Oklahoma State Cowboys Number 10 in Frisco for the First Big 12 Pro Day
STILLWATER – Leon Johnson II was sitting on the trainer’s table inside the Sherman Smith Training Center last Saturday around noon waiting for the other participants to show up. Current Oklahoma State wide receiver Rashod Owens was there given his friend a hard time. When I asked Johnson about where he had trained, he answered enthusiastically.
“I was out in California,” Johnson said. “Alex Hale was there near me training, but it was mostly West Coast guys from USC, UCLA, Stanford, and some guys from Tulane. I’m going to be in Frisco Thursday for the Big 12 Pro Day.”
That’s right, Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark had the idea to team up with Jerry Jones, the Dallas Cowboys and their Star Training Center as well as the NFL Network for a conference-wide Pro Day. It will start bright and early on Thursday morning. The Big 12 Pro Day is sponsored by the United States Air Force Reserve.
The Cowboys that will participate are:
| Leon Johnson III - WR | 6-5, 210, Bothell, Wash. | DIII transfer that had 33 rec. for 539-yds. and a TD. |
| Arland Bruce - WR | 5-10, 200, Olathe, Kan. | Iowa transfer that never played because of NCAA suspension. |
| Elijah Collins - RB | 6-0, 220, Detroit, Mich, | Michigan State transfer that was 2nd team All-Big 10 as a soph, and rushed for 216-yds and a TD, 4.7-ypc despite injury. |
| Josiah Johnson - TE | 6-5, 240, Jacksonville, Fla. | UMass transfer that never really played TE and had 22 rec. for 166-yds and a TD at OSU. Excellent blocker. |
| Braden Cassity - TE/FB | 6-2, 241, Austin, Texas | Cassity originally signed with OSU as a DE, but became a solid blocker and tough player as a Cowboy back and FB. |
| Anthony Goodlow - DE | 6-5, 285, Del City, Okla. | Tulsa transfer that was excellent and had 42 tackles, 7.0 tfl, and 4.0 sacks. |
| Nathan Latu - DE | 6-4, 265, Salt Lake City, Utah | He finished last season with 31 tackles, 5.0 tfl, and 3.0 sacks. |
| Xavier Benson - LB | 6-2, 225, Texarkana, Texas | Two-year starter after transferring from Texas Tech and Tyler J.C. He had 65 tackles, 2 fumbles recovered and caused. |
| Zeke Zaragoza - LS | 5-10, 210, Ontario, Calf. | Very dependable long snapper that waited his turn behind Matt Hembrough. |
| Alex Hale - PK | 6-0, 205, Point Frederick, NSW, Australia | Record setting kicker for Oklahoma State that is a definite NFL prospect. |
You never know what happens when there is testing going on, but from a football standpoint there are two participants in Johnson III that has such great size and needs a year on a practice squad and could be a shocker. Almost the same with Josiah Johnson, who if he had been a tight end at Oklahoma State for more than a year, he would have been a prime draft prospect. He would be an excellent practice squad keeper that will develop.
Additionally, NoBull, the Official Combine Training Partner of the NFL, has been named the Official Apparel Partner of Big 12 Pro Day. Athletes will receive performance gear for workouts along with other NoBull products throughout the week. The partnership will ensure that athletes receive an experience that closely resembles the NFL Combine.
The event will also feature Zebra Technologies, the Official Real Time Location Solutions Provider of the NFL. Zebra generates data for the NFL’s Next Gen Stats platform, and will apply this same tracking technology to spotlight player performance at the Big 12 Pro Day.
On Thursday, March 28, Quarterbacks, Wide Receivers and Tight Ends will work out from 7:15 a.m. to 10 a.m. Running Backs will take the field from 10:15 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. followed by Defensive Backs from 2:15 p.m. to 5:15 p.m.
Saturday, March 30 will see Specialists work out from 7:15 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. followed by Offensive Linemen from 9:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Defensive Linemen will be on the field from 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. before Linebackers conclude the weekend from 2:45 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. (all times Central).
The workout are open to the public inside The Star main playing surface and stadium that seats approximately 12,000.
NFL Network will show coverage from the Big 12 Pro Day with an hour-long broadcast on Thursday, March 28, and Friday, March 29 at 7 p.m. CT each night. Saturday's events will be included on the NFL Network's Path to the Draft weekly coverage leading up to the 2024 NFL Draft.