Taylor-Demerson, Cole selected in NFL Draft

LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech had two Red Raiders selected Saturday on the final day of the NFL Draft as defensive back Dadrion Taylor-Demerson went in the fourth round to the Arizona Cardinals followed by outside linebacker Myles Cole in the seventh round to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Taylor-Demerson didn’t have to wait long to hear his name called as the Cardinals utilized the 104th overall selection and the fourth of the day to select the speedy safety. The Jaguars, meanwhile, used the No. 236 overall pick on Cole to mark the fourth time in the past five years multiple Red Raiders have been selected.

The 2023 campaign springboarded Taylor-Demerson up draft boards as he capitalized on a final season of eligibility, going so far as switching his jersey number to No. 1 to signify he had one year remaining to show his potential. Known for his leadership in the locker room, Taylor-Demerson boosted a Tech defense that allowed only 26.0 points per game this past season – its lowest since 2009 – en route to pushing the Red Raiders to a third-straight bowl victory.

Taylor-Demerson ranked third on the team with 73 tackles and added a team-high four interceptions from his safety spot in the secondary this past season. He closed his career with 10 interceptions – all in the past three seasons – which ranked him tied for 10th all-time in the Texas Tech record book alongside Kevin Curtis (1998-01).

Cole, meanwhile, was a huge presence up front for the Red Raiders over his two -year career, totaling 32 tackles this past season, including 6.5 for a loss and 3.5 sacks. Cole, who had an arm length measured at an impressive 36 7/8 inches at the NFL Combine, finished with 40 tackles for his Red Raider career after transferring to Texas Tech from Louisiana-Monroe ahead of the 2022 season.

A full breakdown of Texas Tech’s NFL Draft selections and undrafted free agent signings can be found below. This listing will be updated throughout the weekend on TexasTech.com.

TEXAS TECH NFL DRAFT RESULTS

No. 104 (4th Round) – Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, DB (Arizona Cardinals)

No. 236 (7th Round) – Myles Cole, DE (Jacksonville Jaguars)

UDFA – Austin McNamara, P (Cincinnati Bengals)

UDFA – Baylor Cupp, TE (Kansas City Chiefs)

UDFA – Xavier White, WR (Indianapolis Colts)

UDFA – Rayshad Williams, DB (Las Vegas Raiders)

UDFA – Cole Spencer, OL (Tennessee Titans)

UDFA – Tyler Owens, DB (Washington Commanders)

TEXAS TECH NFL DRAFT NOTES

· Prior to this year’s draft, Texas Tech had not had a Red Raider selected by either the Arizona Cardinals or Jacksonville Jaguars organizations. The Carolina Panthers are now the only current NFL organization to have not ever selected a Red Raider in draft history.

· The narrative around defensive players at Texas Tech is quickly changing as seven of the last 10 Red Raiders to hear their name called in the NFL Draft since 2019 have come from the defensive side of the ball.

· Texas Tech has now had multiple Red Raiders selected in four of the past five NFL Drafts. This is only the second time during that stretch – 2020 with Jordyn Brooks (LB) and Broderick Washington Jr. (DL) – where both draftees have come from the defensive side of the ball.

· This is the second time in the past four years where a Red Raider defensive back has been selected in the first four rounds. Zech McPhearson was also chosen in the fourth round of the of the 2021 draft as the Philadelphia Eagles used the 123rd overall pick on the 2020 All-Big 12 first team honoree.

· Texas Tech has now had a Red Raider selected within the first four rounds of each of the last five drafts after linebacker Jordyn Brooks was chosen late in the first round in 2020, while defensive back Zech McPhearson and wide receiver Erik Ezukanma were both picked in the fourth round of the 2021 and 2022 drafts, respectively. Tyree Wilson was chosen with the eighth overall selection in the first round a year ago followed by Dadrion Taylor-Demerson in the fourth round this year.

· Taylor-Demerson becomes the 11th defensive back to play under Texas Tech defensive passing game coordinator and secondary coach Marcel Yates to be selected in the NFL Draft. He joins the likes of Joey Thomas (2004, Montana State), Gerald Alexander (2007, Boise State), Orlando Scandrick (2008, Boise State), Kyle Wilson (2010, Boise State), Brandyn Thompson (2011, Boise State), George Iloka (2012, Boise State), Jamar Taylor (2013, Boise State), Darian Thompson (2016, Boise State), Will Parks (2018, Arizona) and Dan Cruikshank (2018, Arizona). Of that list, Taylor-Demerson is the sixth Yates pupil to be selected within the first four rounds.

· Texas Tech has now had an edge rusher selected in back-to-back years under outside linebackers coach C.J. Ah You and defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter. It is the third-consecutive year DeRuyter has had an edge rusher chosen as Myles Cole joins Kayvon Thibodeaux – the No. 5 overall pick in 2022 from Oregon – as well as Tyree Wilson, the No. 8 overall selection from a year ago, among former DeRuyter pupils.

–TECH–

Release Provided By Matt Dowdy Texas Tech Athletics