Over the weekend America finally got a small taste of sports with the NFL Draft. 55 million viewers tuned in over the week as Roger Goodell announced picks from his basement. During the weekend, 34 players who previously played Texas High School Football heard their name called. Below is a breakdown of each one.
Round 1 –
Jeff Okudah, DB, Detroit Lions, Pick 3, South Grand Prairie High School – The Lions lost their top corner, Darius Slay, in free agency to Philadelphia. They immediately replace him by taking this draft’s best corner, and Texas High School product, Jeff Okudah.
Okudah hails from South Grand Prairie where he was a 5-star recruit and the eighth-ranked player in his class via the 247Sports Composite. Okudah is a young 21 as he enrolled at Ohio State early at 17 and played as a true freshman. After three years as a Buckeye Okudah has tuned into the best cornerback in this draft. He’s the highest-drafted cornerback since Shawn Springs went third overall in 1997.
Okudah becomes the first of many Texas High School products to be taken in the NFL draft of 2020.
CeeDee Lamb, WR, Dallas Cowboys, Pick 17, Foster High School – Many expected CeeDee Lamb out of Oklahoma to be the first wide receiver taken in this year’s draft. To many people’s surprise though, he fell into the lap of Jerry Jones and was selected by the Dallas Cowboys with the 17th pick.
Lamb as a four-star recruit caught passes from other notable Texas High School Football alum Kyler Murray and Jalen Hurts at Oklahoma these past two years. As a wide receiver at Foster High School in Richmond, Texas though he was a legend.
As a senior, he hauled in 98 catches for 2,032 yards and a ludicrous 33 touchdowns. For his Texas High School career, he had 173 catches, 3,418 yards, and 48 receiving touchdowns.
Lamb after going up north to Norman for the past three years now returns to Texas to catch passes for America’s team, the Dallas Cowboys. Welcome home CeeDee.
K’Lavon Chaisson, LB, Jacksonville Jaguars, Pick 20, North Shore High School – Speaking of Texas High School legends, the next player picked from Texas is North Shore’s own K’Lavon Chaisson.
Chaisson has had an incredible career thus far when it comes to football. The 4-star recruit before committing to Texas had a monstrous senior season for the Mustangs. 50 tackles, 15.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, and a state championship game defensive MVP. He parlayed that success into a tremendous LSU Tiger career in which as a senior he recorded 60 tackles, 13.5 for a loss with 6.5 sacks, and another national championship.
Chaisson looks to bring back Sacksonville as he is selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars with pick number 20.
Jalen Reagor, WR, Philadephia Eagles, Pick 21, Waxahachie High School – With the very next pick in the draft, the Philadelphia Eagles took wide receiver Jalen Reagor from Waxahachie High School and TCU.
Reagor was a dual-sport star athlete for the Indians. The son of former NFL defender, Montae Reagor, accumulated 116 catches for 2,116 yards and 27 touchdowns in his junior and senior seasons. He also won first place at the Texas state meet when it came to long jump. Speed kills, and Jalen Reagor defines that.
Reagor was ranked as the 13th best wide receiver via 247Sports for his class. He becomes the 4th wide receiver taken in the 2020 NFL Draft as well as the 4th Texas alum taken.
Kenneth Murray, LB, Los Angeles Chargers, Pick 23, Elkins High School – With pick 23 came the third Texas alum in four picks and the second Sooner of the day with Fort Bend Elkins’ Kenneth Murray.
The Missouri City, Texas native finished his High School career with 160 tackles, 24 for a loss, five sacks and 10 passes defended. Murray despite being only a three-star recruit, started every game for Oklahoma during his tenure there. As a junior, he was named to the First team All-Big 12 team. The Chargers ended up trading with New England to snag the fifth Texas alum of the first round.
Jordyn Brooks, LB, Seattle Seahawks, Pick 27, Stratford High School – The strength of the Seattle Seahawks defense is their linebacker play. KJ Wright and Bobby Wagner each have over 850 tackles in their career. Now, they get to show Houston, Texas native, Jordyn Brooks how it’s done.
The three-star recruit played ball at Stratford High School where he was named All-district 19-5A in both his junior and senior seasons. He then took his talents to Lubbock to play at Texas Tech. Brooks as a Red Raider senior was a second-team All-American selection with 108 tackles and 20 for a loss.
This Texas-born and raised inside linebacker will now travel up to the Pacific Northwest to begin his NFL career.
Jeff Gladney, DB, Minnesota Vikings, Pick 31, New Boston High School – 22% of the players selected in round one of the 2020 NFL Draft played High School Football in Texas. The final one of those players selected was New Boston High School’s, Jeff Gladney.
Gladney, a cornerback, along with Reagor also hails from TCU. In his Horned Frog career, Gladney compiled nearly 150 tackles and had 37 passes defended with five interceptions.
The final Texas alum in the first round is also headed up north, to Minnesota where they could use Gladney’s help in the secondary.
Round 2 –
Robert Hunt, OG, Miami Dolphins, Pick 39, Burkeville High School – The first Texas product to come off the board in day two was also the first Texas High School offensive lineman to come off the board. With the 39th pick, the Miami Dolphins took Robert Hunt from Burkeville High School.
After taking quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa in round one the Dolphins take Hunt to protect their franchise quarterback. The 2-star recruit via the 247Sports Composite after Burkeville took his talents one state over to Lousiana to play for the Ragin Cajuns. Hunt was discovered by Ragin Cajuns head coach, Mark Hudspeth at a camp where Hunt wasn’t even wearing cleats. Hudspeth went on to say that Hunt had “the best feet I’d ever seen.”
Hunt as a senior lost his second half of the year to injury. Despite that, he was still named First Team All-Sun Belt and helped the Ragin Cajuns reach top-10 marks nationally in yards per carry, rushing touchdowns and rushing yards.
Ross Blacklock, DT, Houston Texans, Pick 40, Elkins High School – One pick after Hunt, comes defensive tackle Ross Blacklock, the next Texas product and the second from Fort Bend Elkins in this draft.
Blacklock as a senior recorded 56 tackles and had offers from LSU and Alabama among others yet, chose to stay in Texas and attend TCU. As a freshman, Blacklock recorded 27 tackles, six and a half for a loss, and two sacks. After an injury sidelined him for his sophomore season he returned for his junior year better than ever. Blacklock improved on every stat as he compiled 40 tackles, nine for a loss, and three and a half sacks as a junior.
Blacklock made headlines recently as during the interview process the Oakland Raiders discovered that he had 37 parking tickets to his name. Now, he becomes the ninth Texas product taken in the 2020 NFL Draft and the first selection for the Houston Texans.
Laviska Shenault Jr., WR, Jacksonville Jaguars, Pick 42, DeSoto High School – The streak of Texas athletes continue as with the 42nd pick the Jacksonville Jaguars found a man to line alongside pro-bowler, D.J. Chark and catch passes from the enigma known as Gardner Minshew II. Laviska Shenault Jr. also becomes the second Texan to be taken this draft along with K’Lavon Chaisson.
Shenault in his senior season with DeSoto helped lead them to a state title and a 16-0 record. For his career, he caught 76 passes for 1,328 yards and 12 touchdowns. Shenault parlayed that into a successful career at The University of Colorado where he hauled in 149 passes for 1,943 yards and 10 touchdowns as a Buffalo.
Shenault at pick 42 became the 10th Texan to be taken in this draft.
Grant Delpit, S, Cleveland Browns, Pick 44, Lamar High School – Another player taken from the LSU Tiger national championship team and it’s yet another Texas High School Football product in safety, Grant Delpit.
Delpit relocated to Houston after Hurricane Katrina. He played in Texas for his first two years at St. Thomas High School before transferring to Lamar High School for his junior season. For his senior year, he then transferred out of state to Florida’s IMG Academy. Delpit had 47 tackles and five interceptions at IMG before committing to LSU.
Delpit as part of Tigers, national championship team made 65 tackles and had two interceptions. For his LSU career, he made 199 tackles and recorded eight interceptions.
He now joins the Cleveland Browns in the AFC North where he will get to face Super Bowl Champion Ben Roethlisberger, MVP Lamar Jackson, and his ex-teammate Joe Burrow multiple times a season.
Antoine Winfield Jr., S, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Pick 45, The Woodlands High School – The second consecutive Safety off the board is another product of the machine that is Texas High School Football. Antoine Winfield Jr. out of The Woodlands.
Winfield Jr. is the son of Antoine Winfield who played in the NFL for 14 seasons. Fun fact, in Tom Brady’s rookie season he was intercepted by Winfield. Now, Winfield Jr. will join Tom Brady on the Buccaneers.
As a senior Winfield Jr. was selected as the Montgomery County Player of the Year. He also led the Highlanders to the state championship game before falling to powerhouse Lake Travis.
As a Minnesota Gopher Winfield Jr. started as a true freshman, he followed that up with multiple injuries cutting his sophomore and junior seasons short. Winfield Jr., however, would make up for lost time with his magical senior season. He helped Minnesota finish with an 11-2 record while along the way having 83 tackles, three sacks, and seven interceptions. He was selected as a first-team All-American and Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year.
He now joins all of a sudden a stacked team that is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the upcoming year.
Jalen Hurts, QB, Philadelphia Eagles, Pick 53, Channelview High School – The Philadelphia Eagles with their second pick took their second Texas High Schooler of the draft with a quarterback, Jalen Hurts.
Hurts at pick 53 was the third Sooner to be taken and the 13th player from Texas High School Football. Hurts honed his craft as a dual-threat quarterback at the High School level at Channelview. In his senior season, he threw for 2,384 yards whilst rushing for 1,391 yards. He combined for 51 total touchdowns that season. The four-star recruit would go on to the factory that is the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Hurts had a well documented, up and down career at Alabama. He won a national championship in 2018 but was ultimately benched for the fifth pick in this draft, Tua Tagovailoa. He transferred to Oklahoma for his final year and had a season to remember. 5,149 yards of total offense, 52 total touchdowns a playoff appearance, and finishing second in the Heisman voting.
Hurts now joins wide receiver and fellow Texan Jalen Reagor in Philadelphia where he will face the Dallas Cowboys twice a year.
JK Dobbins, RB, Baltimore Ravens, Pick 55, La Grange High School – The Baltimore Ravens saw levels of offensive production rarely seen. The Ravens with Lamar Jackson and Mark Ingram set the record for most rushing yards by a team with almost 3,300 yards. The Ravens look to break that mark as they now add former Texas High School Football speedster, JK Dobbins.
During his time at La Grange High School Dobbins embarrassed defenders for 5,149 yards and 74 touchdowns. Most of that production came as just as a sophomore and junior as he suffered a season-ending injury just one game into his senior season.
Dobbins would go on to have just as much success at the collegiate level for the Ohio State Buckeyes. As a junior alone he was a first-team All-American rushing for 2,003 yards and 23 rushing touchdowns. There’s no doubt that Dobbins will provide the Ravens with another lethal weapon to burn defenders, and it all started for Dobbins right here In Texas.
Denzel Mims, WR, New York Jets, Pick 59, Daingerfield High School – Near the end of round two, and Sam Darnold gets his guy, Denzel Mims from Daingerfield.
Mims becomes the 15th player selected from Daingerfield. The three-star recruit via the 247Sports Composite played wide receiver and safety for the Northeast Texas school.
Mims committed to Baylor and has had a hugely successful career for the Bears in Waco. He ranks top-10 in every key statistic such as catches (186) receiving touchdowns (28) and receiving yards (2,925).
Mims becomes the highest-drafted Baylor Bear since Corey Coleman went 15th in 2016. Mims becomes the 15th player taken out of Texas in this draft.
Round 3 –
Brandon Jones, S, Miami Dolphins, Pick 70, Nacogdoches High School – Miami took the first Texan of round three with Nacogdoches’ own and former Texas Longhorn, Brandon Jones.
Jones becomes the second Texan taken by Miami in this draft. At Nacogdoches Jones compiled over 120 tackles with 16 for a loss and a pair of interceptions. With those numbers, Jones became an All-American, the Texas Defensive Player of the Year, and the top safety recruit in his class.
Jones at Texas saved his best year for last, as a senior, he recorded 86 tackles, four and a half for a loss with two interceptions. Brian Flores now gets another freak athlete to bolster the much improved Dolphin secondary.
Justin Madubuike, DT, Baltimore Ravens, Pick 71, Mckinney North High School – With the very next pick, another Texas talent comes off the board with Mckinney North’s Justin Madubuike.
The North Texan native was a wrecking ball in the middle of the defensive line for the Bulldogs. He won district MVP as a junior recording 75 tackles, 16.5 sacks, and four forced fumbles.
Madubuike took his talents to College Station to become a Texas A&M Aggie. In his sophomore and junior seasons, he had 22 tackles for a loss with 11 sacks.
At almost 300 pounds he ran a ridiculous 4.83 40-yard dash at the combine. No doubt, he should fit right in with the stellar defense that is the Baltimore Ravens.
Josh Jones, OT, Arizona Cardinals, Pick 72, George Bush High School – For the third consecutive pick, a Texas native hears his name called in the NFL Draft. Josh Jones is picked by the Arizona Cardinals to block for another Texas High School legend, Kyler Murray.
Jones was expected by many to be a first or second rounder yet falls into the lap of Kliff Kingsbury and the rebuilding Cardinals in round three. Jones is a product of George Bush High School. Jones was named first-team All-district 23-5A as a junior and a senior.
He ended up going to Houston where he started 43 games for the Cougars. He now goes to the desert in Arizona with many others who are familiar with the crazy world that is Texas High School Football.
Jordan Elliott, DT, Cleveland Browns, Pick 88, Westside High School – The Cleveland Browns took the 19th Texan off the board with Jordan Elliott out of Houston Westside High School.
Elliott after his time at Westside originally committed to Texas but eventually transferred to Missouri. As a Tiger in 2019 Elliott had 44 tackles, eight and a half for a loss with two and a half sacks as a junior.
Elliott will now be responsible for stuffing the run game of the lethal Baltimore Ravens twice a year every year.
Devin Duvernay, WR, Baltimore Ravens, Pick 92, Sachse High School – With the end of round three, comes the 20th Texan and third for the Baltimore Ravens, Devin Duvernay.
Duvernay is a born and bred Texan attending Sachse High School and The University of Texas. Duvernay is one of the best players in recent memory for Sachse as for his career he caught 170 passes for just shy of 3,000 yards and 36 touchdowns.
The sub 4.4 40-yard dash athlete played all four years at Texas but saved his most productive by far for last. In 2019 Duvernay as the top option for Ehlinger caught 106 passes for 1,386 yards and nine touchdowns.
Duvernay now joins MVP Lamar Jackson and fellow speedster Marquise ‘Hollywood’ Brown in Baltimore in what should be one of the most fun offenses to watch in 2020.
Round 4 –
Reggie Robinson II, DB, Dallas Cowboys, Pick 123, Cleburne High School – By comparison round four was a slow round for Texas High School Football but the Dallas Cowboys selected another Texan in Cleburne’s Reggie Robinson II.
Robinson II played wide receiver and cornerback for Cleburne. In his junior and senior seasons, he earned all-District honors. He ended up committing to Tulsa.
After redshirting, Robinson played 41 games for the Golden Hurricanes. He finished his collegiate career with 132 tackles and three interceptions. All interceptions came during his senior season thus propelling him to first-team all-American Athletic Conference.
Robinson in 2020 will join Trevon Diggs in an attempt to replace the hole left by Byron Jones in free agency.
James Lynch, DT, Minnesota Vikings, Pick 130, Round Rock High School – The second and final Texan taken in round number four was Round Rock High School and Baylor product, James Lynch.
The now Minnesota Viking got his started out at Round Rock High School played defensive end as well as a punter for the Dragons. As a junior and a senior Lynch was the District 13-6A lineman of the year. As a senior Lynch compiled 46 tackles, 14 for a loss with eight sacks.
Lynch committed to Baylor and improved each and every year for Matt Rhule and the Baylor Bears. As a senior, he was a unanimous first-team all-American, and Big-12 Defensive Player of the Year. He finished the year with 41 tackles, 19.5 for a loss, 13.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, and two blocked kicks. Lynch was unstoppable.
Lynch now takes his talents up north to the Minnesota Vikings where he will join Danielle Hunter and others on a stacked Vikings defensive line.
Round 5 –
Alton Robinson, DE, Seattle Seahawks, Pick 148, Judson High School – The Seahawks in round five, just like round one took a Texan defender. With the 148th pick, Seattle is now home to edge rusher, Alton Robinson.
Robinson as a player on state powerhouse, Converse Judson, recorded 27 sacks, and 43 tackles for a loss in his final two seasons. Robinson originally committed to Texas A&M but due to legal trouble had to play his freshman year at Northwestern Oklahoma A&M College before eventually transferring to Syracuse for his sophomore year.
Robinson played three years at Syracuse totaling 115 tackles, 32 for a loss, and 19 sacks. He had his most productive year as a junior as he had 17 tackles for a loss with 10 sacks and was named second-team All-ACC.
Robinson joins Jordyn Brooks in the Pacific Northwest to begin his NFL career.
Trevis Gipson, LB, Chicago Bears, Pick 155, Cedar Hill High School – With the 155th pick in the draft, the Chicago Bears decided to bolster up their defense even more by selecting Trevis Gipson.
Gipson, along with Robinson II 32 picks prior played High School ball in Texas before committing to Tulsa. Gipson played his first three seasons at Lloyd V. Berkner High School before transferring to Cedar Hill for his final year. Gipson helped the 2014 Cedar Hill Longhorns reach a 14-2 record and win a state championship. He becomes the first player drafted from that championship team and is the highest NFL draft pick from the Longhorns of Cedar Hill.
As a Golden Hurrican, Gipson had 114 tackles in his career with 25.5 for a loss and 13 sacks. As a senior, he was selected to the first-team all-American Athletic Conference as he had 49 tackles, 15 for a loss with eight sacks.
Gipson, once an anchor on an elite Cedar Hill defense, now joins former defensive player of the year, Khalil Mack on a loaded Chicago Bears defensive line unit.
Broderick Washington, DT, Baltimore Ravens, Pick 170, Longview High School – The Baltimore Ravens selected their fourth Texas product of the draft and another defensive stalwart, Longview’s Broderick Washington.
Washington, along with Jordyn Brooks in the first round, was the second Texas Tech Red Raider to be selected in the draft. Like Brooks, Washington also played High School ball in Texas before going to Lubbock. Washington as apart of the Longview Lobos was a three-star recruit via the 247Sports Composite. He chose Tech over Houston, New Mexico, and North Texas among others.
As a Red Raider Washington started the last 38 games of his career while receiving All-Big 12 honorable mention in his final three years. For his career, he recorded 134 tackles, 14 for a loss with seven and a half sacks.
Washington joins, Devin Duvernay, Justin Madubuike, and JK Dobbins as other Texas players selected by the Ravens, and they may not be done yet.
Jason Huntley, RB, Detroit Lions, Pick 172, Martin High School – Arlington Martin High School, home of the former overall number one pick, Myles Garrett, can add another player to its list of famous alumni. With the 172nd pick in the draft, the Detroit Lions selected running back, Jason Huntley.
Huntley was a two-star recruit out of high school, rushing for 938 yards and 11 touchdowns in his senior season. He ended up signing with New Mexico State where he blossomed.
The undersized tailback had a successful four-year career as an Aggie combining for 3,316 yards from scrimmage with 25 touchdowns for his career. Perhaps the most impressive thing about Huntley though is his ability to return kickoffs. In his career, the 5’9” running back has returned five kickoffs for touchdowns, including an FBS best three in 2018.
Huntley, a two-star recruit out of high school, and the 466th ranked player in Texas via 247Sports, now becomes the 172nd pick in the NFL draft. He will join fellow Texan Jeff Okudah in Detroit.
Bravvion Roy, DT, Carolina Panthers, Pick 184, Spring High School – Joining fellow former Texan and Baylor Bear, James Lynch, is Spring High School’s own Bravvion Roy.
At Spring High School, Roy was a four-star recruit via the 247Sports Composite. He had offers from Texas Tech, LSU, and Louisville before ultimately signing with the Baylor Bears.
During his time at Waco, Roy made 133 tackles, 19 of which were for a loss with seven and a half sacks. Roy will now be a Carolina Panther and will be reunited with his former college coach, Matt Rhule.
Round 6 –
Hakeem Adeniji, OT, Cincinnati Bengals, Pick 180, Garland High School – With the first pick in the sixth round, the Cincinnati Bengals took offensive tackle Hakeem Adeniji from Garland High School.
After a successful career at Garland, Adeniji elected to attend the United States Air Force Academy. However, after it was revealed he had a cashew allergy, he then committed to the University of Kansas.
Adeniji started all 48 games he played at Kansas from the moment he was a freshman. As a junior, he was named to the second-team All-Big-12 while as a senior he was named to its first-team.
Adeniji now goes to the worst team in the league per last year’s standings but gets the opportunity to rebuild and block for the number one overall pick, Joe Burrow.
Braden Mann, P, New York Jets, Pick 191, Cy-Fair High School – The New York Jets took the first punter in the 2020 NFL draft when they selected Cy-Fair’s own, Braden Mann.
Mann while at Cy-Fair was ranked as a top-five kicker nationally. As a junior, he converted 70% of his field-goal attempts and 95% of his extra points. Mann wanted to play linebacker at the high school and college level, but due to injuries and size, he became a punter and kicker.
As a junior at Texas A&M Mann took over the starting punting duties and took the world by storm. During a game against Alabama, he broke the NCAA record with a 60.8 punting average. In the second half of the year, he broke another record with his 14th punt of 60 or more yards in a year. He was voted on as the SEC Special Teams Player of the Year as well as a first-team AP All-American.
Mann will now travel up north to New York to be the man for the Jets.
James Proche, WR, Baltimore Ravens, Pick 201, Desoto High School – The Ravens took their fifth Texan in the sixth round with former DeSoto wide receiver, James Proche.
Proche became the second DeSoto wide receiver taken this draft behind Laviska Shenault Jr. He transferred to DeSoto his senior year and caught 18 passes for 335 yards and one touchdown before injury.
He later committed to SMU as a three-star recruit. Proche went on to become wildly successful at SMU. In his career, he caught 301 passes for 3,949 yards and 39 touchdowns. Proche was first-team All-AAC in 2018 and 2019 as well as a second-team All-American in 2019.
Proche joins previously drafted Devin Duvernay and MVP Lamar Jackson for the exciting Baltimore Ravens.
Round 7 –
Eno Benjamin, RB, Arizona Cardinals, Pick 222, Wylie East High School – The Arizona Cardinals took Texas High School legend Kyler Murray in last year’s draft. This year they got him some Texas protection with tackle Josh Jones. Now, they draft another weapon for him with running back Eno Benjamin.
Benjamin, while at Wylie East, ran for upwards of 7,500 yards and 111 touchdowns. He ended up choosing Arizona State University over The University of Iowa.
Benjamin played three seasons at Arizona State. In his sophomore year, he broke the school record for most rushing yards in a game with 312. The next year he broke 1,000 yards and added 10 touchdowns on the ground. He made Herm Edwards one happy man.
Benjamin after leaving the state of Texas for Arizona will remain there for his professional career. He joins the upstart Cardinals led by Kyler Murray and Kliff Kingsbury.
Clay Johnston, LB, Los Angeles Rams, Pick 234, Abilene Wylie High School – Johnston was the fourth and final Baylor Bear taken in this year’s draft and he ends up in Los Angeles playing for the Rams.
Johnston played High School Football at Abilene Wylie. Johnston as a Bulldog was a second-team All-State selection as a junior. In his senior season, he led his team to the region semifinals whilst also being a first-team All-State selection.
During his time as a Baylor Bear, Johnston was a second-team All-Big-12 member for his junior and senior seasons. For his career, he had 237 tackles, 26.5 for a loss, four and a half sacks, and two interceptions.
Brett Favre, during the NFL’s Draft-A-Thon stream, called Johnston a “sleeper” and to “remember his name.” Johnston will get a chance to prove Favre right as a member of the LA Rams.
Vernon Scott, DB, Green Bay Packers, Pick 236, Mansfield Summit High School – With their second to last selection, Green Bay chose a defensive back formerly from Mansfield Summit High School, Vernon Scott.
Scott as a junior recorded 40 tackles and an interception before committing to TCU.
As a Horned Frog, Scott played both defensive back and time on special teams. During his senior season, he intercepted a Jalen Hurts pass and took it 98 yards for a touchdown. In his career, he had two interceptions, and 86 tackles.
Vernon Scott now joins Aaron Rodgers on a Green Bay Packers team that was one win away from a Super Bowl appearance.
Tyrie Cleveland, WR, Denver Broncos, Pick 252, Houston Westfield High School – The final Texan that was taken in the 2020 NFL draft was Tyrie Cleveland, a wide receiver out of Westfield High School near Houston.
Before he was a Denver Bronco, Cleveland was embarrassing defenders at the High School level for Westfield. For his High School career, Cleveland caught 99 passes for 2,091 yards. That’s more than 20 yards a reception. He also hauled in 27 touchdowns.
That career made Cleveland a 4-star recruit via the 247Sports Composite and the third-ranked player from Texas in his class. He would end up taking his talents to Gainesville to be a Florida Gator.
As a Gator, his production slowed a little as for his career he hauled in 79 receptions for 1,271 yards and eight touchdowns. Cleveland now joins Drew Lock on a Denver Bronco team that looks like it could be exciting for years to come.
There we have it, 34 players taken in this year’s draft all played high school ball in the great state of Texas. 34 players who all got their start somewhere within this state, being picked as high as number three and all the way through pick 252. No matter how you look at it Texas High School Football has its roots everywhere you look.
