Former Texas linebacker Malik Jefferson is officially making a living playing the sport he loves. After the Cincinnati Bengals selected him in the third round with the No. 78 overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft, Jefferson has signed a deal to play in the National Football League. The linebacker came to terms with the Bengals earlier this month, and inked a four-year, $3.38 million rookie contract after he wrapped up mandatory organized team activities in Cincinnati. Jefferson's rookie deal also includes a signing bonus in the amount of $692,796, according to figures obtained by Over The Cap.

"Client Malik Jefferson signed his Bengals contract today," Jefferson's agent Nicole Lynn tweeted, along with a photo of Jefferson signing his deal. "We are so proud of him! This is only the beginning."

Jefferson's contact comes after a solid three-year campaign playing at Texas, including a breakout junior season under defensive coordinator Todd Orlando. The linebacker was a key component in Orlando's unit last year, which finished in the Top 10 in the nation in run defense (No. 8), third-down conversion percentage defense (No. 3) and fourth-down conversion percentage defense (No. 7). Jefferson's 2017 season propelled him up the draft boards, after he was named the Big 12 Conference's Co-Defensive Player of the Year and landed on the league's All-Big 12 first team. His performance also earned him a trip to the 2018 NFL Combine, where he placed as a top performer with his 4.52 40-yard dash time, put up 27 reps on the bench press and registered a 125-inch broad jump.

A three-year starter at Texas, Jefferson saw action in 34 games for the Longhorns with 29 career starts, including starting all 12 regular-season games in his final year at Texas. The linebacker led the team with 110 tackles, including 10 tackles for loss, as a junior.

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Jefferson was one of six underclassmen from Texas who chose to forgo remaining college eligibility and enter the 2018 NFL Draft. Of the juniors who declared early, the linebacker was one of four Longhorns who were selected in the draft. All-American offensive tackle Connor Williams led the charge for the Longhorns when the Dallas Cowboys drafted him in the second round with the No. 50 overall pick, followed by punter Michael Dickson (Seattle Seahawks fifth round selection, No. 149 overall) and safety DeShon Elliott (Baltimore Ravens sixth round pick, No. 190 overall).

In addition to the four Texas players who were drafted, several other Longhorns were signed to undrafted free agent deals, including cornerback Holton Hill (Minnesota Vikings), defensive tackle Poona Ford (Seattle Seahawks), running back Chris Warren III (Oakland Raiders), defensive back Antwuan Davis (Detroit Lions), defensive back Jason Hall (Seattle Seahawks), Armanti Foreman (Minnesota Vikings) and linebacker Naashon Hughes (Green Bay Packers).