Former San Jose State Spartans tight end Josh Oliver became the Mountain West’s second player taken in the 2019 NFL Draft, picked by the Jacksonville Jaguars as the fifth pick in the third round, the 69th overall pick.

Oliver was also the fifth tight end taken in the draft.

Oliver is the third-highest draft pick made on a San Jose State Spartan since 1985. Tight end Sean Brewer was taken 66th in 2001 while defensive end Jarron Gilbert was drafted 68th in 2009. SJSU had six first-round picks from 1975 to 1983.

This past season was Oliver’s best with the Spartans as he caught a team-high 56 passes for 709 yards and 4 touchdowns. Oliver was chosen as the only tight end on the All-Mountain West First Team. He finished his SJSU career with 36 starts.

Oliver was recruited to SJSU from Paso Robles High School as a two-star recruit, though his 6-foot-5 frame spelled next-level potential early in his Spartan career.

The Jacksonville Jaguars went 5-11 last season, but have since added 2018 Super Bowl MVP quarterback Nick Foles to the roster. Five different Jaguars played in a revolving door at the tight end position last season, led by James O’Shaughnessy’s 24 receptions for 214 yards. Five tight ends combined for three touchdowns last season. Jacksonville aims for more stability at the position by drafting Oliver.

Jaguars offensive coordinator John DeFilippo had the same position at San Jose State in the 2010 and 2011 seasons. In 2010, DeFilippo worked alongside current San Jose State head coach Brent Brennan, who was then the wide receivers coach.

CBS Sports draft analysts ranked the wide receiver and tight end positions as Jacksonville’s most pressing needs going into the draft. Both reporters projected the Jaguars taking a tight end by the end of the third round, but neither predicted that Oliver would be their choice. Oliver was projected as a fourth-round pick by CBS Sports.

Oliver was picked higher than most mock drafts had him projected, but he was considered a potential Day-2 target by some. Oliver impressed with his measurables at the NFL Combine as a 6-foot-5 and 249-pound athlete. He ran a 4.63 40-yard dash time, had a 34-inch vertical jump, had 22 reps on the bench press and had a 117-inch broad jump.

For more coverage on San Jose State football and recruiting, join InsideTheSpartans.com's VIP membership. Click here to try a 7-Day free trial today: https://247sports.com/college/san-jose-state/UserSubscription/New/?promo=JOIN