Jason Taylor II Earns All-America Honor and is 48th at Oklahoma State

STILLWATER – He’s been known as a “ball hawker” even from his days as a part-time player in the secondary and full-time on special teams, but the past two seasons Jason Taylor II has shown the nation what a great nose he has for getting the football. This season Taylor II started all 12 games including the Kansas State game, the week after he picked off two passes and suffered a hyper-extension of his knee on the second pick in securing another win over Texas.

Pat Kinnison - Chief Photographer

The second pick vs. Texas this season.

Taylor II had 87 tackles, second on the team, 72 unassisted tackles, 2.0 tackles-for-loss, six interceptions, seven passes defended, and a fumble recovery that also helped to seal a win. For that production Taylor II has earned second-team All American honors from the Walter Camp Foundation.

The 6-0, 215-pound product of Oklahoma City and Midwest City Carl Albert High School has 163 career tackles now and in taking the ball away he has eight interceptions and two fumbles recovered. He has also forced a fumble and blocked a kick. victory.

Bruce Waterfield/OSU Athletics

The pick-six in the 2021 season at Texas.

That’s three interceptions in two seasons vs. the Longhorns. In his junior season he picked off a pass at Texas and returned it for a touchdown to key an Oklahoma State comeback As a sophomore, he took a fumble recovery 84-yards and a touchdown to beat Kansas State on the road.

Our belief is that Taylor II, who had a kickoff return fro touchdown as a sophomore against Texas Tech on an onside kick recovery, will play his thirteenth game of the season in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl on Dec. 27 in Phoenix, Ariz. against Wisconsin of the Big Ten Conference. 

I saw Taylor II at practice on Thursday (Dec. 8) and he again had an outstanding practice. My belief is that Taylor II will use his COVID-19 season and be back at free safety (rover) next season for the Cowboys as he benefits from the Pokes with a Purpose collective and enjoys NIL awards and opportunities. 

That is good news to have a returning second-team Al-American, unless, of course, you are a Texas Longhorn then it is not very good news.