Texas A&M had two players selected in this year’s NFL Draft as well as six players who went undrafted and were signed by NFL teams.
The two players taken in the draft were offensive linemen Cedric Ogbuehi and Jarvis Harrison. Ogbuehi was selected 21st overall in the first round by the Bengals, which helped extend A&M’s streak to five years in row with a player taken in the first round.
Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis weighed in on he and the team’s decision to use their first round draft pick on Ogbuehi.
“We are very pleased to be able to draft Cedric Ogbuehi,” Coach Lewis said. “He has great upside in his play. Obviously we’ve got to get him healthy from the (knee) injury, but we really felt was a guy with tremendous potential and a tremendous future, and an opportunity to be very, very good. Being there at Texas A&M, he’s played both sides of the line — both tackles and guard — so there’s a lot of flexibility in his play in the past. He’s just a huge man, with big, long length and a huge (wing) span. You watch how he protects all the time, and he’s violent as a run-blocker. So we’re very, very pleased that he was there when we picked.”
After injuring his ACL in the Liberty Bowl, Ogbuehi’s stock took a small hit and some scouts believed he would be taken late in the first round or in the second round. At the Bengals’ draft press conference Cincinnati’s offensive line coach seemed more than pleased to have the opportunity to draft Ogbuehi.
“I frickin’ love him,” said Alexander. “Let me tell you, there’s no way we have a chance at this guy if he doesn’t get hurt. He’s a top-of-the-draft player. There’s no question that this guy has rare feet and athleticism that you see in the very best offensive linemen in the league.”
Ogbuehi will join a Bengals team that has made the playoffs in each of the last four years and in five of the last six. He will now be reunited with former teammate Sean Porter who played with the Aggies from 2009-2012.
“I’m really excited. It helps a lot that Sean plays there, and we were teammates. I’m ready to get out there,” said Ogbuehi.
Jarvis Harrison was picked by the Jets 152nd overall in the fifth round. Harrison started 38 games in his career for the Aggies and only missed two.
The Navasota native is 330 pounds and started every game blocking for Johnny Manziel during the 2012 and 2013 seasons and saw action in 11 games as a redshirt freshman during the 2011 season. He played left tackle and left guard during his tenure with Aggies. The 6’4 offensive guard ran the 40 yard dash in 5.19 seconds at the combine and received a grade of 5.73 from the scouts. He was a top OL performer in the three-cone drill with a 7.51-second time.
Undrafted free agents who also signed to teams were kicker Josh Lambo — San Diego Chargers, wide receiver Malcome Kennedy — New Orleans Saints, runningback Trey Williams — Houston Texans, Floyd Raven Sr. — Cincinnati Bengals, Deshazor Everett — Tampa Bay Bucaneers, and Cameron Clear — Pittsburgh Steelers.
