TCU wide receiver/returner Jalen Reagor and cornerback Jeff Gladney were selected
Thursday night (April 23) in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia
Eagles and Minnesota Vikings, respectively.
The Eagles made Reagor the 21st overall pick in the historic draft that is being held virtually over several days because of the COVID-19 virus pandemic. The Vikings took Gladney with the 31st selection.
The Eagles made Reagor the 21st overall pick in the historic draft that is being held virtually over several days because of the COVID-19 virus pandemic. The Vikings took Gladney with the 31st selection.
It is the first time since the 1939 NFL draft that the Horned Frogs have had two players taken in the draft's first round.
Reagor and Gladney were stars on a 2019 Horned Frogs football team that finished 5-7 overall and in seventh place in the Big 12 with a 3-6 conference record. TCU did not qualify for a bowl game for the third time in Patterson’s 19-year TCU head-coaching career. The other two times were after the 2004 and 2013 seasons.
TCU now has 16 first-round draft picks in its history; seven under head coach Gary Patterson. Six of those first-round draft picks under Patterson have come in the last 1o years.
Reagor and Gladney were stars on a 2019 Horned Frogs football team that finished 5-7 overall and in seventh place in the Big 12 with a 3-6 conference record. TCU did not qualify for a bowl game for the third time in Patterson’s 19-year TCU head-coaching career. The other two times were after the 2004 and 2013 seasons.
TCU now has 16 first-round draft picks in its history; seven under head coach Gary Patterson. Six of those first-round draft picks under Patterson have come in the last 1o years.
Patterson
has now had 50 players drafted, with a total of 121 in NFL camps.
TCU's two first-round drafted players were the most of any Texas school.
TCU's two first-round drafted players were the most of any Texas school.
The
Big 12 had five players chosen in the first round of the draft, the Conference's
most in eight years since five were selected in the 2012 draft. Since its inception in 1996-97, the
Conference has had 89 players selected in the first round of NFL drafts.
In addition to Reagor and Gladney, Oklahoma wide receiver CeeDee Lamb was selected 17th by the Dallas Cowboys. Oklahoma linebacker Kenneth Murray was selected by the Los Angeles Chargers at No. 23. Texas Tech linebacker Jordyn Brooks went at No. 27 to the Seattle Seahawks.
In addition to Reagor and Gladney, Oklahoma wide receiver CeeDee Lamb was selected 17th by the Dallas Cowboys. Oklahoma linebacker Kenneth Murray was selected by the Los Angeles Chargers at No. 23. Texas Tech linebacker Jordyn Brooks went at No. 27 to the Seattle Seahawks.
In three seasons at TCU, Reagor, a junior, tied for second in TCU history in touchdown catches (22). He placed sixth in receiving yards (2,248) and seventh in receptions (148). He had career-high totals of 72 receptions, 1,061 receiving yards and nine touchdowns as a sophomore. He set a TCU record that season with a touchdown catch in seven consecutive games. He also became the first wide receiver in TCU and Big 12 history to top 100 yards rushing (121) and 90 receiving (91) in a 31-24 win over Oklahoma State.
Reagor ranked second nationally with a 20.8 punt return average, breaking the previous TCU season record of 20.4 by Linzy Cole in 1969. He also became TCU's career leader in punt return average at 17.8 yards, bettering the previous mark of 16.0 by Blanard Spearman (1930-32).
Reagor joins offensive tackles Halapoulivaati Vaitai (2016) and Matt Pryor (2018) in Philadelphia.
Gladney, a senior, was named to multiple All-America teams in 2019 and was a three-time All-Big 12 selection, including first-team honors as a senior. He led the Horned Frogs with 14 pass breakups. His 15 passes defended tied for the team lead and were second in the Big 12. His 26 pass breakups over the last two seasons tied for second nationally.
A four-year starter, Gladney made 42 career starts. For his career, he had 146 tackles, including six for loss, with five interceptions and 43 passes defended.
Gladney joins former TCU teammate and offensive tackle Aviante Collins on the Vikings roster.
TCU's
First-Round NFL Draft Picks:
1936 -- Jimmy Lawrence, wingback, Chicago Cardinals
1937 -- Sammy Baugh, quarterback, Washington Redskins
1939 -- Ki Aldrich, center, Chicago Cardinals
1939 -- Davey O'Brien, quarterback, Philadelphia Eagles
1939 -- I.B. Hale, tackle, Washington Redskins
1958 -- Jim Shofner, defensive back, Cleveland Browns
1960 -- Jack Spikes, fullback, Denver Broncos
1961 -- Bob Lilly, defensive tackle, Dallas Cowboys
1970 -- Norm Bulaich, running back, Baltimore Colts
2001 -- LaDainian Tomlinson, running back, San Diego Chargers
2010 -- Jerry Hughes, defensive end, Indianapolis Colts
2014 -- Jason Verrett, cornerback, San Diego Chargers
2016 -- Josh Doctson, wide receiver, Washington Redskins
2019 -- L.J. Collier, defensive end, Seattle Seahawks
2020 -- Jalen Reagor, wide receiver, Philadelphia Eagles
2020-- Jeff Gladney, cornerback, Minnesota Vikings
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| Jalen Reagor (#1) runs against Kansas in the Horned Frogs' 51-14 victory over the Jayhawks during the 2019 season. |
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| Jeff Gladney (#12) defends a Texas Receiver in the Horned Frogs' 37-27 victory over the Longhorns during the 2019 season. |
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