It’ll be arduous to prime a 2022 season that noticed the Oklahoma State Cowboys end because the Big 12 runner-ups and win a bowl recreation. But can the Oklahoma State 2023 NFL Draft class lead its workforce to even larger heights?
Oklahoma State prospects within the 2023 NFL Draft
If the Cowboys intention to maintain their success from the earlier season, they’ll have assist from the numerous veterans who selected to return in 2022 and help within the efforts. And all of it begins at quarterback, with multi-year starter Spencer Sanders.
Spencer Sanders, QB
Sanders has at the least been on the NFL draft radar for the reason that 2020 season. Unfortunately, he’s proven little year-over-year development via that span and stays on the perimeter of the draft dialogue for the 2023 cycle. Sanders is athletic and has an excellent arm. His creation capability is spectacular, however he’s additionally undersized and very unstable. He’ll must kick that volatility in 2022 if he desires to stand up the board.
Braydon Johnson, WR
After shedding Tay Martin, somebody should step up within the Oklahoma State receiving corps. One prime candidate to take action could be Braydon Johnson, a sixth-year senior with extra left to show. Johnson’s career-best season got here again in 2019 when the Cowboys go catcher hauled in 23 receptions for 491 yards and 4 touchdowns. He’s since declined and missed most of 2021 with an damage. If he can get again to full well being, Johnson has good velocity and a robust 6’0″, 200-pound body.
Rashod Owens, WR
While Johnson has the traits and expertise to accommodate a late-career rise, he’s by no means a assure for the Cowboys. Thus it might take greater than Johnson to revamp the workforce’s receiving corps. Rashod Owens is one other prospect to observe. Although he’s only a redshirt sophomore, Owens has traits price monitoring. Not solely is he well-built at 6’2″, 215 kilos, however he was a highschool observe standout with the No. 11 triple bounce within the USA in 2019. Owens bought on the board with 17 catches for 257 yards and a rating in 2021. He has the expertise to maintain rising in 2022.
Caleb Etienne, OT
A JUCO product, Caleb Etienne arrived at Oklahoma State final offseason and was a prime reserve for the workforce in 2021. He didn’t play a lot, however in his restricted motion, he did present promise. He has a large 6’7″ body and has reportedly minimize down round 30 kilos in weight this offseason. Even at over 350 kilos, Etienne flashed spectacular athleticism for his measurement and displayed wonderful energy capability. Trimmed down and trying to show himself, Etienne is a possible breakout candidate at OT within the 2023 NFL Draft.
Hunter Woodard, G
A redshirt senior, Hunter Woodard has performed in 30 video games and began 22 for Oklahoma State. He was the full-time starter at proper guard in 2021 and earned honorable point out All-Big 12 recognition for his efficiency. Woodard could be much less translatable as an NFL draft prospect. His 6’5″ body is a bit on the lean facet, and he doesn’t have elite energy or athleticism. But Woodard has at the least proven himself to be assignment-sound, and he’ll punish defenders within the grime in the event that they sacrifice leverage.
Cole Birmingham, OL
After lacking a lot of the 2020 season with an damage, Cole Birmingham got here again and established himself as a fixture on the Cowboys’ blocking unit. The 6’5″ blocker began the primary recreation at proper guard, whereas Woodard was unavailable because of damage. Once Woodard got here again, Birmingham shifted over to left sort out and held that place via the tip of the season. At the very least, Birmingham’s positional versatility could also be a valued high quality as soon as he hits the NFL draft circuit.
Tyler Lacy, DT
Quietly, Tyler Lacy could also be one in every of Oklahoma State’s greatest 2023 NFL Draft prospects. Lacy has a great deal of expertise. Since his redshirt freshman season in 2019, he’s began all the 35 video games he’s appeared in. And in every of the previous two seasons, he’s garnered honorable point out All-Big 12 recognition. But past that, Lacy is an attractive expertise.
Standing round 6’4″, 280 kilos, Lacy has wonderful size and energy technology, in addition to nice go off the road. He’s a picture-perfect match for odd-front rotations within the NFL and has an excellent probability to be drafted.
Brendon Evers, DT
Part of a veteran-laden defensive entrance at Oklahoma State, Brendon Evers will probably be 25 years outdated earlier than the beginning of his rookie season. Thus, it’s most certainly that Evers’ most important curiosity comes as a UDFA. In the UDFA circuit, nevertheless, Evers must be on the radar for some groups. At 6’2″, 295 kilos, he has a large body with good size. And like most Cowboys linemen, you’ll be able to rely on him to present 100% each down.
Brock Martin, EDGE
The Cowboys have one of many stronger EDGE rotations within the nation. It’s led by the ineligible Collin Oliver, who gained Big 12 Freshman of the Year honors in 2021. But reverse him is a participant almost as impactful: Brock Martin. Martin is a veteran chief for Oklahoma State, who logged 9 sacks and 14 tackles for loss in 2021. He’s a sturdy, well-built defender at round 6’3″, 250 kilos, and he has respectable size. While Martin isn’t an elite athlete, he has a sizzling motor, which ought to earn him followers within the NFL neighborhood.
Trace Ford, EDGE
Oliver and Martin determine to stay the highest two gamers at EDGE for Oklahoma State. But Trace Ford can also be price retaining a watchful eye on. Ford comes with very actual damage issues. He’s torn his ACL twice, and the newest tear brought about him to overlook your entire 2021 marketing campaign. Even so, Ford has immense potential if he can return to 100%. Of the Cowboys’ edge rushers, he could be the most effective athlete at 6’3″, 240 kilos. Ford brings wonderful short-area burst and pursuit velocity and may even drop into protection.
Xavier Benson, LB
Xavier Benson has had one of many extra intriguing profession arcs so far. Benson first emerged as a redshirt freshman at Texas Tech in 2019, when he put up 57 tackles, 4 TFLs, and a sack. He was trending up, however when the COVID pandemic hit, Benson selected to take a seat out the 2020 season.
He’d then switch to Tyler Junior College, the place he loved a spectacular JUCO season in 2021, amassing 120 tackles, eight TFLs, and two picks. Now, the 6’2″ linebacker returns to the Big 12, this time aiming to revitalize his draft hype forward of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Korie Black, CB
In the wake of the departures of Christian Holmes and Jarrick Bernard-Converse, the Cowboys will want reinforcements on the cornerback place. First in line to tackle an elevated function is Korie Black. Entering his third season and his first 12 months of eligibility, Black has steadily earned extra duty since his true freshman marketing campaign. At 6’0″, 185 kilos, Black has an excellent mixture of measurement and athleticism, and he’s flashed playmaking skill in spurts.
Jabbar Muhammad, CB
Black isn’t the one younger cornerback within the wings for Oklahoma State. There’s additionally redshirt sophomore Jabbar Muhammad, who bought a couple of appears on the defensive facet in 2021. In restricted motion, Muhammad managed to supply three deflections, making 2021 a strong tune-up for what might be a breakout 2022 marketing campaign. Muhammad doesn’t have the identical measurement as his counterparts, standing at round 5’10”, 175 kilos. But his skill to transform on the catch level is one thing he can develop upon.
Thomas Harper, DB
In want of extra playmakers within the secondary, it’s doable that the Cowboys may additionally depend on Thomas Harper to step up his recreation as a senior in 2022. Harper has very intriguing traits. He’s a bit gentle at 5’11”, 180 kilos, however he strikes very effectively and has the flexibility to rotate into the slot. He’s the youthful brother of former Cowboys linebacker Devin Harper, who examined with a 4.5 40-yard sprint and a 40.5″ vertical at his 2022 professional day. If the youthful Harper has comparable athleticism, it may serve him effectively sooner or later.
Jason Taylor II, S
One of essentially the most notable losses for the Oklahoma State Cowboys within the 2022 NFL Draft cycle was that of security Kolby Harvell-Peel. Harvell-Peel will probably be powerful to switch, however the withstanding presence of redshirt senior Jason Taylor II will assist issues. Taylor, a 6’0″, 215-pound defender, posted spectacular manufacturing beside Harvell-Peel in 2021, amassing 48 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, two picks, and 4 deflections. He’s in a position in protection but additionally greater than keen to roam the field.
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