Curtis Lofton: Venables knew
Published: 1/2/2008 5:55 PM
Last Modified: 1/2/2008 5:55 PM
GLENDALE, Ariz. – It's now 90 minutes to kickoff of the Fiesta Bowl.
I don't know how linebacker Curtis Lofton's going to play tonight. But I suspect without DeMarcus Granger in front of his holding off blockers and using up double-teams, he won't make as many tackles as he usually does.
Then again, I came across this tidbit from linebackers coach and defensive coordinator Brent Venables earlier. Asked if he predicted potential All-American status for Lofton when Lofton was at Kingfisher High School, Venables didn't hesitate.
"I did," Venables said. "And I can't honestly say that with all of 'em. When I recruited Curtis, I told Curtis and I told our coaches at the time, I was recruiting a couple of 'backers at (Southern Cal), Rey Maulaluga and Brian Cushing, I'd just got done recruiting Keith Rivers, I told him, 'You're every bit as good as those guys.' . . . It's come to fruition.
"A lot of that is you don't know how they'll develop once they're on campus or their character, their willingness to work, a lot of those intangibles. But he's been every bit as good as we thought he could be, and then some."
– John E. Hoover
Written by
Guerin Emig
Sports Writer
