When you think of prospects that come from the University of Oklahoma you
think production. The Sooners produce great athletes that are game-changers,
leaders, and franchise players who're able to enter the professional ranks and
start right away. Over the years, Oklahoma has had some great players enter the
NFL, and since 2000 they've had 33 players drafted.
The Sooners' potential draft class in 2008 has a chance to be as successful
as the class in 2005. In 2005, the Sooners had 11 players selected: two in the
first round (OT - Jammal Brown and WR - Mark Clayton), three in the second round
(DB - Brodney Pool, WR - Mark Bradley, and LB - Dan Cody), one in the third (WR
- Brandon Jones), one in the fourth (CB - Antonio Perkins), three in the fifth
round (CB - Donte Nicholson, CB - Mike Hawkins, LB - Lance Mitchell), and one in
the sixth round (OG - Wes Sims).
Oklahoma has a chance to produce up to four first-round draft picks next
April if all of the potential prospects declare for the draft. Two of the
Sooners' key defensive backs, juniors Reggie Smith and Nic Harris, are locks to
be first-round selections if they forego their final season of eligibility. Also
in the running for first-round prominence are wide receiver Malcolm Kelly, who's
one of the nations best vertical threats, and guard George "Duke"
Robinson, who is a massive interior lineman that can anchor an offensive line
for years to come.
The fifth-ranked Sooners are loaded with a lot of youth, and if some of their
young talent decides to enter the draft, Oklahoma may find themselves in a
transition mode next year. But it's likely most of their top underclassmen will
stay in Norman, Oklahoma for their senior seasons and continue to develop their
games before they jump to the next level.
With that said, here's a look at Oklahoma's top draft prospects and where I
project them to land in the 2008 NFL Draft:
CB, Reggie Smith (Jr.)
Draft Projection: 1st Round
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 196
Smith is an outstanding athlete who covers a lot of ground in the secondary.
He's a versatile defender who can play corner or safety at the next level. He's
an athletic centerfielder with tremendous ball skills. He displays great
awareness in coverage and plays physically against bigger receivers. He defends
the run very well and takes good angles in pursuit. He diagnoses the action
instantly and possesses a good sense of timing. Smith is a top-20 selection in
next April's draft if he decides to forego his senior season. His versatility
and playmaking ability in the secondary is hard to find and are skills that
teams crave.
FS, Nic Harris (Jr.)
Draft Projection: 1st Round
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 232
Harris is a big-time safety who has the skills to play in coverage or in the
box and defend the run. He has great awareness and positions himself well to
make plays. He has great ball skills and rolls over to coverage well. He
immediately recognizes the action and delivers punishing hits on the opposition.
He possesses a great burst of speed, moves well laterally, and can lay
sideline-to-sideline. He's a disciplined defender who rarely gets caught out of
position. Harris is a special player. He has the ability to change a game from
the safety position. However, he's an underclassman, and it's unknown if he'll
make himself available for the draft. If he does, he's a lock to be a
first-round pick.
WR, Malcolm Kelly (Jr.)
Draft Projection: 1st-2nd Round
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 219
Wide receiver Malcolm Kelly
Brian Bahr/Getty Images |
Kelly is a big, physical vertical threat who possesses game breaking ability
when the ball is in his hands. He gets a quick release off the line, uses his
frame to his advantage, and has the ability to make acrobatic receptions with
his tremendous athleticism. He has to run smoother routes, but he's quick in and
out of his cuts. He has good hand-eye coordination and demonstrates that as he
locks the pass into his hands and rarely allows it into his body. He's elusive
in the open field after the catch and is a threat to score every time the ball
is in his hands. Kelly is a game-changer on offense. He's a player who can
provide instant offense for a team and strikes fear into the opposition. If
Kelly decides to leave school early, he'll be a late first-, early second-round
selection.
OG, George Robinson (Jr.)
Draft Projection: 2nd Round
Height: 6-5 | Weight: 352
Robinson is a massive interior lineman who dominates the action in the
trenches. He's quick off the snap, delivers a devastating initial punch, and
uses his strength to overpower the opposition. He has good footwork for a man of
his size and moves well laterally. He shows the ability to take on two defenders
and hold his ground. He has great technique, bends his knees, squares up the
opposition, and is patient protecting at the line. He has good athleticism and
is able to get to the second level. Nicknamed "Duke," Robinson's size
is a huge advantage, and he is able to play inside or outside on the offensive
line. He's another one of the many Oklahoma juniors who may consider leaving
school early. He's a second-round prospect if he enters the 2008 draft.
RB, Allen Patrick (Sr.)
Draft Projection: 3rd Round
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 196
Patrick is an explosive running back who displays toughness running inside
and elusiveness running around the end. He has quick feet and a great burst
through the line. He's most effective as a situational back who can cause
problems for defenses with his track speed. He's a patient runner who has great
vision and gets through a seam in a flash. He runs with a lot of finesse and
makes defenders miss. Patrick is a dynamic weapon out of the backfield who has
game-breaking ability and will be a third-round pick next April.
OT, Phil Loadholt (Jr.)
Draft Projection: 3rd Round
Height: 6-8 | Weight: 352
Loadholt is a huge, monstrous tackle who can shed the opposition away with
ease. He stays square to the opposition, has good technique and uses his brute
strength to his advantage to knock defenders off their rush. He's a strong
run-blocker who drives the opposition off the line and finishes his blocks until
the whistle blows. He moves well laterally for a man of his size and has
developed his game in pass protection, but he struggles against speedy defenders
who play with leverage around the end. Loadholt is a long shot to enter the
draft, but his size and skill alone will attract a lot of teams. If he decides
to forego his senior season, Loadholt would be a solid third-round pick who
could elevate his stock with a good showing at the NFL Scouting Combine.
OLB, Curtis Lofton (Jr.)
Draft Projection: 3rd Round
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 238
Lofton has emerged as a sure tackler who has playmaking potential. He
immediately reads the action, takes good angles in pursuit and wraps up the
opposition. He plays with a high motor and positions himself well to make a
play. He gets lost in the shuffle on occasion and has to get off blocks better.
He drops well in coverage and has good ball skills. Lofton is playing middle
linebacker for the Sooners and is probably a weakside linebacker at the next
level. But he's a solid prospect who will benefit from staying in school another
year. At this point, he's a third-round prospect whose stock will only increase
as he continues to grow as a player.
WR, Juaquin Iglesias (Jr.)
Draft Projection: 4th Round
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 202
Iglesias is a reliable receiver with a knack for the big play. He has a great
understanding of the offense and plays the game with a lot of focus. He's quick
off the line and runs solid routes. He's a consistent target over the middle
that a quarterback can rely on, and he has the quickness to get downfield for a
big gain. He's a hard worker who gets defenders to play off of him, drives them
back, and comes back to the ball and flashes soft hands. He's a physical
receiver who makes tough catches in traffic and doesn't shy away from contact.
Iglesias benefits from having a big-time receiver on the other side in Malcolm
Kelly, but he's a productive player who can exploit a defense with his
toughness. He will most likely stay at Oklahoma for his senior season, as he's a
fourth-round prospect.
Safety D.J. Wolfe
Ronald Martinez/Getty Images |
SS, D.J. Wolfe (Sr.)
Draft Projection: 4th Round
Height: 5-11 | Weight: 201
Wolfe is a versatile defender who shows consistency in coverage and against
the run. He has excellent ball skills and is a playmaker in the secondary. He
has good awareness and takes good angles in coverage. He's an instinctive,
physical player who defends well against the run. He has good closing speed and
positions himself well among the action. Wolfe is an intriguing prospect who can
be a nickel back or safety on defense and has high value as a fourth-round
selection.
CB, Marcus Walker (Sr.)
Draft Projection: 4th-5th Round
Height: 5-10 | Weight: 197
Walker is a good cover corner who has great awareness. He's smooth
backpedaling off the line, fluid turning his hips, and doesn't lose momentum in
transition. He has good closing speed and gets in position to make a play on the
ball. He's not afraid to mix it up against the run, but he isn't the most
physical player. He has to improve his toughness. He understands his position
and plays well in a team concept. Walker is a nice player, but isn't an elite
defender and is a mid-round selection next April.
TE, Joe Jon Finley (Sr.)
Draft Projection: 5th Round
Height: 6-6 | Weight: 261
Finley is an athletic tight end who is a good receiver, but he has great
ability as a blocker. He has great size and is physically gifted. He's quick off
the snap, squares up against the opposition, and is able to hold his own against
bigger defenders. He uses his hands well in protection and plays with leverage.
He gets a quick release off the line and finds holes within a defense. He has
soft hands and is a good option in an offense. Finley isn't a game-breaker and
is rarely used to his full potential as a receiver in the Sooners offense. He
has more offensive skills than he's demonstrated during his career at OU, and a
team will wisely use a fifth-round selection for his services.
CB, Lendy Holmes (Jr.)
Draft Projection: 6th Round
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 193
Holmes is a versatile cornerback who adds value to a defense. He has great
size and speed and is a physical defender. He's an instinctive player who makes
good decisions in coverage and is quick to the action. He tracks down the deep
ball and plays strong in the slot. He plays well against the run and isn't
afraid to mix it up inside. Holmes will stay in school for his senior season,
allowing other top defensive backs on the Oklahoma roster to pursue their
professional futures early. Holmes has a chance to be an early second-day
selection in 2009, but right now he's only a late-round pick.
Projected as Undrafted Free Agents:
FS, Darien Williams (Sr.)
Height: 5-10 | Weight: 197
DE, Alonzo Dotson (Sr.)
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 251
DT, Steven Coleman (Sr.)
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 306
A member of the Pro Football Writers of America and the Football Writers Association of America, Chris Steuber has provided his analysis of the NFL and NFL Draft prospects on the web and on the radio since 1999.