Jason Taylor II Lives Out Childhood Dream, Drafted By Los Angeles Rams

STILLWATER – For Jason Taylor II, a tremendous track athlete, it has always been about the ball. The football. He is what I’ve always called a “ballhawker”.

© BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK

Jason Taylor II with one of his three career interceptions versus Texas.

That is a player that is a magnet for the football. Even in his pursuit of the pros. Playing in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl All-Star Game on the west coast, Taylor stopped what looked like a sure touchdown on a deep ball late in the game. The former Cowboys safety forced a fumble from University of Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles wide receiver Jason Brownlee just before he could score a touchdown. That dramatic play led to Taylor II being a late invite to the prestigious Senior Bowl. That and all of his takeaways at Oklahoma State, and there were many, led to the Los Angeles Rams selecting Taylor II with the 17^th pick of the seventh round, the 234^th overall pick, in the 2023 NFL Draft. Dream come true.

Pokes Report

Jason Taylor II works the shuttle at OSU Pro Day.

“It’s a little weird,” Taylor said to the media back on March 29 at the OSU Pro Day when asked about his NFL dream. “Everybody's looking at you, but it’s a great experience. (I’ve) been dreaming about the combine (since) I was a little kid. You always have aspirations and dreams... just going through the process I feel nothing but blessed. I can’t even explain how it’s going to feel, I just can’t wait.” 

He’s feeling it now. The former Carl Albert High School two-time State Champion, he helped the Titans to a 14-0 perfect season as a senior. He finished with over 120 tackles and 13 interceptions in his final two seasons. He was named either the Player of the Year or the Defensive Player of the Year by OK Preps, The Oklahoman, and The Tulsa World. 

After a redshirt season, Taylor II played in every game for the rest of his college career and he started in most of those 51 games. 

I mentioned he was a “ballhawker” and I was asked by a pair of NFL teams by phone what kind of representative he was of his team with the media and what kind of teammate that I had observed him being in his OSU career. The answers were he was fantastic with the media and a stellar representative of the program. He was a strong teammate, always encouraging his guys on and off the field. 

Scott Sewell-USA TODAY Sports

Taylor (25) recovers Will Howard’s (15) fumble in midair and returns it 84-yards for a touchdown.

The ballhawker had eight interceptions and a nation leading six picks his senior season in 2022. He also forced two fumbles and recovered two fumbles. One recovery was returned 84-yards on the road in Manhattan, Kansas to seal a win over Kansas State in the 2020 season. 

That same season Taylor II recovered an onside kick in the win over Texas Tech and he didn’t just recover it, he scooped it and took it to the house for 48-yard touchdown. 

In 2021 he had his only blocked kick in his career and that came in the fourth quarter as he knocked down an attempt at a game winning field goal at Boise State.

Taylor II is also a physical football player that is known for making aggressive and forceful tackles. He finished his Oklahoma State career with 175 tackles, 138 of those were solo stops. Now he will be making tackles and chasing the football in the NFL for the Rams and living out his dream.