At all-star events, former Sooners try to boost their draft stock.
At All-Star Events, Former Sooners Try to Boost Their Draft Stock
The world of college football is a whirlwind, with the pressure of recruitment, performance, and expectations continually weighing on athletes who dream of taking the next step in their careers. For many players, their time in college football culminates in the coveted opportunity to enter the NFL Draft, where their futures can change in an instant. For some, the transition from college to the pros is a seamless one, with years of preparation and hard work paying off. For others, however, the journey to the NFL is a more challenging road, and that’s where the importance of the annual All-Star events comes into play.
All-Star events like the Senior Bowl, Shrine Bowl, and the NFL Scouting Combine have become critical touchpoints for draft prospects as they showcase their skills and athleticism in front of NFL scouts, coaches, and decision-makers. These events allow athletes to prove themselves once again, particularly in areas like speed, agility, strength, and football IQ. Former Oklahoma Sooners football players have long been a fixture at these events, given the program’s historic success and the talent it consistently produces.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at how former Sooners use All-Star events to boost their draft stock, how they’ve prepared for these moments, and what impact these events can have on their futures in the NFL.
The Importance of All-Star Events in Draft Preparation
For college football players, All-Star events are an opportunity to make a lasting impression. In many cases, these events are a player’s last chance to show NFL scouts and coaches what they can do before the draft. While many players have already garnered attention through their performance during the college season, the All-Star games give them a final chance to refine their technique, showcase their physical skills, and demonstrate their football IQ in high-pressure environments.
NFL scouts and general managers are looking for specific traits when evaluating players at All-Star events. The key factors include:
- Athleticism: All-Star games give prospects the chance to show off their speed, explosiveness, and overall athleticism. From the 40-yard dash to vertical jumps and shuttle drills, these events provide a platform for players to showcase their physical gifts, which could ultimately determine their draft position.
- Football IQ and Instincts: In a fast-paced environment, players must prove that they can think quickly and adapt to different situations. This is especially important for players who are less familiar with the system of a particular NFL team. The way players respond to coaching and make decisions on the fly is crucial in their evaluation.
- Technical Skills and Position-Specific Abilities: Whether it’s a quarterback’s ability to make tight throws, a wide receiver’s route-running precision, or a defensive back’s coverage technique, All-Star games are a chance for players to refine their position-specific skills. The more polished and versatile a player can prove to be, the better their chances of improving their draft stock.
- Work Ethic and Leadership: Off-the-field traits like work ethic, attitude, and leadership qualities are evaluated by NFL teams during these events. Coaches and scouts observe how players interact with teammates, respond to adversity, and display their passion for the game. Leadership qualities can sometimes set players apart from others with similar skill sets.
For former Oklahoma Sooners players, the opportunity to showcase these traits in front of NFL scouts is invaluable. Throughout the years, the program has produced numerous NFL prospects who have taken full advantage of All-Star events to boost their draft stock and secure their place in the professional ranks.
Recent Sooners at All-Star Events: A Closer Look
Oklahoma football has consistently produced high-quality talent, and its athletes have shown up in force at various All-Star events. Whether it’s a quarterback trying to prove his ability to lead an NFL offense, or a defensive back trying to demonstrate his ability to lock down top receivers, former Sooners have used these platforms to enhance their draft prospects.
Quarterbacks: The Spotlight on Signal-Callers
The position of quarterback is often one of the most high-profile in any NFL draft class. With Oklahoma’s rich history of elite quarterbacks, from Baker Mayfield to Kyler Murray, Spencer Rattler, and now Dillon Gabriel, Sooner quarterbacks have routinely been thrust into the national spotlight. All-Star events provide these quarterbacks the opportunity to show off their arm strength, decision-making, and poise under pressure.
Baker Mayfield, the 2017 Heisman Trophy winner, used the Senior Bowl as a platform to solidify his position as one of the top quarterbacks in the 2018 draft class. Mayfield had already displayed his leadership and playmaking ability during his time at Oklahoma, but his performance at the Senior Bowl demonstrated his competitiveness and ability to perform in an intense, high-stakes environment. That performance helped Mayfield earn the first overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns.
More recently, Spencer Rattler (who transferred to South Carolina after a rocky 2021 season at Oklahoma) attended the 2022 Senior Bowl, where he was able to display his arm strength and ability to read defenses. Though Rattler’s draft prospects were impacted by his tumultuous final year at Oklahoma, the Senior Bowl helped give him a chance to show that his talent and potential were still intact.
Current quarterback Dillon Gabriel was also a major name in the 2024 draft cycle. As a standout player at UCF, Gabriel transferred to Oklahoma for his final season of eligibility, hoping to elevate his draft stock with a strong performance at the Senior Bowl. Gabriel’s mechanics, ability to read defenses, and overall poise have been strengths that were put to the test in these high-pressure environments. By impressing at these events, Gabriel hoped to secure his place as one of the top quarterbacks in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Wide Receivers: Showcasing Speed and Precision
Wide receivers from Oklahoma have also thrived in All-Star events. With a rich tradition of producing top-tier pass catchers, including CeeDee Lamb, Marquise Brown, and Sterling Shepard, the Sooners have a strong history of placing wide receivers into the NFL spotlight. For these players, All-Star events allow them to showcase their speed, ability to make contested catches, and ability to separate from defenders.
CeeDee Lamb, one of the top wide receivers from the 2020 NFL Draft, made a name for himself at the Senior Bowl after an outstanding career at Oklahoma. While Lamb was already highly regarded due to his college production, his strong performance in drills and practices allowed him to separate himself as one of the draft’s top prospects. The Dallas Cowboys ultimately selected him with the 17th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, another former Sooner who became a first-round draft pick, used the NFL Scouting Combine to impress scouts with his speed and agility. Brown’s game-changing ability to blow by defenders was on full display at the combine, helping him solidify his place as a first-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. His showing at the Combine and other All-Star events helped show that his elite speed could translate into an impactful NFL career.
In 2023, wide receivers like Jadon Haselwood (who transferred to Arkansas) used the Senior Bowl and Shrine Bowl to display their potential to NFL teams. Haselwood’s combination of size, athleticism, and route-running ability was highlighted during these events, giving him a chance to show that he could contribute as a reliable pass catcher at the next level.
Defensive Players: The Rise of Sooners on Defense
While Oklahoma has been known for its offensive talent, the program’s defensive players have also garnered attention at All-Star events in recent years. Under the leadership of defensive-minded head coach Brent Venables, the Sooners’ defensive recruits have become increasingly important, and players like Isaiah Thomas and Nick Bonitto have been pivotal in showing their worth during the draft cycle.
Bonitto, a standout pass rusher at Oklahoma, participated in the Senior Bowl in 2022, and his performance there helped elevate his draft stock. Scouts appreciated his explosiveness and ability to disrupt the quarterback, and the All-Star event gave Bonitto the opportunity to showcase these skills in front of NFL personnel. His efforts at the Senior Bowl, combined with his collegiate production, made him a sought-after prospect during the 2022 NFL Draft, where he was eventually drafted by the Denver Broncos.
Isaiah Thomas, another talented defensive player from the Sooners, used the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine to prove his worth as an edge rusher. With his size, strength, and speed, Thomas displayed his ability to rush the passer and defend the run. His performance during these events helped him attract attention from multiple teams, with the Cleveland Browns selecting him in the later rounds of the 2022 draft.
The Impact of All-Star Events on Draft Stock
The impact of All-Star events on draft stock cannot be understated. For players who have shown flashes of greatness but need to refine their technique or prove their consistency, these events are their chance to do so. A strong performance can turn a player from a late-round prospect into a potential first-round pick, while a poor showing can hurt a player’s standing in the draft.
For former Oklahoma Sooners, All-Star events provide a crucial opportunity to showcase their skills one last time before the draft. The Sooners’ players have a strong tradition of taking advantage of these opportunities, using them to demonstrate their abilities to NFL scouts and coaches. Whether it’s a quarterback looking to prove his leadership and accuracy, a wide receiver showing off his explosiveness, or a defensive player demonstrating his pass-rushing prowess, these events allow Oklahoma players to solidify their draft positions and increase their chances of hearing their name called on draft day.
