ITS A DONE DEAL: Doug Pederson Jaguars lands commitment from 2024 Recruit Myles Cole
Texas Tech football witnessed the drafting of two players over the weekend. Dadrion Taylor-Demerson was selected in the fourth round by the Arizona Cardinals, followed by Myles Cole, who became the second Red Raider drafted when he was picked by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the seventh round, as the 236th overall pick. Cole rounded out the Jaguars’ 2024 draft class as its ninth and final member.
Joining Jacksonville, Cole became the fifth defensive player chosen by the team this year, alongside Maason Smith, Jarrian James, Jordan Jefferson, and Deantre Prince. The Jaguars boast a wealth of defensive talent, and Cole will have the opportunity to learn from experienced players like defensive lineman Arik Armstead, linebacker Josh Allen, and promising young linebacker and pass rusher Travon Walker.
Cole made an immediate impact upon arriving at Texas Tech in 2022. After transferring from Louisiana-Monroe, he played in all 13 games in his first season, rotating between defensive line and linebacker under the guidance of defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter. By 2023, Cole had established himself as an edge rusher, culminating in a standout season where he achieved career-highs of 32 tackles and 3.5 sacks. Recognized with All-Big 12 honorable mention, Cole participated in two all-star games during his draft preparation: the East-West Shrine Bowl and the Senior Bowl, alongside former teammates Taylor-Demerson, Tyler Owens, and Austin McNamara.
At the scouting combine, Cole’s impressive size and speed, standing at 6’6″ with a 40-yard dash time of 4.67 seconds, drew praise from scouts and contributed to his visibility on draft weekend. While some view him as a project, many see Cole as a prototype of the modern-day edge rusher.
The Jaguars had a promising start to the previous season led by Trevor Lawrence and their offensive weapons. However, after Lawrence’s injury, the team faltered in the latter half of the season and missed the playoffs. Much of the blame was attributed to a defense that only managed 40 sacks throughout the season, ranking in the bottom ten of the league. Cole’s addition could potentially bolster the defense’s ability to apply pressure on opposing quarterbacks, contributing to the team’s overall success.
