ESPN recently ranked Oklahoma State as one of the best college football programs in the country, in regards to its talent pipeline to the NFL. OSU was ranked 15th and joined Nebraska as one of only two Big 12 Conference programs to make the elite list.

In the current decade, two Cowboy running backs, Barry Sanders and Thurman Thomas, have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Both players were named as the league's Most Valuable Player during their careers.

Sanders and Thomas, who were teammates at OSU, rank among the all-time leading rushers in NFL history.

OSU alumni Kevin Williams and Jamal Williams are two of the NFL's most dominating defensive tackles. Both are four-time Pro Bowlers. Kevin Williams is fourth in Vikings history with 42.5 sacks by a defensive tackle. Jamal Williams has long been considered the most physically imposing defensive tackle in the NFL at 6-foot-3, 350 pounds.

A pair of Cowboys, offensive lineman Jon Kolb, along with Thurman Thomas, played in four Super Bowls.

Former Cowboy Leslie O'Neal was a six-time Pro Bowler during his career with the San Diego Chargers.

Antonio Smith was a starter on the Arizona Cardinals' first Super Bowl team in January 2009. He became the third-straight Cowboy to play in a Super Bowl, following R.W. McQuarters (Giants) and Charlie Johnson (Colts).

Johnson returned to football's biggest stage in 2010 when he and fellow Cowboy alum Jacob Lacey played for the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV, the most-watched program of any kind in American television history. Oklahoma State has now had a presence in the last four Super Bowls.

Former Oklahoma State head coach Jimmy Johnson led the Dallas Cowboys to a pair of Super Bowl titles.
 

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."

Oklahoma State quarterback Brandon Weeden was drafted by the Cleveland Browns with the 22nd pick of the first round of the NFL Draft today. He joins teammate Justin Blackmon as first-round picks in this year's draft.

This marks the second time in the last three years that Oklahoma State has had two first-round picks in the same draft, as Russell Okung and Dez Bryant were both first-round picks in 2010.

Weeden and Blackmon served as the most recognizable players in Oklahoma State's rise to prominence the last two seasons, as the duo helped lead the Cowboys to a 23-3 record during their time as passing game front-men.

In his two seasons as Oklahoma State's starting quarterback, Weeden was 6-0 in head-to-head battles against 2012 NFL Draft headliners Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III, Ryan Tannehill and Nick Foles. He led the Cowboys to their first-ever Big 12 championship, first-ever BCS bowl game appearance and first-ever BCS bowl game victory as a senior.

"Thank you to everyone who helped me get to where I am," Weeden said. "There were so many people along the way that I can't name them all. I'm honored to be in the position that I am. It's taken a lot of hard work and a lot of support from the people around me and I'm very thankful of that."

Considered a highly-ranked NFL prospect after his junior year, Russell Okung elected to return to Stillwater for his senior year and finished off his career as one of the winningest players in Cowboy football history. During his time at OSU, he started in four bowl games and was a key component of the Pokes being ranked in the top 10 during both the 2008 and 2009 seasons.

Despite having his college career cut short, Dez Bryant's name is prominent in the Oklahoma State career record book. He is third all-time in touchdown receptions with 29 and is fourth in both receptions (147) and receiving yards (2,425). Bryant's 194 career points scored are good for 12th on OSU's all-time list.

"Going to Oklahoma State was the best thing that ever happened to me," Bryant said. "I had a great experience there because of my teammates and coaches, the fans and really everyone there. It's a great place and I'll always be a Cowboy."

Past Cowboys taken in the first round have included six-time Pro Bowler Leslie O'Neal, Heisman Trophy runner-up Terry Miller, NFL Hall of Famer and Heisman winner Barry Sanders, defensive back and Super Bowl champ R.W. McQuarters, Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kevin Williams and receivers Rashaun Woods and Hart Lee Dykes.