As the NFL season hits the midway point of the season, more and more mock drafts for 2021 are highlighting the top prospects. Each and every week it seems the consensus top round pick has been offensive tackle Samuel Cosmi. He would be the first offensive player drafted in the first since Vince Young in 2006. Cosmi would also make the first offensive lineman drafted since Leonard Davis in 2001.
Since 2006, the vast majority of players from Texas drafted in the first round have all been on the defensive side of the ball. Defensive tackle Malcom Brown was the most recent in 2015. Could the Longhorns produce a top defensive talent in the first round this year? If so he would join this group of players over the last 15 years.
| Year | Player | Position |
| 2007 | Michael Griffin | Defensive Back |
| 2007 | Aaron Ross | Defensive Back |
| 2009 | Brian Orakpo | Linebacker |
| 2010 | Earl Thomas | Defensive Back |
| 2013 | Kenny Vaccaro | Defensive Back |
| 2015 | Malcom Brown | Defensive Tackle |
Could Joseph Ossai be the next player to do it? Brian Orakpo called him the next Nigerian Nightmare. ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr spoke glowingly about Ossai recently and even stated that you will likely find him on his next big board. He is rising on the boards. This coming off the heels of Ossai’s dominant performance against the Oklahoma State Cowboys on Saturday.
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How impressive was Ossai in Saturday’s win over Oklahoma State? Not only did he end the game with a walk-off overtime sack, but he finished with three sacks, 12 tackles (six total tackles for loss) and a forced fumble. He was dominant off the edge. At 6-foot-4, 255 pounds, Ossai has long arms and ideal size to be an outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense at the next level. The junior is a game-wrecker who has some versatility to drop back in coverage when needed — he had two interceptions last season. Still, it’s Ossai’s upside as a pass-rusher that will have him on my next Big Board of the top 25 prospects in this 2021 class.
.@joseph_ossai is a BEAST! pic.twitter.com/i0kjWDEkta
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) November 1, 2020
Ossai has been one of the lesser talked about NFL prospects when it came to the Texas Longhorns. Usually hearing about Samuel Cosmi and Caden Sterns on some instances. However, if Cosmi slides on draft day it could be Ossai who is the Longhorns first day one selection since Brown. In the most recent mock draft from Matt Miller of Bleacher Report, Ossai was the lone selection in the mock from Texas.
Pick 01.16 Miami selects Joseph Ossai
Ossai is NFL-built at 6’4″ and 253 pounds and has shown in his first year as a primary pass-rusher that he has the goods to get to the quarterback and make big plays. Already this season he has four sacks and 46 tackles while being the No. 1 threat on the Texas defense that every offensive line is trying to stop.
The beauty of Ossai is that he’s still improving as he learns the position. He’ll bring a work ethic, motor and intensity to the edge that reflect the type of mentality the Miami Dolphins have loved from prospects.
Joseph Ossai has been the unsung hero on the defense but after the performance against Oklahoma State, that won’t be the case. Joining fellow Longhorn Brandon Jones in Miami would be an ideal situation. Ossai could be a building block for an improving team with a lot of youth.