Five Upperclassmen with Pro Potential on OSU’s 2018 Roster

There have been 25 Oklahoma State football players drafted under Mike Gundy’s watch since he took the reins of the program in 2005. During that time, six were drafted in the first round, two in the second, and the remainder were third-rounders or below.

But as it were, four of those 25 were in the 2018 draft alone, and 10 in total have been drafted since 2013. So the numbers continue to climb … and will even more over the next few years.

Players will continue to come and go but talent and development tend to produce results, and Gundy and his staff achieve it in droves. So with that being said, which players might be next to claim OSU as their home before landing in the NFL? I try to tackle that question with five prospects — juniors or seniors only — who have pro talent written all over them below.

Justice Hill | Junior running back

I’ve not been more confident of an OSU players’ pro prospects than Justice Hill since … Emmanuel Ogbah. He’s a star out of the backfield who could very well go down as one of the top two (three?) running backs to ever play in Stillwater, and he’s got the character and determination to match the talent. With a good season (or two more), I think he could be a first- or second-round prospect and flourish in the league with the big dogs.

A.J. Green | Junior cornerback

As a sophomore last season, Green was sometimes hit or miss as the young starter out wide. But he was more hit than miss, leading the team with four interceptions — a number that was good for second best in the Big 12 in 2017. He has the physical tools and the smarts to be an NFL talent. When he puts it all together game in and game out, I think he could be special as a lockdown defensive back.

Tyron Johnson | Redshirt junior wide receiver

Tyron Johnson has been plenty tantalizing as a player for OSU, most notably in his breakout Bedlam showing last season. He needs to continue to show consistency as a go-to option out wide, but there’s no denying that the talent is there for him to shine in college and, ultimately, in the NFL.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8AdHs57jl0

Jordan Brailford | Redshirt junior defensive end

Brailford has had an unfortunate time with the injury bug over the past two seasons, but he’s OSU’s best pass-rusher, bar none, with a motor that runs hot every time he steps on the field. At 6-foot-3, 250-pounds, he’s a dynamic edge rusher that can change the complexion of the game. That skillset is at a premium in the NFL.

Darrion Daniels | Senior defensive tackle

Darrion Daniels was a blue-chip recruit who signed with OSU over OU and a slew of other options out of high school. He hasn’t been a game-changer in the middle of OSU’s defense, per se, but he’s been really, really good as an inside tackle who can get up field and also disrupt the run game. He’s in line for a monster senior season, which I think he could parlay into a successful NFL career.