Oklahoma State Graduates Looking to Show Off in Rookie Mini Camps
STILLWATER – It was graduation this weekend in Stillwater for all of the 2023 graduates of Oklahoma State University, however several graduates were missing. The Cowboy football players that graduated on the field and are off to the NFL were spread across the country at rookie mini camps. All of the Oklahoma State players that were drafted in defensive lineman Tyler Lacy and safety Jason Taylor II and then the rookie free agents that include defensive end/linebacker Brock Martin, deep snapper Matt Hembrough, linebacker Lamont Bishop, wide receiver Braydon Johnson, defensive tackle Sione Asi, and kicker Tanner Brown were all far away from their college home this weekend.
The Los Angeles Rams don’t have an organized rookie mini camp, so Taylor II, who was drafted in the seventh round by the Rams, and Tanner Brown, who was signed as a rookie free agent, are just settling into the offseason workouts in Los Angeles. They have a former Cowboy to lean on as former Oklahoma State quarterback standout Zac Robinson is the quarterbacks coach and pass game coordinator for Los Angeles.
The other drafted Cowboy was defensive lineman Tyler Lacy and Lacy signed his rookie contract and went to work for the Jaguars picking up some compliments for his on the field drill work in the mini camp.
Lacy, a fourth round selection, spent most of his time with the interior defensive line and mostly playing defensive end in the Jaguars' 3-4 front. He did a lot of that at Oklahoma State and he can play inside as well as a tackle. Lacy got good interior push throughout the day to collapse the pocket and put pressure on the quarterback. Lacy was able to disrupt his fair share of plays, including adding a batted pass at the line of scrimmage.
Many of the rookie free agents were just announced officially this weekend although word had leaked shortly after the draft. Brock Martin will be interesting with the Raiders as his bio was brief but impressive as released by the team.
Played five years at Oklahoma State, playing in 62 career games with 34 starts…Recorded 145 tackles (91 solo), 40 tackles for loss and 16 sacks…Named second-team All-Big 12 as senior.
Martin will play on the edge and also double at linebacker.
Speaking of linebacker there is no doubt that Lamont Bishop is athletic and he may have been one of the players that Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll was thinking of when he mentioned how special and how athletic the group is at the Lake Everest headquarters this weekend for rookie mini camp. Carroll is one of the more fun head coaches to play for in the NFL.
Meanwhile, Sione Asi was in Denver and we heard little from there, but in Arizona the Cardinals are banking on Matt Hembrough being the deep
snapper for their team. Hembrough is so talented and so automatic. The Cardinals are fortunate they picked him up fast after the draft.
Then while their trainer, an Oklahoma State graduate in Denny Kellington, who was one of the primary medical professionals that worked and saved the life of Bills defensive back Damar Hamlin on that fateful but eventually triumphant Monday night in Cincinnati. Hamlin is now fully cleared to resume playing in the NFL after his heart stopped on the field. Hamlin left Buffalo on Friday to head to Stillwater to deliver the commencement address at Oklahoma State.
In Buffalo and likely meeting Kellington for the first time on Friday and this weekend was former Cowboys wide receiver Braydon Johnson. The Bills fan and news sites rave about getting Johnson as he ran a 4.4 and a 4.38 in the forty at the Oklahoma State Pro Day. Speed is popular in the NFL.