Oklahoma defensive lineman Jalen Redmond declares for 2023 NFL Draft, opts out of bowl game
Oklahoma defensive lineman Jalen Redmond has officially declared for the 2023 NFL Draft, he announced on his Twitter page on Sunday afternoon. The 6-foot-3, 298-pound junior also announced that he will not play in the Sooners’ upcoming bowl game against Florida State in the Cheez-It Bowl. That game is slated for December 29th at 5:30 PM EST.
Check out the announcement below.
His announcement reads:
“Sooner Nation,”
“I would like to thank God for all the virtues that I have in my life. Without him, this would not be possible. To my Parents, thank you for instilling the Morals, Values, and Ethics that are necessary to prepare me for life’s journey. Life’s path is unpredictable, but with your love and support, I can certainly accomplish anything while conquering the obstacles that may temporarily impede my progress. I love you. To Sooner Nation, thank you for always embracing me unconditionally week in and week out. This experience has been amazing and one that will last a lifetime.”
“To my teammates, thank you for your inspiration, your passion, and your loyalty. Thank you for your commitment to excellence which is unparalleled. The battles that we have shared on Saturday afternoon, will be engrained in my heart forever. I have experienced a Brotherhood that will remain until the end of time. To my coaches, I have the utmost amount of appreciation for teaching me the definition of accountability and that no single individual defines or makes a Team. Thank you for embracing unity, a necessity to be productive not only on the field, but in life.”
“It has always been a dream of mine to play NFL Football. Thus, after taking a significant time to soul search and pray about my options, it is now time to continue my journey, to fulfill a life long dream of playing in the NFL. At this time, I have decided to forgo the Cheez-It Bowl and begin training for the biggest test of my life, the NFL Draft.”
“From the bottom of my heart, Thank you Sooner Nation!“
During the 2022 season, Redmond racked up four sacks. He wrapped up his Oklahoma career with 14 total sacks.
More on the 2023 NFL Draft
The 2023 NFL Draft is set to take place from Thursday, April 27 through Saturday, April 29 in Kansas City, Missouri. The event will be held at the plaza just outside of Union Station.
Round 1 of the NFL Draft is set to begin at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, Apr. 27. Rounds 2-3 will begin at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, Apr. 28, and Rounds 4-7 will begin at 12 p.m. ET on Saturday, Apr. 29. The draft will be broadcasted throughout the weekend on both ESPN and NFL Network.
To be eligible for the NFL Draft, players must be at least three years removed from their final year of high school while having used up their collegiate eligibility. Underclassmen are able to request league approval to become eligible for the draft, as are players who have graduated prior to using up all of their collegiate eligibility. 100 underclassmen were approved for last year’s draft. 73 of those 100 underclassmen were granted special eligibility while 27 of them were underclassmen who had completed their college degrees.
The 2023 NFL Scouting Combine will take place from Feb. 28 through March 6 in Indianapolis.