Curtis Lofton went from special teams player to All-American linebacker in one season. Apparently, there won’t be an encore.
Monday, Oklahoma announced the middle linebacker has elected to forgo his senior season and enter the NFL draft.
Lofton made the decision Sunday, two days short of today’s deadline for third-year players to declare themselves eligible.
“I’ll definitely miss my coaches and teammates,” Lofton said. “I came in with my class three years ago and those guys are like brothers to me. And I’ll miss playing in front of those 85,000 fans.”
Lofton is the second member for the Sooners’ 2005 recruiting class to attempt an early jump to the NFL. Wide receiver Malcolm Kelly became the first last week.
Lofton made no secret he was contemplating making the jump, but he tempered any remarks by saying he would only leave if he was a projected as a first-round pick.
There aren’t any NFL draft boards that list Lofton as a first-round pick and inside linebacker isn’t usually a position that dominates the first round or the draft’s first day.
According to NFL.com, the league’s official Web site, only six inside linebackers have been drafted in the first round since 2000 and only 21 players from that position have been taken in the draft.
If Lofton would have returned for his senior season, he might have been the preseason favorite to win the Butkus Award.
He only made 35 tackles in his first two seasons at OU. Nonetheless, if the Kingfisher native is able to build off what he did this past season, he should have success playing on Sundays.
Lofton made 157 tackles to etch the sixth-best mark in school history. Getting at least 10 tackles in nine games established a program record. He also made three interceptions and forced four fumbles.
“Curtis made a lot of big plays during his time here,” OU coach Bob Stoops said. “We wish him all the best in the NFL.”
Lofton’s departure could leave a gaping hole in the middle of the Sooner defense. Lamont Robinson, who will be junior next season, was Lofton’s primary backup. His playing time was limited, though. Robinson has only made four tackles in his career.
Mike Reed was brought in from junior college to compete for the starting job last spring. Reed showed signs of being an impact player. But he missed almost the whole season to family issues. He’s expected to be on the team next season, but will be a year behind in becoming accustomed to how the Sooners play defense.
The position should be under heavy scrutiny when spring practice begins in March.
Whether or not Lofton or Kelly remain the only Sooners to depart early should be known by the end of the day. It is the last day juniors or third-year sophomores can declare for the draft. Players still have a 72-hour window to pull themselves out of the draft provided they haven’t already signed with an agent.
The only Sooner believed to still be contemplating leaving early is cornerback Reggie Smith.
Since Bob Stoops became head coach prior to the 1999 season, 35 of his players have been drafted. But he’s never had more than two underclassmen from the same team leave for the draft before exhausting their eligibility.
OU Sports
Related Photos
Discussion
Lofton leaving early
- OU Sports
-
-
Sooners make winning look easy
As Oklahoma’s players locked arms around the pitching circle, coming together for what passed as a celebration following Saturday’s 7-1 NCAA Super Regional-clinching victory over Arizona, three gloves remained near second base....
-
There are no easy outs in the lineup
Looking for a gameplan to stop Oklahoma? Well, one may or may not be available, but walking two of the first three Sooners you face certainly isn’t part of it. Just ask Arizona’s Kenzie Fowler....
-
Sooners will play for Big 12 championship
OKLAHOMA CITY, — It’s been 16 years since Oklahoma won the Big 12 tournament. It’s closer now than its ever been to ending the streak. The Sooners rolled through Baylor, 7-2, on Saturday at Bricktown Ballpark to advance to the tournament’s ...
-
Sooners send five more to nationals
AUSTIN, Texas — Oklahoma track and field teams had five more individuals qualify for the NCAA Championship on Saturday evening at the NCAA West Preliminary. The men’s 4x100-meter relay team also advanced to the national semifinals....
-
OU sophomore Jao-Javanil wins NCAA golf title
FRANKLIN, Tenn. — Oklahoma’s Chirapat Jao-Javanil made Oklahoma golf history Friday, becoming the first Sooner, man or woman, to win an individual NCAA national championship....
-
Pitching staff is exactly where Golloway wants it to be
When the Big 12 tournament began, Oklahoma felt like it had the pitching staff to make a deep run. Dillon Overton, Jordan John, Jonathan Gray and Damien Magnifico gave them four quality starters and a closer — Steven Okert — capable of ...
-
Sooners shut out Wildcats, need one more win for WCWS entry
Oklahoma might have scored more runs, not committed an error and starting pitcher Keilani Ricketts could have been just a little more efficient along the way....
-
Sooners send 4 more to NCAAs
AUSTIN, Texas – Oklahoma’s track and field teams added four individuals to the list of Sooners advancing to the NCAA championship Friday at the NCAA West Preliminary. In addition to the four new qualifiers, Brittany Borman advanced to the ...
-
Big 12, SEC deal breaks the mold
It is unclear what the on-the-field product of the game-for-which-there-is-not-yet-a-name will be. Indeed, all we really know is the Big 12 and SEC plan to play a game on Jan. 1, 2015 (and on every Jan. 1, thereafter) that will include ...
-
Rivalry helped shape program
For coach Patty Gasso, it goes all the way back to 1995, her first year at Oklahoma. That was when her Sooners played Arizona six times throughout the season. Those Sooners were “annihilated” in all six of those contests....
- More OU Sports Headlines
-
Sooners make winning look easy
