Seven Sooners invited to the NFL combine, the most in the XII.

[Plainosooner]

Alexander
Bond
Kasitati
Sanchez
Shepard
Striker
Tapper

A couple of surprises for me.

Ohio State had the most invitees with 14. OU had the most in the conference.

 

[K2C Sooner]

Alexander
Bond
Kasitati
Sanchez
Shepard
Striker
Tapper

A couple of surprises for me.

Ohio State had the most invitees with 14. OU had the most in the conference.

Who's the couple of surprises? Kasitati might be one, but the others not so much, IMO............

 

[Plainosooner]

I'm surprised about Nila and Devonte Bond. I'm anxious to see what 40 time Alexander runs. I just have a hunch, that he might have a terrific NFL career at OLB.

 

[K2C Sooner]

I'm surprised about Nila and Devonte Bond. I'm anxious to see what 40 time Alexander runs. I just have a hunch, that he might have a terrific NFL career at OLB.

I've seen a few mock drafts where Alexander will be the first Sooner picked. I'm a huge Bond fan when he's healthy. The Tennessee and Tulsa game (hope I got the two right) were what I thought was his coming out party. Then the injury bug.....I guess we'll see.

 

[sooner_mike]

I'm surprised about Nila and Devonte Bond. I'm anxious to see what 40 time Alexander runs. I just have a hunch, that he might have a terrific NFL career at OLB.

Randy, don't get your hopes up on Alexander. He will be a way late round pick. He was no where close to the line backers OU has sent to the draft. Just wasn't that wow kinda guy to me. I have shepherd, Tapper, and Striker. On my watch list. I see Striker and Shep going in round 1 and Tapper in mid second. Alexander is most likely a 4.6.

 

[sooner_mike]

Don't be surprised if Bond goes before Alexander.

 

[K2C Sooner]

Don't be surprised if Bond goes before Alexander.

I wouldn't be surprised if Bond goes before Striker. JMO, of course. Bigger is better in the NFL. As I said, we'll see.

 

[sooner_mike]

I wouldn't be surprised if Bond goes before Striker. JMO, of course. Bigger is better in the NFL. As I said, we'll see.

I wouldn't disagree with that completely, however the NFL loves speed and power this is something Striker isn't short of.

 

[K2C Sooner]

I wouldn't disagree with that completely, however the NFL loves speed and power this is something Striker isn't short of.

Mike, I don't know enough about the NFL to judge any of our players. I hope they all make it.......

 

[sooner_mike]

Mike, I don't know enough about the NFL to judge any of our players. I hope they all make it.......

I do too brother! Wish the best for all Sooners.

 

[barkingwater2000]

I think Bond will be a stand out at the combine. Not sure if that will translate into a high round draft pick but I think he has the potential.

 

[bcsoonerfan]

I think Bond will be a stand out at the combine. Not sure if that will translate into a high round draft pick but I think he has the potential.

I agree. I think Bond's physicality will translate well at the next level.

I love Striker but the size is a genuine issue at his position.

I believe Shepard will be the first Sooner taken with an early to mid 2nd round pick.

 

[Plainosooner]

Rank these teams in terms of how many they are sending to the 2016 combine: I'm putting them down alphabetically.

Alabama, Baylor, Boise St, Clemson, Kansas, Liberty, Ohio State, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas.

 

[barkingwater2000]

Rank these teams in terms of how many they are sending to the 2016 combine: I'm putting them down alphabetically.

Alabama, Baylor, Boise St, Clemson, Kansas, Liberty, Ohio State, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas.

Bama
Ohio State
Clemson
Oklahoma
South Carolina
Texas
Boise State
Kansas
Liberty

 

[Plainosooner]

You got three of the top five in their correct position. None of the last four are in the correct order.

 

[Plainosooner]

The actual order
Ohio State 14
Bama 9
Clemson 8
OU 7
Baylor 6
South Carolina 4
Boise 3
Liberty 2
Texas 1
Kansas 0

 

[sooner_mike]

The actual order
Ohio State 14
Bama 9
Clemson 8
OU 7
Baylor 6
South Carolina 4
Boise 3
Liberty 2
Texas 1
Kansas 0

Wow Ohio State lost that much talent this year. Dang thats over half their starting 22. Wow

 

[barkingwater2000]

That was a trick question by throwing Kansas in there.

 

[Plainosooner]

The trick was that Liberty has twice as many going as Texas.

 

[JConXtsy]

Maybe Striker has to move to SS in the NFL. Wonder if he can do it.

 

[jobea01]

I agree. I think Bond's physicality will translate well at the next level.

I love Striker but the size is a genuine issue at his position.

I believe Shepard will be the first Sooner taken with an early to mid 2nd round pick.

Agreed. I think Bond could surprise at the combine. He has a surprising burst.

Striker will be a tweener. He'll have to have the right type of defense to be very successful. Some might see him as a Polamalu type. He is a bit bigger than Polamalu was, but the NFL is bigger also.

I don't see Shepard's combine numbers being overly crazy, but his intelligence and game film working heavily in his favor. I see the opposite for Sanchez. I could see him putting up really good numbers and his film possibly working against him. Some coaches might take that as a refinement opportunity though, because the potential to be outstanding is there.

This is actually a pretty strong group overall. Tapper could possibly have the best career of the bunch, outside of Shepard, IMO.

 

[Plainosooner]

Striker cannot play safety in the NFL.

He can be a passing game defender, pass rusher and all over the place on special teams.

Troy P was great in coverage. I don't think you can count on Eric being close to that.

 

[jobea01]

Striker cannot play safety in the NFL.

He can be a passing game defender, pass rusher

Polamalu was never a true safety either. He roamed around the LOS and guarded middle of the field with pass rush/run support. Striker isn't big enough to be a consistent pass rusher in the NFL. He's 215 lbs, the tackles get one solid hand on him and he's toast. So, as I said, a Polamalu type that is basically a hybrid LB/safety with limited pass coverage responsibilities.

 

[JConXtsy]

Sooners reported him at 6'0" 220lb.

CBS NFL Draft coverage is reporting him at only 5'11" but 228 lbs.

 

[jobea01]

Sooners reported him at 6'0" 220lb.

CBS NFL Draft coverage is reporting him at only 5'11" but 228 lbs.

That seems to happen every year. Nearly all OU players get shorter and Striker is doing the right thing by gaining weight if he's actually been measured at near 230. Draftek has him rated at #8 among 4-3 LB's in the draft (88th overal). They have him reported at 223, which would be the lightest of the top 16 4-3 LB prospects. I've looked at 4 different sites and seen him reported to be anywhere between 216 lbs to 228 lbs. I hope he can hit the 230 mark and hold his speed.

 

[R1950]

The actual order
Ohio State 14
Bama 9
Clemson 8
OU 7
Baylor 6
South Carolina 4
Boise 3
Liberty 2
Texas 1
Kansas 0

Notre Dame was 2nd with 10 invites. The Fiesta Bowl - OSU vs. ND - had a staggering 24 players invited.

 

[Plainosooner]

Notre Dame was 2nd with 10 invites. The Fiesta Bowl - OSU vs. ND - had a staggering 24 players invited.

I knew that. The goal was not a list of all the ranked teams. The goal was a ranking that showed the last two national champs, OU and Texas and some significant in between. There were three SEC teams with 8 guys apiece. One of them got their coach fired. And I did not want any ties. TOSU was pretty remarkable and we play them next year.

But there is also this anal devotion here to recruiting stars. Pretty sure that the Texas class four years ago was higher ranked that Liberty.

 

[R1950]

I knew that. The goal was not a list of all the ranked teams. The goal was a ranking that showed the last two national champs, OU and Texas and some significant in between. There were three SEC teams with 8 guys apiece. One of them got their coach fired. And I did not want any ties. TOSU was pretty remarkable and we play them next year.

But there is also this anal devotion here to recruiting stars. Pretty sure that the Texas class four years ago was higher ranked that Liberty.

That will be a game that every Buckeye fan is really looking forward to - it will be the measuring stick on just how well they've so-called "rebuilt." This will be the youngest OSU team - on paper anyways - that I can remember and I go back to the early 60s. They will have 45 players on the roster with freshman eligibility ( I believe 20 or 21 redshirts in 2015). but, that youth is NO excuse - if you're going to be a national program competing for NCs year in and year out, you better recruit/develop good enough to replace the departures/injuries that every program experiences, especially the higher level ones. Should be a great game in Norman next year as the Sooners are ranked in the top 3 in just about every preseason poll I've seen so far.

 

[Yankees03]

What round is Sanchez predicted to go in?