OSU’s five defenders selected over the past two years ranks among the top 10 in the FBS.
STILLWATER, Okla. – Former Oklahoma State football players Tyler Lacy and Jason Taylor II were selected at the 2023 NFL Draft Saturday, as Lacy was chosen by the Jacksonville Jaguars with the 130th overall pick in the fourth round and Taylor was picked by the Los Angeles Rams with the 234th pick in the seventh round.
With those selections, Oklahoma State became one of just four Big 12 teams and 30 FBS teams with at least two defensive players picked. OSU’s five total defensive players picked over the past two NFL Drafts ties for the most in the Big 12 and the eighth-most in the FBS.
The Lacy-Taylor duo became the 180th and 181st overall draft picks in OSU football history and the 36th and 37th overall picks under coach Mike Gundy. Their selections marked the second consecutive year that at least two Cowboy defenders were picked in the NFL Draft, a streak that last happened during a four-year stretch from 1983-86.
Lacy is the third Cowboy defensive end to be drafted since 2016, joining Emmanuel Ogbah (2016) and Jordan Brailford (2019). He is also just the second player in OSU’s history to be drafted by the Jaguars, joining wide receiver Justin Blackmon who was drafted with the No. 5 overall pick in 2012.
A productive player from day one on campus, Lacy earned 44 career starts at Oklahoma State to rank as the most on the roster in his final season and among the top 10 in school history. He also had a streak of 40 consecutive starts, and his 22 quarterback hurries are tied for the second-most in school history.
Lacy earned three honorable mention honors to the All-Big 12 team and was a first team Academic All-Big 12 honoree during his time in Stillwater.
An Oklahoma City native, Taylor is the first OSU safety drafted since Tre Flowers was selected in 2018. He is also the fifth OSU player drafted by the Rams’ franchise and the first since 2000. He joins a group that includes tackle J.D. Cheek (1947), guard Harold Beaty (1961), defensive back Rod Fisher (1984) and defensive back Jacoby Shepherd (2000).
Taylor became the most impactful player on OSU’s defense in his final two seasons, earning All-America honors and All-Big 12 honors as a senior while also being named a team captain and a semifinalist for the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award.
He made several highlight-reel, game-changing plays in his career and recorded 26 consecutive starts to close his time in Stillwater. He also ranked in the top 10 among active FBS players last year with three career non-offensive touchdowns.
In his final season, Taylor finished the year ranked No. 3 among all FBS players with six total interceptions and was also No. 3 with 6.2 solo tackles per game in 2022.
OSU has now had at least one player selected in 19 of the past 21 NFL drafts and has had multiple players selected seven of the past eight years.
Several other Cowboys from last year's roster are expected to earn opportunities to compete for spots on NFL rosters in the coming days.
