• Former OU

linebacker works

out at Pro Day

Anybody who watched Curtis Lofton play football last season knows the Kingfisher product can play the game.

If Sam Bradford’s completion percentage was the most consistent facet of the Sooners’ offense, then Lofton’s tackle numbers, almost always in double digits, filled the bill for the defense.

But Lofton has a flaw, even if it’s nothing he can do anything about. Standing still, in shorts, a T-shirt and sneakers, he doesn’t look like an All-American or the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, both of which he was. Nor does he look the part when he takes off running anywhere but the gridiron.

“When they turn on that film, I don’t think anybody can play as fast as me,” Lofton said Tuesday morning, moments after being put through several drills at Pro Day, a sort of mini-NFL Combine for Sooners (and at least one ex-Sooner: Tommy Brady) looking to raise their stock in the eyes of the teams that make up the NFL.

At the actual combine, held late last month in Indianapolis, Lofton clocked 4.77 in the 40-yard dash. It wasn’t a crushing blow, but it did nothing for his stock while at the same time gave any number of NFL general managers at least slight reason not trust Lofton’s film.

Tuesday morning, he ran 4.67.

Twice.

Lofton said he doesn’t think about the money, cars and real estate he may fall into when he starts playing on Sunday. For him, it’s all about the football. On the other hand, he was pleased to hear some of the scouts in attendance broach the topic.

“They told me I made a lot of money today,” he said.

Who wouldn’t like to hear that?

The scene

Taking place inside the Everett Indoor Training Facility, it was quiet like a library, punctuated only by the grunts of the players and the occasional shout of encouragement from one player to another.