Oklahoma led all Big 12 schools, with six players selected in the NFL draft last spring. After the final round of team cuts over the weekend, all six Sooner 2015 NFL draft picks find themselves on active NFL rosters.
The 2015 NFL draft picks from Oklahoma ranged from nose tackle Jordan Phillips, the 52nd overall pick, taken in the second round by the Miami Dolphins, to offensive tackle Tyrus Thompson and Aaron Ripkowski, both sixth-round selections.
Geneo Grissom, who played defensive end at Oklahoma, will suit up for the New England Patriots when they begin the 2015 season on Thursday against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Grissom was a third-round pick of the Patriots, the 97th player taken in the draft overall.
Oct 4, 2014; Fort Worth, TX, USA; Oklahoma Sooners defensive tackle Jordan Phillips (80) in action against the TCU Horned Frogs at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Blake Bell was recruited to Oklahoma as a quarterback and started eight games at the position his junior season. The player nicknamed the “Belldozer” because of his size and strength running with the football in short-yardage situations for much of his first two seasons at OU, voluntarily switched to tight end his senior season when Trevor Knight was named the starting quarterback for the 2014 season. It turned out the be a very fortuitous career decision because Bell was the fourth-round selection of the San Francisco 49ers as a tight end last spring, and now he has officially made the 49ers’ roster.
Offensive guard Daryl Williams also was selected in the fourth round of the 2015 NFL Draft, the pick of the Carolina Panthers. He, too, learned over the weekend that he had survived the cutdown to make the team’s 53-man roster.
Ripkowski, who played fullback for the Sooners, made the cutdown for the Green Bay Packers, and Thompson is on the active roster of the Minnesota Vikings.
According to information provided by the Oklahoma athletic department, 26 former Sooners are currently on active NFL rosters, four more on injured reserve and one on a practice squad.
Oklahoma Sooners Active in the NFL as of Sept. 1, 2015
Blake Bell, TE – San Francisco 49ers
Sam Bradford, QB – Philadelphia Eagles
Chris Chester, OG – Atlanta Falcons
Aaron Colvin, CB – Jacksonville Jaguars
Jamell Fleming, DB – Kansas City Chiefs
Jermaine Gresham, TE – Arizona Cardinals
Geneo Grissom, DL – New England Patriots
James Hanna, TE – Dallas Cowboys
Tony Jefferson, DB – Arizona Cardinals
Lane Johnson, OT – Philadelphia Eagles
Landry Jones, QB – Pittsburgh Steelers
David King, DE – Seattle Seahawks
Travis Lewis, LB – Detroit Lions
Curtis Lofton, LB – Oakland Raiders
Gerald McCoy, DT – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Stacy McGee, DT – Oakland Raiders
DeMarco Murray, RB – Philadelphia Eagles
Chuka Ndulue, NT – Denver Broncos
Corey Nelson, OLB – Denver Broncos
Adrian Peterson, RB – Minnesota Vikings
Jordan Phillips, DT – Miami Dolphins
Aaron Ripkowski, FB – Green Bay Packers
Donald Stephenson, OT – Kansas City Chiefs
Kenny Stills, WR – Miami Dolphins
Tyrus Thompson, OL – Minnesota Vikings
Tress Way, P – Washington Redskins
Damien Williams, RB – Miami Dolphins
Daryl Williams, OT – Carolina Panthers
Trent Williams, OT – Washington Redskins
James Winchester, LS – Kansas City Chiefs
Injured Reserve
Frank Alexander, DE – Carolina Panthers
Garrett Hartley, K – Pittsburgh Steelers
Phil Loadholt, OT – Minnesota Vikings
Julian Wilson, CB – Baltimore Ravens
Practice Squad
Jalen Saunders, WR – Chicago Bears