Should OU fans enjoy Kelly, Duke while they can?
Published: 11/9/2007 9:32 AM
Last Modified: 11/9/2007 9:32 AM
Oklahoma wide receiver Malcolm Kelly isn't among the top 12 pass-catchers in the Big 12 Conference. Left guard Duke Robinson just missed his first start of the year because of a class issue.
Still, nobody can begrudge the two juniors' natural gifts. NFL personnel have seen it. So has Rob Rang of NFLDraftScout.com. He recently put together a list of the top college underclassmen on the offensive side of the ball.
Kelly was No. 3 behind Darren McFadden and DeSean Jackson. His report read, "Blessed with rare size and arguably the softest hands of any receiver in the country, Kelly is the prototype possession receiver for today's NFL. Started off the season with seven touchdowns in his first three games, but has cooled off since. To keep his lofty status, Kelly will need to pick up his game again in the second half of the season."
The skinny on the 350-pound Robinson: "The top-rated underclassman among the interior linemen, Robinson might find the promise of NFL riches too much to pass up -- especially considering that the 2008 class of guards is a poor one."
If all their underclassmen return, the Sooners would make a wise preseason No. 1 next year. Don't expect that to happen, however. Bob Stoops has assembled a pool of talent that might be too rich for OU's own good.
-- Guerin Emig
Written by
Guerin Emig
Sports Writer
