Why Jason Taylor II felt 'a little bit more relaxed' at Oklahoma State football's Pro Day

STILLWATER — Jason Taylor II was unsure he would have enough time to even prepare to run a 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine earlier this month.

Oklahoma State’s star safety had been in a whirlwind.

He played in the NFLPA Bowl and soon scrambled across the country just days before the Senior Bowl as a late addition.

Everything felt like a time crunch.

“But there’s nothing like playing football,” Taylor said.

That’s what Taylor did Wednesday during OSU’s Pro Day. Less than a month after a strong showing at the combine, the Cowboys’ top defensive playmaker opted to focus on on-field drills instead of other events he excelled at in Indianapolis.

More: At Oklahoma State Pro Day, Brendon Evers wants to show scouts he's still a 'top-level kid'

Taylor ran one cone drill and did position work.

“I was a little bit more relaxed,” Taylor said. “I feel like I got the big things out of the way, things I feel like I wanted to put up good numbers in. I was just a little anxious.”

He had proven enough at the combine with a 4.5-second 40-yard dash, 43-inch vertical jump and 10-feet, 9-inch broad jump.

His vertical jump ranks third all-time among safeties at the Combine, according to NFL.com, and second at this year’s combine.

His 40-yard run was sixth among safeties at this year’s combine. His broad jump was also third for safeties.

All are numbers that lead to becoming an NFL Draft selection.

Taylor had lenghty discussions with several NFL scouts in attendance Wednesday. He also has a visit set up next week with the New York Jets.

And for a kid from Carl Albert High School, a dream come true next month.

“You always have aspirations and dreams to do things like that,” Taylor said. “I never knew the details. I just knew I wanted to do them. Just going through this process, I feel nothing but blessed. I’m just happy and ready to start this process.”

More: Alan Bowman's veteran presence, football IQ stand out in Oklahoma State spring practice

Matt Hembrough generates buzz

At the end of a day of football competition, it’s rare for the longsnapper to be the one getting all the attention, but Matt Hembrough had onlookers buzzing.

It started early. Hembrough, who measured 6-foot-2 ½ and 236 pounds, had a broad jump of 9 feet, 8 inches in the first event of the day. He followed with a vertical jump of 36.5 inches, which is 2 inches better than any longsnapper in the history of the NFL Scouting Combine (no more than one longsnapper per year is invited).

Hembrough was clocked in the high 4.8-second range in his 40-yard dash and did 22 reps on the bench press.

Virtually all of Hembrough’s numbers were better than Central Florida’s Alex Ward, the player selected for the Combine.

“I definitely wanted to jump and bench well,” Hembrough said after a couple of extended visits with scouts following his on-field workout that included snapping, blocking and running. “I needed to show that I’m strong enough.”

Tramel: Big 12 football faces scheduling decisions without a clear mandate

Brock Martin pleased with on-field work

Defensive end Brock Martin secluded himself from his family the past few months.

He trained in Miami, Florida, leaving behind his family — including his girlfriend and son — to focus on his opportunity.

“It sucked being away from family and my home and Gracie and Maverick,” Martin said. “We had the option, but I thought it was best for this process to be able to focus on me. Sometimes, I wish I would have brought them down there with me.

“Once again, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. You want everything you think is the right decision. I just thought it was the correct decision.”

Flying solo, Martin reshaped his body. He remained at 240 pounds but looked and felt different.

Then he felt like he shined on the on-field portion of the day.

“I feel like I did great out here,” he said. “I didn’t do so well inside. It was just what we focused on in my training was being out here running, running smooth, running fast.

“It went about how I trained for it, so I’m not disappointed in any way. Like I said, I can only do so much with what God gave me. I’m going to keep chasing this dream and I’ll see where it takes me.”

More: Alex Hale set on returning to form as Oklahoma State football's placekicker

Martin did have a 30.5-inch vertical jump. He also did 17 reps on the bench press. He ran an unofficial 4.75-second 40.

In position drills, he even worked some at linebacker. He’s willing to show some versatility but also remain who he is.

“I’ve made a career of being the tough guy and I take pride in being the tough guy,” Martin said.

Now, Martin gets to reset with his family and prepare for the next step.

“Now it’s just about football, not mimicking football in drills,” Martin said.

More: Why Oklahoma State football can be excited about linebackers with Collin Oliver, Justin Wright

Tyler Lacy pleased with vertical

Tyler Lacy knows the importance of the vertical leap for a defensive end like him, needing to show an explosive lower body.

But he can’t explain how he managed to add nearly 3 inches to his vertical over the last month.

At the NFL Combine earlier this month, Lacy’s vertical maxed out at 28.5 inches, but he reached 31 inches at Pro Day, even weighing in a few pounds heavier at 283.

“That shocked me today,” said the always affable Lacy. “I guess I was just motivated today. I was ready to jump. I woke up on the right side of the bed today.”

Lacy posted solid numbers in several events at the Combine and did not repeat some of the events on Wednesday. His 40-yard dash time came in right around the same range of his 5.11-second mark from the Combine.

Tramel: Mike Gundy comes out of the bunker, and suddenly OSU football outlook seems better

Numbers that jumped out from OSU Pro Day

Several OSU players had big moments on the day. Here is a look at several numbers that jumped out:

4.33: Unofficial 40-yard dash for receiver Braydon Johnson, which if official would tie him for the fastest time at the NFL Combine with Nebraska’s Trey Palmer. Only five receivers at the Combine ran faster than 4.4 seconds. “I still feel like I’m the best in this class, so I’ll stand on that.”

38.5: Vertical jump for walk-on receiver CJ Tate. The former Putnam North star had the highest mark of the day. Johnson also jumped 37.5 inches. Tate would have been in a tie for sixth at the Combine.

26: Reps on the bench press by defensive tackle Sione Asi, the top mark of the day in the gym. Only four defensive tackles at the Combine surpassed that total. Lacy, a defensive end, had 30 at the Combine but did not participate in bench press Wednesday.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: NFL Draft: Oklahoma State football's Jason Taylor swift at Pro Day