OU 2016 NFL Draft Recap

Image via USA Today

Apologies for not being more on top of this in the later rounds. Was out and about Saturday afternoon forced to follow along on the phone. So I just wanted to throw up a quick recap for those who might have been in the same situation and/or simply getting caught up after the fact.

Sterling Shepard – 2nd Round – New York Giants
Charles Tapper – 4th Round – Dallas Cowboys
Zack Sanchez – 5th Round – Carolina Panthers
Devante Bond – 6th Round – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Durron Neal – Free Agent – Denver Broncos
Frank Shannon – Free Agent – Denver Broncos
Eric Striker – Free Agent – Buffalo Bills
Nila Kasitati – Free Agent – Houston Texans
Dom Alexander – Free Agent – Cleveland Browns
Ty Darlington – Free Agent – Tennessee Titans

Also, if you haven’t already seen it, Eric Striker made quite the statement after going undrafted. Certainly won’t come as a surprise to OU fans, who had the pleasure of getting to know him (from a distance) and what a quality individual he is, both on and off the field.

 

92 Comments

  • RocketCitySooner says:

    Boomer for a great Sooner, Striker.

  • StL Sooner says:

    Thanks, as always for the info!
    Boomer

  • Stephen says:

    Not a great draft for the Sooners but I think some of that reflects the poor recruiting classes from a few years ago.

    • Rick says:

      Sooner Sports is reporting that only 2 teams have had at least 4 players drafted in the NFL draft every year since 2008. OU and LSU. 79 players have been drafted by the NFL since Stoops has been OU’s coach.

      • Stephen says:

        That’s nice but it’s been 3 years since we’ve had someone drafted in the first-round. Only one guy in first three rounds this year. One first round player in the past 5 drafts.

        • j l says:

          10th in the country in total NFL contract value though. 2nd contract matters far more than where you are drafted.

          We got 22 less players in the NFL than bama, but only 13 million less in contract value. Aka, our guys get paid more than theirs, despite them having a bunch of 1st rounders.

          http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/college/

          • Stephen says:

            Well ya, that statistically would make sense. The more contracts you add in, your average will likely go down.

          • j l says:

            An average is an average man.

            USC is #1 and has 6 less players than bama, but like 350 million more in contract value.

            Tennessee only has 38 players, but about 250 million more in contracts than bama.

            OU per player average- 9.862 million per player
            Bama average per player- 7.132 million per player

            Fact is, bama players dont make the big bucks once their initial contracts are up.

          • Stephen says:

            If you want a good comparison, you need to match frequencies.

          • D Hunter Sanchez says:

            Fantastic stat and a good recruiting tool!

          • j l says:

            aye, pretty cool for someone to put a site like that together. Can find damn near anything on the net =)

        • D Hunter Sanchez says:

          Over stating your case. Being drafted in the first round is great and all but only 32 players get that distinction every year. Teams have missed on players like Tony Jefferson who went undrafted and starts for Arizona.

          • Stephen says:

            I could name 4 or 5 first-round playears that went on to be Pro Bowlers and you use Tony Jefferson to counter that? No offense, but that is the overstatement right there.

          • Rick says:

            So let’s fire Stoops?

          • Stephen says:

            Did I say anything about Stoops?

          • Rick says:

            You were saying bad draft from bad recruiting. Who is ultimately responsible for recruiting? There was a problem, just like you say, it seems to have been corrected. Is there a reason, we still need to point to recruiting problems 4 years ago, or be happy they have been solved? So, to answer your question, Yes, in a round about way you did say Stoops.

          • Stephen says:

            I mean you’re really trying to stretch that one out. The reason I brought up recruiting 4 years ago is because it has been reflective in the draft, I think that is a fair to acknowledge. If I didn’t like or want Stoops around I would have just said, “Fire Stoops” and not taken the time to explain my criticisms.

          • Rick says:

            If conditions were like this, there would be reason for concern.
            https://twitter.com/BillyLong07/status/726584767379066880

          • Ura Hogg says:

            Tennessee has apparently been coaching down some kids.
            Tennessee Recruiting Class Rankings:
            2011 Natl Rank: 12
            2012 Natl Rank: 20
            2013 Natl Rank: 24
            You’d think they could get at least 1 player drafted in the last two years out of those classes.

          • Stephen says:

            I’m not comparing us to other teams. I’m comparing where we are now from where we were.

          • Rick says:

            Recruiting has historically been pretty good under Stoops, with some exceptions. Some glaring, and a few coaches lost their jobs over it, but all in all we have had some really good classes. Even the 2016 class was very good, just small. Just because you recruit a top 10, top 20 class, does not mean you have a good team. Butch is proving that at Tennessee. He is recruiting “higher rated” classes than we are, and proving my point that coaching either wins or kills a class. On paper Tennesse should have gone to the playoffs this year. I don’t see them going anytime soon.

          • Stephen says:

            Historically, yes. I think 2010 was the last “good” class, then it went down hill pretty from 2011-2013. 2014 was a bit of rebound. We should get feel for how good 2015 and 2016 are in the next year or two. My opinion is there will be a couple 1st and 2nd round lineman in there. As for Tennessee, they recruit well but they coaching issues and some other things going on that has prevented them taking back the SEC. They’re somewhat A&M-ish in the discipline department and I don’t see them fixing that while Butch is there.

          • M Shuster says:

            Except our recruiting classes have still been poor. How many five star players have we gotten in the last five years. Are they guaranteed first rounders? Absolutely not, but they have better odds than three stars. This years has thus far looked good, but recruiting has been an issue. Not having talent is why we have been embarrassed two consecutive years in bowl games.

          • Rick says:

            Poor by whose standard? Poor enough to win the BIG12? Poor enough to go to the playoffs? Poor enough to be the early favorite again this year? The 2 5* players we have on the roster now, are both backups, very good backups, but backups. We have a 3* QB, who will be one of the Heisman favorites as a walk on, a couple of RB’s that could go 1st round as early as next year. The last Heisman award winner from Oklahoma was a 3* recruit. Classes rated by trained monkeys writing for magazines who look at players who show up at the summer camps don’t have a clue how to evaluate talent. Really good coaching staffs that do their own evaluating, do their own visits, and do their own coaching make the difference. Not the amount of stars Rivals pumps out for a fee every year.

          • Boom says:

            Thank you.

          • Birddawg says:

            He had a solid year. Put up another one and he’s another sooner getting paid!

    • Daryl says:

      In the end no one will care if those guys are on rosters and making plays. Michigan gets to play a Tom Brady card every year and he was 6th rounder.

      As Sooner fans we talk up Tony Jefferson and he wasn’t even drafted. Aaron Colvin has a chance this year. Yes we need to get back to having first round picks but we also need to make sure the guys that do go actually have a career and that they are not busts.

    • DCinAZ says:

      In all honesty, this was probably the worst draft class I’ve seen OU produce under Stoops. This is how far recruiting dipped for a few years.

      • Ura Hogg says:

        That speaks volumes for the coaching job last season(other than the one head-scratcher game in Dallas). They didn’t have a team full of world-beaters, yet they still won the Big 12 and made it to the CFP. Those players were coached up and utilized well.
        Happily recruiting seems to be on a definite upswing which means the coaches should have an easier job when they face teams with a lot of talent like Clemson had last year.

      • Stephen says:

        In most any other draft, I think Sterling sneaks into the first round. This one was just heavy with WR talent. Outside of that, you’re pretty spot on.

  • Stephen says:

    Not a great draft for the Sooners but I think some of that reflects the poor recruiting classes from a few years ago.

  • ⚡️Electric Sooner⚡️ says:

    Striker’s parents have to be some proud people, knowing what a great youg man Eric is turning out to be! BOOMER!!

    • Slim Sooner says:

      SOONER!! Very, very proud.

      • Tracy Ledesma says:

        “my room mate Lori Is getting paid on the internet 98$/hr”…..!cc900gtwo days ago grey MacLaren P1 I bought after earning 18,512 DoIIars..it was my previous month’s payout..just a little over.17k DoIIars Last month..3-5 hours job a day…with weekly payouts..it’s realy the simplest. job I have ever Do.. I Joined This 7 months. ago. and now making over. hourly 87 DoIIars…Learn. More right Here !cc900g:➽:➽:➽➽➽➽ http://GlobalSuperJobsReportsEmployments1stGetPayHourly$98…. .❖❖:❦❦:❖❖:❦❦:❖❖:❦❦:❖❖:❦❦:❖❖:❦❦:❖❖:❦❦:❖❖:❦❦:❖❖:❦❦:❖❖:❦❦:❖❖:❦❦:❖❖:❦❦::::::!cc900g….,….

      • Tracy Ledesma says:

        “my room mate Lori Is getting paid on the internet 98$/hr”…..!cc900gtwo days ago grey MacLaren P1 I bought after earning 18,512 DoIIars..it was my previous month’s payout..just a little over.17k DoIIars Last month..3-5 hours job a day…with weekly payouts..it’s realy the simplest. job I have ever Do.. I Joined This 7 months. ago. and now making over. hourly 87 DoIIars…Learn. More right Here !cc900g:➽:➽:➽➽➽➽ http://GlobalSuperJobsReportsEmployments1stGetPayHourly$98…. .❖❖:❦❦:❖❖:❦❦:❖❖:❦❦:❖❖:❦❦:❖❖:❦❦:❖❖:❦❦:❖❖:❦❦:❖❖:❦❦:❖❖:❦❦:❖❖:❦❦:❖❖:❦❦::::::!cc900g….,….

  • Jpsooner23 says:

    Proud of striker and the heart and soul he gave our team. Can’t measure heart and passion with a stopwatch. He will be a successful young man regardless of draft position, team, etc. Go show the world what being a Sooner is all about Eric.

  • hOUligan says:

    Really appreciate the extra work to put this out, Jordan. Just got back from enjoying an afternoon out, too. And so appreciate the heart, courage, passion and humility of Eric Striker. THAT presence on the field and in the locker room was huge for OU the past 3 seasons and will be the hardest to replace. Eric Striker, Sterling Shepard, Charles Tapper are great examples of what it means to be a Sooner.

  • Tboneathome says:

    I believe Strike will make it one way or another.

    • Stephen says:

      He’ll get a chance, no doubt. Curious to see at what position

    • Stephen Dale says:

      I think his chance of playing pro football is better in the Canadian league due to that league having smaller players , wider field, and greater concentration on passing the ball….Striker, IMO, is too short / small for the NFL and I suspect that is why he wasn’t drafted….

      • Stephen says:

        Disagree, I think Striker’s NFL ticket is special teams. Is he small? Yes. But he’s got a motor and drive that some guys in 1st round don’t have. Not saying he’s a Pro Bowl bound but he could certain solidify himself on special teams and make a career out of it.

      • Birddawg says:

        NFL doesn’t give you time to learn.
        Undrafted isn’t necessarily a bad thing. 6-7th rd picks aren’t guaranteed on deep teams anymore. But he chose the Bills who drafted Ragland and Lawson.. and have Hughes.. Brown/Reddick are thumpers at 256/240. Not sure how he fits in that scheme… ST as a LB/S hybrid.

  • rphokc says:

    good luck to all……..hoping shannon can make it at some pt

  • rphokc says:

    nhl……another great game……..pens crack the caps 2/1 to gain a split………..goalie for pens is 21 yo backup playing his ass off in the playoffs

  • Ed Cotter says:

    Best of luck to all the Sooner players as they work to make their respective team rosters. Tough not seeing Striker get drafted, but he will make the Bills or whatever team he ends up with, happy they got him.

  • Unofficial Longhorn says:

    I wanted my Texans to pick up Striker. One can never have too many edge rushers. JJ Watt would have made his job very easy. Oh well, best of luck to that young man. Sooner Nation should be very proud of his body of work. And I’m sure glad to have him out of the Big12! Lol

  • Dustin says:

    Kind of troubling (for me, anyway) when he said, “Coach Mike didn’t believe in me.”

    • Maverick says:

      Venables recruited Striker. So it’s possible he was unsure if Mike believed in him.

      • Kdl says:

        JD said Bob gave him the scholarship and Mike didn’t think they basically I think… Don’t know how true that is but…

        • ccmosaic says:

          Can you rewrite that? I could not understand it,

          • Kdl says:

            Oops lol… JD basically said on Twitter that Bob offered him the scholarship and Mike didn’t want to. Idk how to post the Twitter links like people do on here or I would.

      • Kdl says:

        JD said Bob gave him the scholarship and Mike didn’t think they basically I think… Don’t know how true that is but…

    • Buddy W says:

      Coach Mike was motivating him – it worked out pretty good, huh?

  • D Hunter Sanchez says:

    A number of teams picked players comparable in size and skill ahead of Eric. But I know two things. 1. They didn’t have the production or effect he had for OU 2. They don’t have the heart he has. I think Ryan will utilize his skill and he’ll make the team.

    • Kdl says:

      Really don’t have any doubt he will make the team. He might be a SP standout type guy, but still… He is a REx type guy IMO. Probably one of the better places he could have landed.

    • Hollerback says:

      how could 32 teams not think he was worth a pick? just like Jefferson. NFL scouting is not good considering all the money and effort they put into it.

    • Slim Sooner says:

      Wow. Sure gonna miss this guy and hearing his name called. Sooner Striker!

      • D Hunter Sanchez says:

        It’s up to MS to devise a scheme where we get to the QB. Pressure the QB, I am worried that we’ll go back to not pressuring or being able to, and a scheme of playing off and make sure you keep everything in front of you and tackle well in space. Attack the QB! Sriker was an X-factor in that regard. Who is going to step up?

  • Buddy W says:

    Did Dalton Wood get drafted? Lmao.

  • RDC212 says:

    Wonder how Alexander is feeling about his decision to leave early now?

    • SoonerSpock says:

      Like he shot himself in the foot. Another year may have gotten his a late round draft choice from someone that wanted him. Hence a better chance to make a team.

    • SoonerinLondon says:

      He was feeling a responsibility to support his family. He’s a good kid, a standup guy, and one I hope does well.

    • Soonerfandave84 says:

      If he ends finding a roster spot I’m sure he’ll be happy about it

    • Zack says:

      Probably not great. Sucks that he was in a position to have to make that decision. Hopefully he’s close to finishing his degree and can at least make a roster this summer and play in pre season to show teams what he’s got.

    • ThatLibertyGuy says:

      There seems to be no point to him second-guessing now as it is over and done with. I wish him the best.

  • Oscar says:

    From OUs Pro-Day: Any of these guys sign Free Agent contracts?
    Ty Darlington
    Derek Farniok
    P.L. Lindley
    Josiah St. John
    Jed Barnett
    Ryan Broyles
    Tony Feo
    Roy Finch
    Quentin Hayes
    Cortez Johnson
    Torrea Peterson
    Dionte Savage
    Kendal Thompson

  • Atkinson says:

    Still don’t understand why they saw it necessary to leave before their senior season (Sanchez and Alexander)! Was it really worth it guys?!?

    • hOUligan says:

      $ome needed to start earning a paycheck for family reason$. How many other jobs can you start tomorrow and earn the equivalent of the league minimum as a journeyman? Who’s to say how it works out for them. I just wish them the best and hope it does.

      • Zack says:

        Let me know what those alternative jobs are.

      • Dick Bump says:

        You mean other than Lori?

      • Atkinson says:

        I get the $ money aspect on Alexander’s part due to his gf being pregnant or if his family were in dire situations for some financial relief. Having a college degree and getting a job where you are set financially would seem more appealing to me. Especially since given their names and some big time OU donor would love to have them be apart of their company for personal reasons. I wish nothing but the best. I could understand if you are an Adrian Peterson or even in Sam Bradfords case due to coming off a major injury and the following year the salary was going to be totally different for rookies. I wasn’t trying to offend anyone by the question, I get on here daily and my gf always gets mad at me for it but what the hell! #Boomer and I’m very excited about this coming recruiting class. Thanks for all the insight.

    • Stephen Dale says:

      maybe they were afraid losing their starting jobs might lower their value in 2017 ?

      • Sooner Ray says:

        Points earned for not ending a sentence with………, points deducted for beginning a sentence with lower case. 🙂

  • Soonerfandave84 says:

    Thanks JE

  • DR LEO MARVIN says:

    STRIKER ——————

  • Tracy Ledesma says:

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  • ALar03 says:

    GOT!!!!

  • cush creekmont says:

    Thanks for making the list Jordan. We appreciate all your efforts and enjoy the information whenever you can get it to us!