Oklahoma Sooners Continue to Make Noise at NFL Combine

Published: 28^th Feb 12 6:10 pm

Luke McConnell
Luke McConnell

RANT It!

Brian Spurlock-US PRESSWIRE

After solid performances by former Sooners Donald Stephenson and James Hanna, the bar was set pretty high for the rest of the OU players participating in the NFL Combine this week.

However, two former Sooners stepped up to the challenge and delivered big time performances on Monday and Tuesday.

First up on Monday was defensive end/linebacker Ronnell Lewis. After fellow Sooner Travis Lewis pulled up lame in his 40 yard dash trial, and Frank Alexander didn’t participate due to an undisclosed injury, it was up to Lewis to put up a good performance.

Lewis put up an extremely impressive 36 reps in the bench press, good for best among linebackers, and second best of any player at the combine. He then followed that up with an impressive 4.68 time in the 40-yard dash.

Many were impressed with Lewis’ workout and most felt he would move up a lot of draft boards with his performance.

Cornerback Jamell Fleming also turned in a stellar performance to go along with his great showing at the Senior Bowl last month. Many scouts had been impressed with Fleming’s athleticism and Tuesday’s workout did nothing to deter them from those thoughts.

Fleming ran a 4.53 in the 40-yard dash, which was oddly a whole tenth slower than his unofficial time of 4.45. However, Fleming also was tops in the defensive back group with 23 bench press reps and a 125-inch broad jump.

Fleming’s ability to be a lock down corner on an island will go a long way toward a high draft pick in April.

Overall, OU players did a lot to enhance their draft stock over the duration of the combine. It wouldn’t be a surprise at all to see all seven OU players who participated in the combine to be drafted come April.