TEXAS DRAFT TRACKER (11):
First Round (2)
DT: Byron Murphy II (1st Round/16th Pick/Seattle Seahawks)
WR: Xavier Worthy (1st Round/28th Pick/Kansas City Chiefs)
Second Round (3)
DT: T'Vondre Sweat (2nd Round/38th Pick/Tennessee Titans)
RB: Jonathon Brooks (2nd Round/46th Pick/Carolina Panthers)
WR Adonai Mitchell (2nd Round/52nd Pick/Indianapolis Colts)
Fourth Round (1)
TE: Ja'Tavion Sanders (4th Round/101st Pick/Carolina Panthers)
Fifth Round (3)
OL: Christian Jones (5th Round/162nd Pick/Arizona Cardinals)
RB Keilan Robinson (5th Round/167th Pick/Jacksonville Jaguars)
LB: Jaylan Ford (5th Round/175th Pick/New Orleans Saints)
Sixth Round (2)
DB: Ryan Watts (6th Round/195th Pick/Pittsburgh Steelers)
WR: Jordan Whittington (6th Round/213th Pick/Los Angeles Rams)
HIGHLIGHTS:
• The Longhorns' 11 picks ranked second to Michigan (13)
           • Top 5: Michigan (13), TEXAS (11), Alabama (10), Florida State (10), Washington (10)
• Texas was one of only six programs with multiple first-round draft picks this year (Alabama, 3; LSU, 3; Washington, 3; Georgia, 2; Penn State, 2; and TEXAS, 2).
• Texas' 11 picks through the first six rounds of the draft were the most of any program.
• Texas' 11 picks in this yer's NFL Draft are tied for seventh most since the draft went to seven rounds in 1994.
• Texas' 5 picks in the first two rounds were tied with Alabama, Georgia and Washington for the most of any program (five in first 52 picks was the best of any program).
• UT's 11 selections were the most-ever for the Longhorns in a seven-round draft and third-most in any draft (17 in 12 rounds in 1984 and 12 in 12 rounds in 1982). The previous highs for seven rounds of a draft were 10 in 1984 and nine in 1982.
• The Longhorns' four selections in the first 46 picks (and 5 in first 52 selections) are both the most in UT history.
• Texas posted at least five selections in back-to-back drafts for the first time since accomplishing that for three years in a row from 2006-08.
• Texas' two first-round picks were the second-most in UT history, trailing only the three selected in 1980. Texas also had two first-round picks in 1948, 1953, 1991, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007.
• The Longhorns had first-round picks in back-to-back drafts for the first time since doing that for four years in a row from 2004-07.
• The Longhorns' seven offensive players selected this year were the most-ever in seven rounds of a draft in UT history and trail only the Horns' eight offensive players taken in the 1984 12-round draft.
• Texas has had the top running back drafted (2024 Jonathon Brooks/2023 Bijan Robinson) in back-to-back drafts, joining Alabama (2012 Trent Richardson/2011 Mark Ingram) as the only program to accomplish that.
• With the duo of Jonathon Brooks (1st Round) and Keilan Robinson (5th Round) being selected this year, it marks just the fourth time in UT history of the common draft era that a running back duo was taken in the same draft. It happened in consecutive years for the first time in school history during the common draft era (Bijan Robinson/1st Round/Falcons & Roschon Johnson/4th Round/Bears in 2023). The other two times were (Eric Metcalf/1st Round/Browns & Darron Norris/9th Round/Patriots in 1989) and (Rodney Tate/4th Round/Bengals and A.J. "Jam" Jones/8th Round/Rams in 1982).
• DT Byron Murphy II and WR Xavier Worthy marked the first time Texas had two first-round picks since 2007 (S Michael Griffin & CB Aaron Ross).
• Byron Murphy II was the first Longhorn defensive player selected in the first round since Malcom Brown in 2015 (32nd Pick/Patriots). He was the earliest a Texas defensive player was taken in the draft since Kenny Vaccaro in 2013 (15th Pick/Saints) and the earliest a Longhorn defensive tackle was selected since Kenneth Sims was the first pick overall by the Patriots in 1982.
• Xavier Worthy was the first Longhorn wide receiver taken in the first round since Roy Williams in 2004 (No. 7 Pick/Lions) and just the third Texas WR taken in the first round (Johnny "Lam" Jones/No. 2 Pick/Jets/1980) in the history of the common era draft (since 1967).
• Wide receivers Xavier Worthy (1st Round), Adonai Mitchell (2nd Round) and Jordan Whittington (6th Round) being selected marked the most-ever at that position in a single common era NFL Draft (since 1967) for UT. The Longhorns previously had two WRs taken in 2020, 2004, 1991 & 1987.
• Ja'Tavion Sanders was the first Longhorn tight end drafted in 10 years (Geoff Swaim/7th Round/Cowboys/2015) and the earliest a Texas TE was drafted since Jermichael Finley (3rd Round/Packers/2008).
STEVE SARKISIAN ON TEXAS' HISTORIC 2024 NFL DRAFT CLASS:
"What an incredible three days it was following our guys and a historic NFL Draft for our program. I couldn't be more excited for this group and their opportunity as they head into the NFL. The fact that there are 11 NFL draft picks we're talking about who all had a significant impact on our team speaks volumes for where we are as a program. When we came here, as much as we committed to developing these guys as players, we also were focused on developing them as men and wanted to create a culture that can last a long, long time. One thing I always reference about this group, they didn't just buy into our culture, they took this culture and elevated it. These guys were incredible leaders, they were great players, they worked extremely hard, and they bought into the program. And one of the really cool parts is so many of them are great examples of patience and perseverance. I think there's a lot of value in perseverance, and as a coaching staff, we really try to instill that in our players. These guys had faith in the process, earned everything they got and are reaping the benefits. It's a group that put their trust into their coaches, worked extremely hard, and in the end, we're talking about a bunch of guys who we relied on at the most critical moments in games. They played their best when their best was needed, and that's something I'll forever be grateful for."
"Getting 11 guys drafted — the second-most of any school nationally — is huge for our program. I think back to our time here, and in year one, we went 5-7 and had zero players drafted. Year two, we go 8-5 and have five players drafted with Bijan going in the first round. Now coming out of year three where we go 12-2, we're Big 12 Champs and make it to the College Football Playoff, and we have a record number of players drafted. That really speaks to the development in our program and what we do with our players when they arrive and how we work with them, not only on the field, but off the field, to become the best teammates and players they can be. It just reinforces that through team success comes the individual accolades, awards and honors. Being an NFL draft pick is an honor, it's not a right. You earn that, and all these guys have earned this opportunity, and I'm looking forward to seeing where they go with their next endeavors."
"I like this whole group. I'm extremely proud of all of them because I've seen the strides of all these guys have made with the work they put in, their commitment to the team and their personal development, and I'm so proud of who they are as men and how they represent us as a program. I'm so grateful for our staff and all they do, as well, because this is indicative of, one, the type of players we're recruiting now, and two, the development of the players in our program. We're reaping the benefits of that now. We're a better football team in season, and as a result, we're getting more players with an opportunity of fulfilling their dreams of getting drafted in the NFL. But at the end of the day, this was such a cool moment for all 11 of our guys who were drafted. They left their mark in the proud and storied history of Texas Football once again and set one heck of a standard in our program going forward. I couldn't be prouder and can't wait to follow all of them as they take their talents to the NFL."
