12 conference still without a new media rights deal.

13 hours ago

Arizona State football's new turf field at Camp Tontozona. (Sun Devil Football / Facebook)...

Wills Rice

Arizona State football to return to Camp Tontozona in August

Arizona State football and new head coach Kenny Dillingham announced the team will be returning to Camp Tontozona in Payson again in August.

2 days ago

Place kicker Ian Hershey #10 of the Idaho State Bengals gets a nearly mishandled punt off against t...

Arizona Sports

ASU football lands former Idaho State kicker, punter Ian Hershey

Place kicker Ian Hershey announced his commitment to Arizona State football after transferring from Idaho State.

5 days ago

Larry Fitzgerald, Pittsburgh Panthers, college football...

Arizona Sports

Larry Fitzgerald, 3 ASU players on 2024 College Football Hall of Fame ballot

Former Arizona Cardinals great Larry Fitzgerald and three Arizona State Sun Devils are on the 2024 College Football Hall of Fame ballot.

5 days ago

Follow @AZSports...

Arizona Sports

ASU’s Dillingham: QB Jaden Rashada ‘addicted to trying to be better’

The beginning of the Kenny Dillingham era in Tempe comes with an unknown at quarterback but also a few interesting options.

10 days ago

Kenny Dillingham, ASU football head coach...

Arizona Sports

2023 ASU football schedule includes FS1 appointments in nonconference

The Arizona State Sun Devils will begin the Kenny Dillingham era with a favorable schedule of four home games in a row.

10 days ago

Arizona State DL Nesta Jade Silvera accepts invitation to 2023 Senior Bowl