Joseph Ossai, Ronnie Perkins Taken In Third Round of NFL Draft
Texas Longhorns defensive end Joseph Ossai and Oklahoma Sooners defensive end Ronnie Perkins were the only Big 12 players take in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft on Friday.
Ossai was taken No. 69 overall by Cincinnati, while Perkins taken No. 96 overall by New England.
Ossai played 36 games and made 24 starts for the Longhorns, and in 2020 he earned consensus All-America honors with first-team recognition from the AP, FWAA and WCFF. He was a finalist for the Lott IMPACT Trophy, a semifinalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award and a first-team All-Big 12 honoree. He was also a Big 12 honorable mention for Defensive Player of the Year and Defensive Lineman of the Year.
Ossai became the second Longhorn to come off the board, with offensive lineman Samuel Cosmi taken in the second round by the Washington Football Team.
Perkins was an All-Big 12 Second Team selection by league’s head coaches despite missing the first five games of the 2020 season. After his return, he played in six games and started in five and finished with 24 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks and 9.0 quarterback hurries. Pro Football Focus rated him following the season as nation’s No. 75 overall player.
Perkins was the second Sooners player to come off the board. Offensive lineman Creed Humphrey was the first Sooner off the board, going to the Kansas City Chiefs.
You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard.
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