Big 12 NFL Draft Results 2023: Bijan Robinson, Will McDonald, More
In the Big 12's last draft in its current form – before adding four teams in July – the conference sent 29 players to the pros in the 2023 NFL Draft. Texas Tech's Tyree Wilson was the conference's first player off the board, while Texas' Moro Ojomo finished things off. In total, six players from the Big 12 were drafted in the first round. Nine of the ten members had at least one player picked.
Let's check out the highlights from the Heartland's conference in the NFL Draft.
Six Players Go Round 1
Ahead of Thursday's Round 1, Wilson was projected to go as highly as second overall but ultimately dropped to the seventh pick following an unprecedented run of quarterbacks off the top. The former Red Raider will play for the Las Vegas Raiders and went ahead of the highly-touted Jalen Carter at defensive tackle.
Five others – Texas star Bijan Robinson, Iowa State pass rusher Will McDonald IV, TCU receiver Quentin Johnston, Oklahoma tackle Anton Harrison, and Kansas State pass rusher Felix Anudike-Ozumah – were also drafted in Round 1. The last two years were record-setters (and not in a good way) when zero Big 12 players were picked in either first round. In 2020, four Big 12 players were picked.
Robinson became the highest-drafted running back in the NFL since Saquon Barkley in 2018, going to the Falcons.
McDonald was one of the bigger Thursday night surprises, going well ahead of projections. He impressed at both the Senior Bowl and NFL Combine with his quick-twitch ability, long frame, and motor. McDonald became the first Iowa State Cyclone picked in the first round since 1973.
Johnston and King Felix head to AFC West rivals in the Chargers and Chiefs, respectively, and Harrison heads to the Jaguars.
California Horned Frogs
California loves its TCU Horned Frogs. Of the eight players taken from the historic 2022 team, five of them head to California to play for their three teams. Johnston is joined by fellow receiver Derius Davis and QB Max Duggan on the Chargers, while Steve Avila and Tre'Vius Hodges-Tomlinson head to the Rams. Linebacker Dee Winters was picked by the 49ers in the sixth round.
That class broke school records for the most players taken in a single draft from TCU and came in ranked third in the country behind Alabama and Georgia.
Every Big 12 Player Picked In 2023 NFL Draft
Baylor Bears: 1 player
- DT Siaki Ika: Cleveland Browns (Round 3, Pick 98)
Iowa State Cyclones: 2 players
- EDGE Will McDonald IV: New York Jets (Round 1, Pick 15)
- WR Xavier Hutchinson: Houston Texans (Round 6, Pick 205)
Kansas Jayhawks: 0 players
Kansas State Wildcats: 4 players
- EDGE Felix Anudike-Uzomah: Kansas City Chiefs (Round 1, Pick 31)
- CB Julius Brents: Indianapolis Colts (Round 2, Pick 44)
- DB Josh Hayes: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Round 6, Pick 181)
- RB Deuce Vaughn: Dallas Cowboys (Round 6, Pick 212)
Oklahoma Sooners: 5 players
- OT Anton Harrison: Jacksonville Jaguars (Round 1, Pick 27)
- WR Marvin Mims: Denver Broncos (Round 2, Pick 63)
- OT Wanya Morris: Kansas City Chiefs (Round 3, Pick 92)
- RB Eric Gray: New York Giants (Round 5, Pick 172)
- TE Brayden Willis: San Francisco 49ers (Round 7, Pick 247)
Oklahoma State Cowboys: 2 players
- EDGE Tyler Lacy: Jacksonville Jaguars (Round 4, Pick 130)
- SAF Jason Taylor II: Los Angeles Rams (Round 7, Pick 234)
TCU Horned Frogs: 8 players
- WR Quentin Johnston: Los Angeles Chargers (Round 1, Pick 21)
- OG Steve Avila: Los Angeles Rams (Round 2, Pick 36)
- RB Kendre Miller: New Orleans Saints (Round 3, Pick 71)
- EDGE Dylan Horton: Houston Texans (Round 4, Pick 109)
- WR Derius Davis: Los Angeles Chargers (Round 4, Pick 121)
- CB Tre'Vius Hodges-Tomlinson: Los Angeles Rams (Round 6, Pick 182)
- LB Dee Winters: San Francisco 49ers (Round 6, Pick 216)
- QB Max Duggan: Los Angeles Chargers (Round 7, Pick 239)
Texas Longhorns: 5 players
- RB Bijan Robinson: Atlanta Falcons (Round 1, Pick 8)
- LB DeMarvion Overshown: Dallas Cowboys (Round 3, Pick 90)
- RB Rocshon Johnson: Chicago Bears (Round 4, Pick 115)
- DT Keondre Coburn: Kansas City Chiefs (Round 6, Pick 194)
- DT Moro Ojomo: Philadelphia Eagles (Round 7, Pick 249)
Texas Tech Red Raiders: 1 player
- EDGE Tyree Wilson: Las Vegas Raiders (Round 1, Pick 7)
West Virginia Mountaineers: 1 player
- DT Dante Stills: Arizona Cardinals (Round 6, Pick 213)
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