STILLWATER, Okla. - Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars with the fifth overall pick of the 2012 NFL Draft today. He is the fourth Cowboy in four years to be drafted in the first round and is highest-drafted Oklahoma State player since Barry Sanders was the third overall pick of the 1989 draft.
Blackmon won the Biletnikoff Award presented to college football's best receiver in in both 2010 and 2011, becoming only the second player to earn the award twice (Michael Crabtree won it in 2007 and 2008).
"There are so many people who have helped me get to this point, but I really want to thank Coach Gundy, my receivers coaches Brewer and Dunn, my strength coaches Glass and Tudman, all my teammates and the entire staff at Oklahoma State," Blackmon said. "I'm proud that I got to be part of a group that accomplished so many firsts at OSU. We had so much fun and I wouldn't trade my experience for anything."
Blackmon's staggering 233 catches for 3,304 yards and 38 touchdowns made him one of the central figures in two of the best seasons in Oklahoma State football history in 2010 and 2011, with OSU posting a 23-3 record with him starring in the role of passing game front-man.
Along the way, he set an NCAA record with 14 straight games with 100 receiving yards and 14 straight games with 100 receiving yards and at least touchdown. His 1,782 receiving yards in 2010 were the most in NCAA history for a sophomore and the sixth-most for any player.
He was a two-time unanimous All-American, was recognized as the 2010 Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year and was the offensive MVP of both the 2010 Valero Alamo Bowl and the 2012 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl in becoming the most decorated player at Oklahoma State since Barry Sanders won the Heisman Trophy in 1988.
"We're very proud of Justin as he takes the next step in his career," Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy said. "He brought so much to our program but one thing that I'll remember about him is how hard he worked when it wasn't game day. Justin was our best practice player and set the tone for our team by his work ethic and buying in to what we were trying to accomplish as a program. He will have a lasting impact at Oklahoma State."
Oklahoma State's NFL Draft First-Round Picks
Year Rd. Pick Player Pos. Team
1947 1 1 Bob Fenimore HB Chicago Bears
1947 1 Neill Armstrong OE Philadelphia Eagles
1948 1 Jim Spavital FB Chicago Cardinals
1970 1 25 John Ward G Minnesota Vikings
1974 1 18 Reuben Gant TE Buffalo Bills
1976 1 25 James White DT Minnesota Vikings
1977 1 12 Phil Dokes DT Buffalo Bills
1978 1 5 Terry Miller RB Buffalo Bills
1986 1 8 Leslie O'Neal DE San Diego Chargers
1989 1 3 Barry Sanders RB Detroit Lions
1989 1 16 Hart Lee Dykes WR New England Patriots
1998 1 28 R.W. McQuarters CB San Francisco 49ers
2003 1 9 Kevin Williams DE Minnesota Vikings
2004 1 31 Rashaun Woods WR San Francisco 49ers
2009 1 20 Brandon Pettigrew TE Detroit Lions
2010 1 6 Russell Okung OL Seattle Seahawks
2010 1 24 Dez Bryant WR Dallas Cowboys
2012 1 5 Justin Blackmon WR Jacksonville Jaguars
Oklahoma State Draftees of the Mike Gundy Era (since 2005)
2005 2 56 Darrent Williams CB Denver Broncos
2005 3 73 Vernand Morency RB Houston Texans
2005 7 249 Billy Bajema TE San Francisco 49ers
2006 6 199 Charlie Johnson T Indianapolis Colts
2007 4 132 Ryan McBean DE Pittsburgh Steelers
2007 6 209 Corey Hilliard OT New England Patriots
2009 1 20 Brandon Pettigrew TE Detroit Lions
2010 1 6 Russell Okung OL Seattle Seahawks
2010 1 24 Dez Bryant WR Dallas Cowboys
2010 5 137 Perrish Cox DB Denver Broncos
2010 7 250 Zac Robinson QB New England Patriots
2011 4 115 Kendall Hunter RB San Francisco 49ers
2012 1 5 Justin Blackmon WR Jacksonville Jaguars
