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.

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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