The San Francisco 49ers selected Appalachian State University defensive lineman Ronald Blair (Greensboro, Ga./Greene County) with the third pick of the fifth round (142nd overall) in the 2016 National Football League Draft on Saturday.
Blair is 26th NFL Draft pick in Appalachian State history and the first since Demetrius McCray was selected in the seventh round of the 2013 Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Blair is the Mountaineers’ highest draft pick since Brian Quick was chosen with the first pick of the second round by the St. Louis Rams in 2012. The 6-2, 284-pounder was also the first Sun Belt Conference player to come off the board in this year’s draft.