Duke might be OU's best draft day hope
Published: 1/19/2009 9:50 AM
Last Modified: 1/19/2009 9:50 AM
Sam Bradford was headed for the first half of the first round, at the very least. Jermaine Gresham was ticketed for the first round. Gerald McCoy had a shot, and Trent Williams represented the O-line's best round one hope.
All four, however, decided to return to Oklahoma. That makes for a most exciting 2009 season...
And for one of the dullest NFL drafts, from an OU standpoint, this decade.
Tackle Phil Loadholt will be chosen, likely on the first day but not in the first round. Center Jon Cooper is a possibility for day two, as is wide receiver Juaquin Iglesias and safety Nic Harris. Lendy Holmes, Brandon Walker and Manuel Johnson might have to make an NFL roster via the undrafted free agent route.
That leaves Duke Robinson, who seems the Sooners' lone hope for the first round. The All-American guard doesn't pop up that early on many mock draft boards, although Gregory Cox of The Football Expert noticed him enough to slot him at No. 32 to Pittsburgh.
"This is exactly the type of player (the Steelers) normally pursue," Cox writes. "He would fill the spot vacated when stud Alan Faneca left in free agency."
-- Guerin Emig
Written by
Guerin Emig
Sports Writer
