Senior offensive lineman Kelvin Beachum, center, Sept. 17, 2011 in Ford Stadium. (Michael Danser/The Daily Campus)

Four SMU football players were chosen in the 2012 NFL Draft, making it the highest number the Mustangs have taken since 1985.

Tackle Kelvin Beachum, corner Richard Crawford, tight end Taylor Thompson and guard Josh LeRibeus were all selected on Friday and Saturday by NFL teams.

LeRibeus was the highest pick of the four when he was selected with the eighth selection in the third round, 71st overall, by the Washington Redskins, who have been big Mustangs fans the past two years. They picked Crawford later with the sixth pick in the seventh round, 213th overall and having class of 2011 draftee Aldrick Robinson too.

Thompson played defensive end during his time at SMU and with his now slimmed down frame of 6 feet 6 inches and 250 pounds, he has made the transition to tight end for the NFL.

His size and speed made him the prototypical tight end and the reason why the Tennessee Titans selected him with the 10th pick in the fifth round, 145th overall.

After being a three-time All-Conference USA selection during his four years of starting at left tackle for the Mustangs, Beachum’s wait to be drafted lasted all the way to the 41st pick of the seventh round, 248th overall. The Mustangs’ offense amassed more than 5,000 yards of total offense during each of Beachum’s final three seasons in which he never missed a start.

Graduated wide receiver Cole Beasley signed with the Dallas Cowboys after the draft as an undrafted free agent, where he will have an opportunity to compete for a spot on the team during training camp.

The four players make it seven SMU players that have been drafted in the last four years proving that Head Coach June Jones is not only winning on the field, but preparing his players for the next level as well.