Draft Decisions: Frank Okam and Limas Sweed

by PB @ BON on Jan 5, 2007 1:47 PM CST in Football

The deadline to declare for the NFL draft is just about upon us. By January 15th, draft eligible players must decide whether they will declare for the draft or return for their senior seasons.

Texas really only has two players that might realistically jump ship early for the draft - wide receiver Limas Sweed and defensive tackle Frank Okam. Both remain officially "undecided," though there are whispers that both are looking closely at the option.

Let's take a close look at each.

Heading into this season, there was speculation - here and elsewhere - that a monster year up front for Okam could rocket him up to the early first round of the draft - perhaps as high as the top five. He certainly didn't have that monster season that we expected, but Okam's potential is unquestionably high. Should he take his chances this season and let a team draft him on his potential? He certainly could, and he'd likely still be a first or second round pick, but when you're drafted on potential - and not performance - your draft stock takes a hit. So it depends what Okam wants. If he's comfortable just being drafted on the first day, leaving now is a perfectly justifiable decision. If he wants a shot at the big bucks, though - he'd be wise to come back to Texas with the goal of having a truly dominant senior season.

The case for Limas Sweed is more complicated. On the one hand, as Rivals.com's Gerry Hamilton pointed out, next year's draft class at receiver is positively loaded. On the other hand, Limas didn't have a good enough junior season to make NFL teams start drooling. The question is whether he ever can. I'm not sure what his ceiling is, but if he thinks he's a Sunday player, my advice to Sweed would be to return to Texas for another run. Sweed's got a better than even chance of being a finalist for some end of season receiver awards - his quarterback only stands to improve on what was a terrific freshman season. If Sweed can put up some gaudy numbers and continue to improve physically, I think he's got a lot to gain by coming back. Deciding whether to leave based on who else might be in your draft class next season strikes me as - in football anyway - a bad idea.

Update [2007-1-5 17:51:39 by HornsFan]: It's always nice to see that the players read, and listen. Okam will return in 2007. (Hat Tip: EOB) Terrific news for the 'Horns.

--PB--

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Sweed needs another year

His problem is that he's not a great route-runner. That comes out of his experience in high school as a "run around until you get open" tight end. He runs the sideline routes very well, but those mostly rely on speed. You almost never see him catch passes in the middle of the field.

And if you're not a great route-runner, then you need to be a dominant deep threat (a la Randy Moss), which in college, he is. But does he have the strength and speed to do that consistently in the NFL? He's not nearly the beast that Roy Williams was when he went pro. I'm not sure he can be the #1 WR on an NFL team, so he needs to work on being a #2 or a #3 - and those rely more on route-running than just speed and jumping ability.

by billyzane on Jan 5, 2007 2:18 PM CST 0 recs

Okam could look at Rod Wright

and wonder if it's worth the risk to wait. This year isn't a strong DT year -- and he could actually go higher if his senior year dosn't pan out.

He has by far been the most frustrating player on that Texas squad. Okam is one of (if not the) most physically gifted players on the team -- and he just hasn't been able to shine the way I really thought he would.

The defensive line has been the Bermuda Triangle for Horn players. Every team has a position that takes promising players and they regress (see A&M QB, OU O-lineman).
Why does Texas swallow up the potential of so many DTs and DEs? Man, has it been frustrating!

Cats and dogs sleeping together.

by EYESofBEVO on Jan 5, 2007 4:23 PM CST 0 recs

Okam returns

http://www.mackbrown-texasfootball.com/index.php?s=&url_channel_id=40&url_article_id=2724&am p;url_subchannel_id=&change_well_id=2

Cats and dogs sleeping together.

by EYESofBEVO on Jan 5, 2007 4:42 PM CST up 0 recs

How about....

Pro-bowl bound Casey Hampton, Shaun Rogers (who many believe has the chance to be the best d-lineman in the NFL), Marcus Tubbs?

by UTeed on Jan 5, 2007 7:24 PM CST up 0 recs

never had a doubt

by Hornbud on Jan 5, 2007 4:44 PM CST 0 recs

Colt and Limas

It doesn't take much imagination to see what Limas' stats could be with a full year of pitch and catch with Colt.

by UTeed on Jan 5, 2007 7:27 PM CST 0 recs

Because

Okam has the chance to raise his stock value and Vince's had nowhere to go but down. We are somewhat realistic. Money is a big deal and if Okam was definately going to be within the first few picks, I don't think any of burnt orange nation would blame him for going

41-38

by inVINCEable on Jan 6, 2007 9:57 AM CST 0 recs

Moron Alert

It would have been "terrific news" if Vince had stayed, and it would have been "completely understandable" if Okam had left. Those two sentiments are not mutually exclusive.

Just because we want everyone to stay for all four years for our own selfish benefit doesn't mean we are incapable of understanding when someone chooses to leave early to maximize the monetary position in which they put themselves and their family.

Sometimes, the stuff you say makes some semblance of sense. This is absolutely not one of those times. Saying that we're wrong for being okay with VY leaving early is a point. It's a stupid point, but it's a point. Saying that we're being hypocritical by then being happy when Okam stays is objectively incorrect logic.

by billyzane on Jan 6, 2007 11:00 AM CST 0 recs

Moron Alert, Part 2

First off, selfish does not equal narcissistic. Seriously, you need a thesaurus.

Everyone has selfish reasons for wanting things. To say you don't is to just be disingenuous. If your selfish reasons preclude your ability to accept other eventualities, then that's a problem. But there's nothing wrong with having selfish reasons for wanting one thing, but accepting that those reasons are not the be-all and end-all of what's driving the decisionmaker, nor should they be.

You, apparently, have a hard time realizing that your personal beliefs shouldn't be transferred to everyone else in the world. Now THAT'S the definition of narcissism.

by billyzane on Jan 6, 2007 11:23 AM CST up 0 recs

Don't be hating

Just because it's been years since your team has produced a good first round draft pick doesn't mean you got to be hating.

41-38

by inVINCEable on Jan 6, 2007 11:41 AM CST up 0 recs

A Player

Winning the Heisman doesn't necessarily guarantee their draft stock will receive a boost. Think what would have happened if Vince wouldn't have won the Heisman had he returned. His stock would've taken a hit. He had a realistic shot at going #1 overall this year, went #3. You can't get any higher.

by orangeblood1 on Jan 6, 2007 11:07 AM CST 0 recs

But imagine

If he had gotten hurt, what would he be? He'd be the guy who took Texas once to a National Championship and that is it. I am happy for Vince that he is going to be succesful. I'd rather him leave early and win at EVERY level then stay and possibly get hurt

41-38

by inVINCEable on Jan 6, 2007 11:35 AM CST up 0 recs

Why are you here?

Isnt there an A&M fanblog where you guys can echo the same banal minutia to each other?

Hey Boise State fans, no pictures of crying OU kids on your fanblog ok?

by bendj on Jan 6, 2007 11:45 AM CST up 0 recs

For all this "slumming"...

You don't seem to really understand us any better, and thanks for the proof that you can copy and paste from a dictionary.

by aorist9 on Jan 6, 2007 5:34 PM CST up 0 recs

I believe.......

It's higher honor to be a Saint than the Pope. Not all Popes are Saints.

by Bevoboy94 on Jan 6, 2007 12:19 PM CST up 0 recs

RE:

" I just think collegiate athletes ought to put the interests of their universities ahead of their personal interests."

Uhm yeah, that's gonna happen.

So in a nutshell, your problem is with athletes that take the money and run in general, not just Vince. Therefore, since you have absolutely NOTHING else to criticize him for, you pick this one.

It's not all about war and treason. He's a young man with a sky high ceiling, and frankly, we're just happy he didn't declare after he spanked Michigan. We were lucky to have him for one more year.

Now, maybe, in your little farm world when somebody who has brought your University untold glory decides to do something for themselves, you are then suppose to eat them alive, but we're better than that around here.

by Hornbud on Jan 6, 2007 12:15 PM CST 0 recs

Slummin'

The first thought, when you see an Agro try to be hip, is that he/she is trying to fit into an educated society where he/she would only serve and not lead. But after further review we see that brazos seems to be tired of life on the farm and is crying out for help. We are here for you my little skin-head friend.

by UTeed on Jan 6, 2007 2:11 PM CST 0 recs

15 points for originality

to you my sad, sad aqquaintence

41-38

by inVINCEable on Jan 6, 2007 4:03 PM CST up 0 recs

deep breaths

I see my therapy may be working. Even with your rudimentary use of the English language we are able to communicate with one another. If you feel like singing then sing it out loud and be proud, regardless of your place of origination.

by UTeed on Jan 6, 2007 4:04 PM CST up 0 recs

dear brazos,

when was the last time an aggie had the OPPORTUNITY to go pro early? (not to mention early first round)

You criticizing Vince for leaving early is like me criticizing Fran for losing a bowl game by 35 because Im jealous that my team doesn't lose bowl games by 35 also.

i dont believe in god, but VY makes me want to.

by ctex80 on Jan 6, 2007 10:05 PM CST 0 recs

And no ag

Has the opportunity to be considered their senior year either. Stop hatin and go give Meril Hoge a Blow Job. Then maybe you can go over the Matt Leinart and discuss who was the better team.

41-38

by inVINCEable on Jan 7, 2007 7:57 AM CST 0 recs

Really?

How about Ja'Mar Toombs and Robert Ferguson in the 2001 NFL Draft? Both left early because they needed money for their families. Ferguson went in the second round and Toombs wasn't even drafted because he was too fat.

That makes, let's see....2 football players (that I know of) leaving early from A&M in the Mack Brown era at UT, and, um, Vince Young leaving early for Texas.

If you know of any more from either school in the Mack Brown era, let me know. As of now, you're still full of shit, Brazos.

by billyzane on Jan 7, 2007 11:53 AM CST 0 recs

Brazos ??

Dude Brazos... I am not sure whether you have any sense left in you after all the bestiality y'all do down their in Agro land, but I would have thought that you would have been happy that Vince (and all the other horns that leave early) left early... cuz it just spares you one more year of hardcore spanking that you earn and deserve

by deysmak on Jan 7, 2007 5:59 PM CST 0 recs

No Hate?

You're right, there's also no thought involved either. The only reason Durant wasn't in the draft this year was because of new NBA age rules.

This thread is a perfect response for somebody asking "what's so bad about a&m, I thought it was a good school?"

by Hornbud on Jan 8, 2007 9:36 AM CST 0 recs

Ok I'll bite

Why do you single out UT and not every other school for using athletes?

by Wells on Jan 8, 2007 3:48 PM CST up 0 recs

wait wait...

Your first point was that UT players that leave early for the pro's are doing a disservice to their university and they are "traitors" who owe the university a full four years. But now, you seem to be saying that The University is the one at fault for "using athletes like they were whores."

Now, UT doesn't revoke scholarships for players if they become ineffective, etc. and will allow them to stay on scholarship and play as long as they want within their NCAA eligibility, so I don't see how UT is "using them like they were whores."

But putting aside the fact that your criticisms hold no merit, which of these stupid criticisms is the one you're going to actually support? Is it the players who are disloyal or the school? Or can you find some illogical way (preferably using puns and lame nicknames) to reconcile the two?

by billyzane on Jan 8, 2007 4:12 PM CST up 0 recs