April 22, 2020 Issue, Page 8 of 20

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Page 8 The Elk City News, Elk City, Oklahoma ‘Wednesday, April 22, 2020 OU football: Neville Gallimore looks to end OU defensive tackle drought at NFL draft By Joe Buettner The Nor- for you, he’s got a lot of tal- of whom are projected ahead games last year. all prospect. Jeremiah raves 52 pick to the Los Angeles man Transcript, Okla. ent," said ESPN NFL Draft of him as first-round picks. He had 12 tackles, one about Gallimore's potential, Rams by USA Today's Luke For all the answers Nev- analyst Mel Kiper during a Kiper sees Day 2 potential, sack and no forced fumbles, but believes an NFL team Easterling and No. 58 to ille Gallimore can provide Wednesday teleconference however, for Gallimore. however, in the final seven must tap into his athleticism. Minnesota by Sports Illus- an NFL franchise, he's not with reporters. "If you can get him in the of the season. "Gallimore is somebody trated's Kevin Hanson. without questions. "He's a kid who's pow- third round with his versa- Numbers aren't every- that's ultra explosive," Jer- If Gallimore is passed The Ottawa, Ontario na- erful. He tested extremely tility and the way that he thing for a prospect with his emiah said. "The testing up after the top-60 picks, tive should hear his name well. This kid is an athlete. can get into that backfield, physical attributes, but Gal- numbers, you see that. He Bleacher Report's Matt Mill- at some point during next He can run like no other." I would say Gallimore will limore's 30 tackles last sea- ran 4.79. er projected Gallimore going weekend's virtual NFL draft. Gallimore, listed at 6-foot- be a really good third-round son don't stack up as nicely He's really twitched up. No. 78 overall to Atlanta in And if he is selected, he'll 2, 304 pounds, certainly can pick for somebody," Kiper against others at his position. He can collapse the pocket. his April 1 mock draft. be the first Sooner defen- move. He flashed that speed said. Brown had 55 last season. He's good at shooting gaps. The tools are there for sive tackle taken since Stacy often at OU. And he backed The question for Galli- Alabama's Raekwon Davis, "He just hasn't been ultra- Gallimore to excel at the McGee in 2013 and only the up his athleticism running more is can his talent mate- a highly-touted defensive productive. He hasn't been next level, something OU second since Tampa Bay the 40-yard dash in 4.79 sec- rialize into production. The tackle prospect, had 47. able to be a consistent finish- hasn't seen too often from its picked former OU defensive onds at the 2020 NFL Com- All-Big 12 first-team selec- Blacklock totaled 40. And er to make plays. Sometimes defensive tackles in recent tackle Gerald McCoy third bine. tion was at his best in OU's South Carolina's Javon Kin- when you watch him, I see history. overall in the 2010 draft. It was the seventh-quick- 2019 win over Texas, pick- law, another potential first- a lot of activity without pro- It's a matter of which team The questions surrounding est mark among defensive ing up four tackles and two round pick, had 35. ductivity.” Jeremiah men- believes it can utilize him Gallimore aren't if he can fit lineman at the Indianapolis sacks, resulting in combined NFL Network analyst tioned the Tennessee Titans best. "The challenge is fig- in at the next level. event. losses of 13 yards. Daniel Jeremiah ranks Gal- as a possibility for Gallimore uring out a way to funnel all He can suit myriad roles He fared better than TCU's He had 18 tackles, three limore as his fifth-best de- with the 61st pick. this athleticism," Jeremiah with his size and quickness. Ross Blacklock and Au- sacks and two forced fum- fensive tackle in the 2020 He could possibly go said, "and turn it into more “He can wear a lot of hats burn's Derrick Brown, both bles after OU's first seven draft class and No. 65 over- higher, projecting as the No. production." Stigma, success rate paint bleak picture for Big 12 defensive backs at next level By Scott Wright, The or arm lengths. cludes with Rounds 4-7 in the NFL as a defensive than it was a few years ago, you come to Oklahoma is Oklahoman on Saturday, both Green back coming out of the Big based on offensive statistics that you are, number one, We're talking success rate. The numbers don’t proj- In recent years, Big 12 de- and Motley hope they’ve 12. -- hurts those who are try- competing for champion- ect good odds for players fensive backs haven’t been heard their names called. If “The Big 12 is basically ing to make the leap to the ships, both on the confer- like Oklahoma State’s A.J. destined for glorious profes- not, they should each get a glorified 7-on-7,” NFL Net- league. ence level and the national Green or OU’s Parnell Mot- sional careers. chance with a team as un- work draft expert Daniel Jer- Based on current pre-draft level, and you expect to be ley. The NFL Draft begins drafted free agents. emiah said earlier this week. NEL rosters, which mostly We're not talking 40-yard Thursday evening, and by Still, that’s only the begin- That reputation -- though contain 60-65 players, 391 All-Big 12 football players dash times or vertical leaps the time the third day con- ning of the climb to make it it might be less true now defensive backs are un- and expect to play in the Na- der contract. Twenty-one tional Football League,” OU of them are Big 12 alums. defensive coordinator Alex Remembering the Chicago That’s 5.37% of the defen- Grinch said. sive backs in the NFL, not The trick for Big 12 de- including a couple others, fensive backs is putting like OU’s Tony Jefferson, Bulls as a 90s kid together game tape that is who are free agents. good enough to get scouts’ That percentage is low for attention. what’s already a low number “Good Big 12 defensive of NFL players from Big 12 By Derek Hatridge, in and night out to see the to attend my first-ever NBA ericks franchise, but little programs. According to data backs often get put in dif- Sports Editor, McAlester trio of Jordan, Scottie Pip- game a year later, I was ec- did I know that he'd change released by the NCAA last ficult situations so someone News-Capital pen, and Dennis Rodman static. The Bulls were com- history forever and become September when NFL teams who has a positive impact Where were you in the take one final stand to claim ing to Dallas on Nov. 27, set their 53-man rosters, 131 playing that position really one of my favorite players to summer of 1998? another NBA championship 1999, to take on the Maver- of the 1,696 players were ever grace the game. stands out,” USA Today I was a few months away in 1998. icks, and I was going to get from the Big 12 -- fewest of columnist Dan Wolken said. from turning 7 years old. I Let me tell you, young to watch it live. The rest of that list in- any Power 5 conference, and “When it comes to evaluat- had a new baby brother, with Derek was abig fan. I looked Granted, there weren't the cludes Jordan, Tim Duncan, 7.72% in all. another on the way. And I up to Jordan, and growing Bulls I was used to. No Jor- ing a DB, (scouts are) look- Kobe Bryant, and Russell “Those offenses put so was just really starting to up in southeast Oklahoma, I dan, Rodman, or Pippen, and ing more at the technique, Westbrook, in case you were much stress on a defensive tune in to watching profes- knew of the legend of Rod- no Phil Jackson. Toni Kukoc backfield as a whole,” said movement, fluidity and how sional and collegiate sports, man and his playing days was still around, and they wondering. well they anticipated and Sports Illustrated senior edi- as I started to develop an at Southeastern Oklahoma had added John Starks out of This past Sunday, I'm tor Gary Gramling. “I think covered their man.” elongated attention span. State University in Durant. Oklahoma State. getting to once again join you have tape of guys arriv- However, the stigma at- So I became like every- And I was known for using They weren't the Bulls I the rest of America and ing late when in fact they tached to playing defensive one else in America and was Pippen while playing NBA grew up with, but that didn't watch the '98 Chicago Bulls were in impossible spots, back in the Big 12 is prov- enamored with the Chicago Jam on my Nintendo 64 -- matter to me. I was getting and that makes them look ing itself true too often. as ESPN unveils its 10- Bulls. despite mispronouncing his to see the team that had such worse on tape than they ac- And that’s the scary part for part docuseries "The Last How could I not be? Space name as "Johnny Leflin." an impact on me in my early tually are.” Green and Motley. Jam was released in 1996, I was seven. Cut me some years. And for 8-year-old Dance." The 6-foot-1, 190-pound “T know the Big 12’s and I fit in the key demo- slack. me, that meant something. And while I'm now older Green earned an invite to knock about defense,” Green graphic. To this day, it's still But in any case, the 90s Also, it was that game I and allegedly wiser, I just the NFL Scouting Combine, a top sports movie for me. Bulls were my introduction was introduced to a young while the 6-foot, 180-pound said. “I just did everything I know I'm going to become could on the field, and left And Michael Jordan was into the NBA. Jordan's fa- seven-foot German named Motley was considered one 7 years old and once again the biggest superstar on the Dirk Nowitzki. He was play- mous Game 6 shot is forever of the event’s more surpris- it in God’s hands. I have no planet. etched into my brain. ing his first full year in the be enthralled with my child- ing snubs. control over anything else Everybody tuned in night So, when I got the chance NBA with a struggling Mav- hood team. “The expectation when that happens.” me | Notes to Wom Do you want to give your mom a shout out? Send us a note telling us what you love about . your mom for a chance to be featured. Send your note by May 4th to [email protected] or via Facebook! HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY