Oklahoma State Gets Lacy and Taylor Into NFL Combine, Should Have Had Three
STILLWATER – Straight from their performances in both the Senior Bowl practices and the game last week in Mobile, Ala. Oklahoma State’s defensive lineman Tyler Lacy and All-American safety Jason Taylor II were among the 319 college prospects invited to the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Ind. to be held from Feb. 28 thru March 6. The NFL made a mistake in our opinion by not inviting two-time All-American long snapper Matt Hembrough.
Lacy had his season at Oklahoma State cut short by a leg injury at Kansas State, but he rebounded nicely with good effort throughout the week, playing both inside at out on the defensive line, Senior Bowl week. He had a couple of tackles and was credited with a half-sack in the Senior Bowl Game playing for the winning National team.
Lacy finished his senior season as a Cowboy with 27 total tackles, 8.5 tackles-for-loss, and three sacks. He also had a pass break-up, five quarterback hurries, and a fumble recovered. In his career Lacy finished with 113 total tackles, 29.5 tackles-for-loss, and 11.5 sacks. He had three forced fumbles and two fumbles recovered. In Mobile he measured 6-4 and 285 pounds.
| Big 12 Schools, Now and Future | 2023 Combine Invites |
| TCU | 9 |
| Oklahoma | 7 |
| Cincinnati | 6 |
| Texas | 5 |
| Kansas State, Iowa State | 4 |
| BYU, Houston | 3 |
| Tie - Baylor, Oklahoma State, Kansas, Texas Tech, West Virginia | 2 |
| UCF | 1 |
Lacy is one of 51 defensive linemen invited to Indy.
Jason Taylor II had a spectacular season continuing to be a guy that consistently finds the football. He had six interceptions this season to go with 93 tackles. He first played in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl in the Rose Bowl and finished with six tackles and chased down a receiver and forced a fumble that his teammate recovered preventing what would have been a touchdown.
We are certain it was that hustle play that caused Senior Bowl executive director Jim Nagy to invite Taylor II to come on to Mobile. In his one practice at the Senior Bowl, he impressed with his athletic ability and football IQ. In the game he had four tackles.
In his Oklahoma State career, he took the football away 11 times from opponents plus recovered an onside kick and returned it for a touchdown. He also had a total of 169 tackles and 11 passes defended.
Taylor II is one of 88 defensive backs that are invited to participate in the 2023 edition of the NFL Combine.
Hembrough would be just the second long snapper at the NFL Combine this year. UCF long snapper Alex Ward is the only one to go with six punters and six kickers. Hembrough had a strong performance with perfect deliveries in the East-West Shrine Game. In his four seasons as the snapper for both punts and placements he had zero bad snaps, none. He had six tackles in his career and also forced a fumble. The only possible knock on Hembrough and it would be unfair is that he is a left-handed snapper.