Sobering words from Trent Smith
Published: 4/21/2009 9:39 AM
Last Modified: 4/21/2009 9:39 AM
It is a mixed bag, the performance of Oklahoma's All-Americans under Bob Stoops in the NFL.
Adrian Peterson has done very well for himself. So have Jammal Brown and Tommie Harris. And, at times, Roy Williams. Mark Clayton is coming on, and Curtis Lofton shows signs of blossoming.
Those who have fallen off the path, for one reason or another, include Jason White, Antonio Perkins, Rocky Calmus, Derrick Strait, Vince Carter, Dan Cody, Brandon Everage and Teddy Lehman.
Jeff Latzke of the Associated Press looked into the mystery this week, touching on Sooners in general, not just All-Americans. He pulled some interesting comments from Trent Smith, another former OU standout whose NFL career was undercut, by injury in this case:
"Here you might be one of the best players in all of college football. You get up there and you're just one of the better guys on one team. You're going against the best of the best every single day in practice and on the field. Even the practice squad guys have the potential to go on and be All-Pros. It's just ridiculous the amount of talent."
What's interesting, or maybe frustrating from OU's perspective, is how well the Sooners position themselves for pro success. According to Mike Detillier, a Louisiana-based NFL analyst who contributes to the Saints Report as well as other Louisiana newspapers, OU had 27 players drafted between 2004-08. The only programs with more were Ohio State (37), USC (36), Miami (31), Florida State (30), LSU (29) and Virginia Tech (28).
Five of the Sooners' draftees during that period went in the first round. Only Ohio State, USC, Miami, FSU, LSU and Texas had more first-rounders.
"Look at how many guys get drafted high and then just get burned out, just fall off to the wayside," Smith told Latzke. "You've got to have a little something special in you to make it through that."
Hope Duke Robinson, the next OU All-American to take his shot at the draft this weekend, heeds those words.
-- Guerin Emig
Written by
Guerin Emig
Sports Writer
