Catching up with Allen Patrick, Reggie Smith
I caught up with former Oklahoma standouts Allen Patrick and Reggie Smith, who were both in town this weekend for Tommie Harris’ annual charity golf tournament.
Smith, a defensive back, is heading into his second season with the San Francisco 49ers.
Patrick, a running back originally drafted by Baltimore last year, is now with the Cleveland Browns.
Here’s some of what they had to say:
Trotter: What did you guys learn from your first years in the NFL?
Smith: Patience.
Patrick: You have to have a lot of patience, the whole thing of the NFL, you have to be professional in everything you do outside of football, stayed grounded, keep yourself humble all the time.
Trotter: So you learned pretty quickly, it’s a business, a little bit different than college?
Smith: A lot of it’s on you. You don’t have anybody walking you through things.
Trotter: Is the physical demand tougher than college?
Patrick: I don’t think so.
Smith: Not if you went through Schmidty (OU strength coach Jerry Schmidt) every day.
Patrick: Coming from Oklahoma, going through the workouts are pretty much the same.
Trotter: Reggie, I hear your changing positions, going from cornerback to safety this year?
Smith: Yeah, I’m supposed to play more safety and some nickel.
Trotter: Allen, you went from Baltimore to Cleveland, what was that move like?
Patrick: It was a big change of scenery, they’re rivals. I’m just trying to fit in. I’m enjoying the place, trying to make something happen.
Trotter: You guys keep up with some of the other Sooners from your class in the NFL?
Smith: I talk to Curtis (Lofton). I need to call Allen a little bit more, I haven’t called him. This is the first time I’ve seen him since we left school.
Trotter: What do you guys think about this OU team, and what did you think about the team this past season?
Patrick: Phenomenal. Wish them guys would’ve played like that when we was here. This upcoming season is going to be good. I hear the defense is looking pretty good. The offense still kind of shaky with the offensive line.
Smith: Same. Just depends on how far that line wants to take it. But they could make another run.
By Jake Trotter
Loadholt in Baltimore
Spoke with former OU offensive tackle Phil Loadholt, who said he was in Baltimore Wed. visiting with the Ravens. The Ravens, historically, love drafting or picking up Sooners. Look further than Mark Clayton, Corey Ivy and Kelly Gregg as examples of that. Even though he’s no longer with the team, they drafted running back Allen Patrick last year.
Loadholt was in Oakland earlier this week. The Raiders, reportedly, are in the market for a tackle, either in the first or second round. The buzz around draft circles is that Loadholt is going to go early in the second round, and has a chance to go late first.
No other Sooner has a chance of going that high. Juaquin Iglesias and Duke Robinson are probably more likely going to be taken between rounds 2 and 4.
By Jake Trotter
More Malcolm…
By Jake Trotter
In case you haven’t gotten your fill of Malcolm Kelly, check out this article by the Cincy Enquirer:
http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20080410/SPT02/804100369/
NFL: Malcolm Kelly will work out in Norman April 9
Malcolm Kelly will work on in Norman on April 9, according to a press released sent out by his agents on Tuesday.
Kelly also has workout visits set up with several teams interested in him. He is projected to be one of the first wide receivers to be drafted.
Kelly worked out for Buffalo on Tuesday. He will work out for Minnesota on April 10, Pittsburgh April 10-11, Dallas April 17-18 and Washington April 15-16.
NFL: Kelly endorses charity
Here’s a press release on a new charitable venture by Malcolm Kelly:
Former University of Oklahoma wide receiver Malcolm Kelly recently announced his plans to enter the 2008 NFL draft. The 21-year-old, All-Big 12 Conference performer will begin his professional football career by publicly endorsing the global charity Mercy Ships at a press conference on February 5 in coordination with the charity’s International Board of Directors Meeting being held at the offices of Clifford Chance at 2001 K St NW, Washington, DC 20006.
Late night links: Bedlam bits and Professor A.D.
Catching up with some OU links from around the country.
* More from the Griffin brothers on OU’s Bedlam win.
* Malcolm Kelly is so good, this mock draft has him going twice.
* Another take on the Bedlam game. Too rough?
* This blogger’s take on Bedlam? OSU’s coaches have lost it.
* Adrian Peterson says he’s good to go for the Pro Bowl.
* While he was in Arizona for the Super Bowl, Adrian Peterson taught kids about money.
* The OU basketball team has convinced someone they can go far.
Wednesday’s links: Recruiting buzz and props for Griffin
Good afternoon. Here are some OU-related links to chew on. (Just hit the new Chipotle in Edmond. Good stuff.) - Mike Koehler
* A look around the Big 12 recruiting buzz.
* The Sporting News looks at how Taylor Griffin is rescuing the Sooners.
* Another award for Adrian Peterson.
* Blogger looks ahead to the 2008 Sooner season.
* Five-star defensive end for 2009 likes OU.
* Texas Tech women talk Paris twins.
* How about ranking the Top 200 NFL prospects?
Links: Adrian up, OU women down
Working the late shift tonight, so here’s a second set of links about OU. – Mike Koehler
* Adrian Peterson is one of the NFL running backs that did right in the 2007 season.
* More draft brainiacs in action. Here’s a composite rankings for WR.
* Observations on the OU women’s troubles.
NFL: Malcolm in the middle…of the first round
By Blake Jackson
NFL Draft analysts aren’t expecting Malcolm Kelly’s draft position to be affected by his disappearance in the Fiesta Bowl or the declaration of other top junior wideouts DeSean Jackson, Mario Manningham and James Hardy.
Several early mock drafts — including those on ESPN, Yardbarker, Rivals.com — have Kelly going in the middle to late-mid first round. In almost every instance, that’s just after Cal’s Jackson and before either Manningham or Hardy.
ESPN.com’s Todd McShay has Kelly going No. 19 to the Philadelphia Eagles as the second wideout off the board. He writes:
“Current Eagles OTs Jon Runyan and William Thomas aren’t getting any younger, so Jeffrey Otah (Pittsburgh) and Michael Oher (Mississippi) are possibilities here. However, the Eagles are still in search of a big-play threat at wide receiver and Kelly could finally be the answer. Unlike most big receivers, he’s a smooth route-runner who knows how to separate from man-to-man coverage. Kelly also might have the strongest hands of any receiver in this year’s class. ”
Over at Yardbarker, Paul Schackman hands Kelly to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at No. 20:
“Joey Galloway is nearing the end of his fabulous career and it is time to look for playmakers to step in. Kelly is the best receiver remaining on the board, and a big play receiver who can help stretch the field. Offensive tackle is also an option here.”
Rivals.com draft analyst Frank Coyle has Kelly going to the Houston Texans at No. 18:
“The Texans are looking to add a standout playmaker opposite Andre Johnson.”
It’s worth noting that Coyle is the only analyst I’ve found to list another Sooner among his expected first round draftees. He expects Oklahoma cornerback Reggie Smith to go No. 10 overall to the New Orleans Saints — I’m with Coyle on Kelly’s placement, but I don’t think I can make the lottery leap with Smith.
So far, I haven’t seen anything about Curtis Lofton, although most early mock drafts only plot out the first round. Following the NFL Draft is one of my favorite things to do as a sports fan. I’ll keep you posted if I hear/read anything else.
Links: Recruiting tidbits, AD and more mock drafts
Good Tuesday morning everybody. Here’s some rockin’ links, including a slew of mock NFL drafts.
* Sooners still chasing a Texas Tech-committed lineman.
* Assorted recruiting notes from SoonerScoop. Julio Jones in this weekend.
* Really interesting look at how recruiting class rankings compare to team rankings. Good work, Sunday morning QB.
* Great video and blog from the Houston Chron talking to Jim Brown and Adrian Peterson.
* First, Rivals checks in with its mock draft which has Reggie Smith going at No. 10?!?
* How about Malcolm Kelly in the first round to the Eagles?
* Buffalo Bills fans debate Limas Sweed vs. Malcolm Kelly.
* Quick quiz: How many Sooners in this year’s Super Bowl? Answer here.
* Another draft has Reggie going to the Texans.
