Southern Methodist defensive end Taylor Thompson was selected by the Tennessee Titans with the 145th overall selection during round five of the 2012 NFL Draft on Saturday. One of those proverbial late-risers up draft boards, Thompson, a first-team All-Conference USA selection his senior year, became a hot name among draftniks during workouts.
The twist? After the 2011 season was over, after having played four years on the defensive line, Thompson shifted back to his high school position: tight end. At 6-foot-6, 259 pounds with a sub-4.6 40 time, Thompson caught the attention of NFL scouts and started seeing his name included in a number of writers' "under the radar" lists in the weeks leading up to the 2012 draft.
Thompson is the second player taken from SMU this year, after guard Josh LeRibeus was taken 71st overall by the Washington Redskins. In a year when, as of this writing, Texas has had only one player drafted, that is a mighty impressive feat for June Jones and his Mustangs.
For more on Dallas-area players taken in the 2012 NFL Draft, stay tuned to this SBNation Dallas exclusive StoryStream.