Tag: Texas NFL draft

Former NFL scout discusses Texas DT Keondre Coburn

Keondre Coburn has a chance to be drafted early in 2023.

Keondre Coburn is seeing high praise from one NFL Draft expert. Bryan Broaddus wrote the following about the Texas defensive lineman in regard to his draft stock.

Keep an eye on Keondre Coburn DT Texas in this draft. Massive nose man that is disruptive rushing the passer. Type of guy that forces opponents into penalties. Good group with Siaki Ika Baylor and Mazi Smith Michigan.

From early in the season, Coburn flashed as a much improved player. The second-team all Big 12 lineman was a force to be reckoned with in 2022 and has seen first round hype since his strong start.

Improved strength and conditioning programming likely helped Coburn realize his potential after a struggling campaign in 2021. He wasn’t the only player who didn’t reach his ceiling that season.

The 2021 campaign saw Texas send zero players to the 2022 NFL Draft. With Bijan Robinson viewed as a first round talent and Coburn another potential early pick, the Longhorns can change the narrative about lack of development on the Forty Acres.

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One Texas player selected in ESPN’s mock 22-person superteam draft

ESPN’s draft experts went through an exercise each getting a roster full of upcoming rookies. Samuel Cosmi was the only UT player selected.

The University of Texas and producing NFL talent have not been best friends since Mack Brown left in 2013. Only one player, Malcolm Brown, has been selected in the first round and no players were selected in the first two rounds during the Tom Herman era.

In the 2021 draft cycle, Texas has the chance to have a guy taken within the first round. Offensive lineman Samuel Cosmi and edge rusher Joseph Ossai are going to be high on team’s draft boards. Safety Caden Sterns is considered an NFL guy as well but will be selected closer to Day Three.

ESPN’s two draft experts, Todd McShay and Mel Kiper Jr., went through an exercise (subscription-based content), each getting to fill out a roster entirely off the 2021 draft class. Only one Texas player was taken in the form of the offensive lineman, Samuel Cosmi.

Kiper took the former left tackle with the No. 36 pick, placing him at right guard, citing his versatility across the line. Oklahoma’s Creed Humphrey was selected right before Cosmi, being placed at center for McShay’s team.

How about Red River rivals back to back here? I’ll put Cosmi at right guard. He played left tackle in college, but I think he could move inside in the NFL. He has some power to his game.

Fellow Big 12 members Ronnie Perkins (Oklahoma) and Trevon Moehrig (TCU) join Cosmi on Team Kiper. Quarterback Justin Fields (Ohio State) would be relying on the former Longhorn to protect him, going up against a defensive line of Gregory Rousseau (Miami), Levi Onwuzurike (UCLA), Christian Barnmore (Alabama), and Carlos Basham Jr. (Wake Forest).

Ossai was not selected, with Rousseau and Kwity Paye (Michigan) being selected at the defensive end/outside linebacker positions. Playing jack last season for Texas, Ossai is still relatively new to passing the rusher full time.