• Former OU
linebacker works
out at Pro Day
Anybody who watched Curtis Lofton play football last season knows the Kingfisher product can play the game.
If Sam Bradford’s completion percentage was the most consistent facet of the Sooners’ offense, then Lofton’s tackle numbers, almost always in double digits, filled the bill for the defense.
But Lofton has a flaw, even if it’s nothing he can do anything about. Standing still, in shorts, a T-shirt and sneakers, he doesn’t look like an All-American or the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, both of which he was. Nor does he look the part when he takes off running anywhere but the gridiron.
“When they turn on that film, I don’t think anybody can play as fast as me,” Lofton said Tuesday morning, moments after being put through several drills at Pro Day, a sort of mini-NFL Combine for Sooners (and at least one ex-Sooner: Tommy Brady) looking to raise their stock in the eyes of the teams that make up the NFL.
At the actual combine, held late last month in Indianapolis, Lofton clocked 4.77 in the 40-yard dash. It wasn’t a crushing blow, but it did nothing for his stock while at the same time gave any number of NFL general managers at least slight reason not trust Lofton’s film.
Tuesday morning, he ran 4.67.
Twice.
Lofton said he doesn’t think about the money, cars and real estate he may fall into when he starts playing on Sunday. For him, it’s all about the football. On the other hand, he was pleased to hear some of the scouts in attendance broach the topic.
“They told me I made a lot of money today,” he said.
Who wouldn’t like to hear that?
The scene
Taking place inside the Everett Indoor Training Facility, it was quiet like a library, punctuated only by the grunts of the players and the occasional shout of encouragement from one player to another.
While 16 athletes went through the drills, more than 20 NFL franchises were represented by assistant coaches or scouts. Most were anonymous, but plenty were familiar.
Former Oklahoma defensive coordinator under John Blake, Rex Ryan, was there for the Baltimore Ravens, for whom he is the assistant head coach. Former Sooner tight ends coach and special teams coordinator Jonathan Hayes was there for the Cincinnati Bengals, the organization he left OU for in 2003.
Former Miami great, Alonzo Highsmith, the No. 3 pick in the 1987 draft, was there for the Green Bay Packers. So was Pittsburgh Steeler icon and NFL Hall of Famer “Mean” Joe Greene.
Sooner quarterback Sam Bradford was one of the onlookers.
“It’s obviously important to be fast,” he said. “But a lot more, I think, it’s what you do on the field.”
The rest
That’s what Lofton’s banking on, though now he may not need to worry.
“I think that was probably a relief for a lot of people who were rooting for Curtis,” said OU defensive coordinator Brent Venables, also there to watch.
Two Sooners still waiting to do their testing are receiver Malcolm Kelly and defensive back Reggie Smith. Both were injured when OU played West Virginia and both opted out of workouts at the NFL Combine and again Tuesday.
Kelly said the scouts would be back to watch them April 9.
Sooner linebacker Lewis Baker worked out looking for a chance to be noticed. Under much pressure, he was taking everything in stride.
“It’s a chance to compete,” he said. “I love to compete.”
Clay Horning
366-3526
cfhorning@normantranscript.com
OU Sports
Lofton hoping to impress scouts
- 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
