A look at the Longhorn defensive linemen that have been taken in the NFL Draft
Texas has a long and distinguished list of defensive linemen who have been drafted by NFL teams, with the roster of former Longhorns including winners of some of the most prestigious trophies and awards in college football.
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Longhorn defensive tackles Moro Ojomo and Keondre Coburn are eligible to be chosen in this year’s draft, likely as third day selections.
Ojomo, a 6-foot-3, 284-pounder, played in 50 games over his five-year career at Texas and made 30 starts, earning a 2022 second-team All-Big 12 by the Associated Press and an honorable mention All-Big 12 selection by the league’s coaches after his final year.
In 2022 Ojomo established career-highs with 33 tackles (16 of them solo), 5.5 tackles for loss, three sacks and one forced fumble and added two quarterback hurries.
Coburn, known as “Snacks” because of the 344 pounds on his 6-foot-2 frame, played in 51 career games on the 40 Acres and started 45 times. He garnered second-team All-Big 12 by the league’s coaches and the AP in 2022 as well as third-team All-Big 12 Preseason selection by Athlon Sports ahead of his final campaign.
In 2022, Coburn anchored the defensive middle while racking up 28 tackles (10 of them solo), three tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, one forced fumble and two quarterback hurries.
With an eye toward Ojomo and Coburn’s selection, we decided to take a look at the all-time list of Texas players who’ve been chosen in the NFL Draft.
The list includes Hendricks Award winners Brian Orakpo (2008) and Jackson Jeffcoat (2013); Lombardi Award recipients Kenneth Sims (1981), Tony Degrate (1984) and Orakpo (2008); Nagurski Trophy winners Derrick Johnson (2004) and Orakpo (2008); and Outland Trophy honorees Scott Appleton (1963), Tommy Nobis (1965) and Brad Shearer (1977).
Be advised that prior to 1953, players positions were listed in general form, i.e. tackle, end, back, etc. Some of these players lined up on both offense and defense.
In all, 47 Longhorns defensive linemen have been selected in the draft, with 32 of those since 1960. Six of the defensive linemen have been taken in the first round, and one – Sims – was the first player taken in the draft, in 1982.
Player-Year-Round-Pick-Overall-Team
Joe Parker-1944-5-4-36-Philadelphia Eagles
Bill Wilson-1952-12-2-135-Green Bay Packers
Carlton Massey-1953-8-10-95-Cleveland Browns
Herb Gray-1956-5-6-55-Baltimore Colts
Larry Stephens-1960-2-6-18-Cleveland Browns
Scott Appleton-1964-1-4-4-Dallas Cowboys
Diron Talbert-1966-5-2-66, Los Angeles Rams
John Elliott-1967-7-12-171-New York Jets
Lloyd Wainscott-1969-16-15-405-Houston Oilers
Player-Year-Round-Pick-Overall-Team
Leo Brooks-1970-2-5-31-Houston Oilers
Bill Atessis-1971-2-26-52-Baltimore Colts
Scott Palmer-1971-7-6-162-New York Jets
Doug English-1975-2-12-38-Detroit Lions
Ernest Lee-1977-5-19-131-St. Louis Cardinals
Rick Burleson-1977-6-11-150-Kansas City Chiefs
Brad Shearer-1978-3-18-74-Chicago Bears
Steve McMichael-1980-3-17-73-Chicago Bears
Bill Acker-1980-6-4-142-St. Louis Cardinals
Ken McCune-1981-10-6-254-Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Player-Year-Round-Pick-Overall-Team
Kenneth Sims-1982-1-1-1-New England Patriots
Eric Holle-1984-5-5-117-Kansas City Chiefs
John Haines-1984-7-13-181-Minnesota Vikings
Ray Woodard-1984-8-3-199-San Diego Chargers
Tony Degrate-1985-5-15-127-Cincinnati Bengals
Shane Dronett-1992-2-26-54-Denver Broncos
James Patton-1992-2-27-55-Buffalo Bills
Tommy Jeter-1992-3-19-75-Philadelphia Eagles
Lance Wilson-1992-12-5-313-Arizona Cardinals
Tony Brackens-1996-2-3-33-Jacksonville Jaguars
Player-Year-Round-Pick-Overall-Team
Chris Atkins-1998-7-31-220-Philadelphia Eagles
Cedric Woodard-2000-6-25-191-Baltimore Ravens
Casey Hampton-2001-1-19-19-Pittsburgh Steelers
Shaun Rogers-2001-2-30-61-Detroit Lions
Cory Redding-2003-3-2-66-Detroit Lions
Marcus Tubbs-2004-1-23-23-Seattle Seahawks
Rodrique Wright-2006-7-18-226-New Orleans Saints
Tim Crowder-2007-2-24-56-Denver Broncos
Brian Robison-2007-4-3-102-Minnesota Vikings
Frank Okam-2008-5-16-151-Houston Texans
Player-Year-Round-Pick-Overall-Team
Brian Orakpo-2009-1-13-13-Washington Redskins
Roy Miller-2009-3-17-81-Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Henry Melton-2009-4-5-105-Chicago Bears
Kheeston Randall-2012-7-8-215-Miami Dolphins
Malcom Brown-2015-1-32-32-New England Patriots
Hassan Ridgeway-2016-4-18-116-Indianapolis Colts
Charles Omenihu-2019-5-23-161-Houston Texans
Joseph Ossai-2021-3-5-69-Cincinnati Bengals
Ta’Quon Graham-2021-5-4-148-Atlanta Falcons
