FORT WORTH, Texas – The Texas Rattlers completed their protected roster at the 2023 PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Team Series Draft, selecting two-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier and 2021 PRCA Rookie of the Year Creek Young (Springfield, Missouri) in the first round.

Young is guaranteed a place on the Rattlers’ protected roster for the first two events in the 2023 PBR Team Series season in Cheyenne, Wyoming, July 24-25, and Kansas City, Missouri, Aug. 3-5. 

In all, 147 new riders declared for the Draft this year. The 115 who did not get selected automatically become unrestricted free agents.  

The team also welcomed Dawson Gleaves (Amarillo, Texas) and Alvaro Ariel Pereira (Itumirim, Brazil) in the accompanying Practice Squad Draft, during which the Rattlers passed on their picks in Rounds 3-5.

“We’re excited to welcome two-time NFR qualifier Creek Young, Dawson Gleaves and Alvaro Ariel Pereira to the Texas Rattlers family,” said Texas Rattlers General Manager Chad Blankenship. “They complement a fantastic squad ready to win a championship.”

Young is guaranteed a place on the Rattlers’ protected roster for the first two events in the 2023 PBR Team Series season in Cheyenne, Wyoming, July 24-25, and Kansas City, Missouri, Aug. 3-5. 

In all, 147 new riders declared for the Draft this year. The 115 who did not get selected automatically become unrestricted free agents.  

Three spots remain open on the Rattlers’ practice squad.

The Texas Rattlers’ complete roster now includes:

               Rafael Jose de Brito (Potirendaba, Brazil) – Protected Roster

               Cody Jesus (Window Rock, Arizona) – Protected Roster

               Daniel Keeping (Montague, Texas) – Protected Roster

               Brady Oleson (Blackfoot, Idaho) – Protected Roster

               Braidy Randolph (Jonestown, Pennsylvania) – Protected Roster

               Joao Ricardo Vieira (Itatinga, Brazil) – Protected Roster

               Young – Protected Roster

               Gleaves – Practice Squad

               Pereira – Practice Squad

The Texas Rattlers will host their second annual homestand, Rattler Days, on Oct. 6-8 in Fort Worth, Texas, at Dickies Arena. The action begins at 7:45 p.m. CT on Friday, October 6, 6:45 p.m. CT on Saturday, October 7, and 1:45 p.m. CT on Sunday, October 8.

Tickets for the crucial final 2023 PBR Team Series regular-season event go on sale Friday, March 10 at 10 a.m. CST and start at $22, taxes and fees not included. They can be purchased online at TicketMaster.com and PBR.com, at the Dickies Arena Box Office, or by calling PBR customer service at 1-800-732-1727.

Three-day ticket packages are available, offering fans a 15% discount on select price levels.

For more information about Ariat Texas Rattlers, visit https://pbr.com/teams/rattlers/, Texas Rattlers on Facebook, or @TexasRattlers_ on Instagram and Twitter.