Oklahoma linebacker Curtis Lofton started just a hand full games in college at middle linebacker but it's at that position where he could make a living in professional football.
Lofton played on the outside for most of his career but switched to the middle linebacker position in Norman for the final month of his junior season. He did so well he opted to leave school early and test his 157-tackle season on the NFL market.
"It was a well-thought out process I went through," Lofton said at the Scouting Combine. "Ever since then I've never looked back and I feel very comfortable with my decision."
One of only two early-entry linebackers ranked among the top-15 prospects according to NFLDraftScout.com, Lofton struggled to put up numbers at the Combine. He wasn't among the top performers at his position. That put more pressure on his game performance and Pro Day, which was Tuesday in Norman.
"When they turn on that film, I don’t think anybody can play as fast as me," Lofton told the Norman Transcript after his workouts.
The Transcript reported a 40-yard dash time of 4.77 seconds for Lofton at the Combine. At his pro day, Lofton ran in the 4.6-second range.
He's still one of the highest-ranked players at his position thanks, in part, to two great years of versatility in college. In 2006 he appeared in 14 games (five starts) and finished with 20 solo tackles and 4.5 tackles for loss.
Last season he became a full-time starter at the strong side and started 10 straight games before moving to the middle. He put up career highs in tackles (94 solo) and moved into seventh place on the school's single-season list. His average of 11.2 tackles per game ranked seventh in the nation. He also had one sack, more than 10 tackles for loss and four forced fumbles. That was good enough to earn Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year honors.
"I would say I'm explosive; I'm a big hitter," Lofton said last month when asked about his game. "I make big plays, great tackler and I drop good in coverage."
It appeared he was a natural at the new position, so he decided to build on that momentum and try his luck in the NFL Draft.
"I thought about it, but it wasn't guaranteed," Lofton said at the Combine when asked about returning to Oklahoma -- perhaps for a national championship run. "National championship's aren't guaranteed and the Butkus (Award) is not guaranteed. The only thing guaranteed was I'm healthy right now, I felt good, I had a great year. So I felt like it was the right thing to do.
"Going into the season, I never really thought about coming out. And during the season, I didn't think about coming out. It was a little bit afterward I started talking to most everybody."
Lofton said he's ready for the NFL, despite a height concern that raises some questions. Penn State's Dan Connor -- considered by many to be the top prospect at inside linebacker -- is 6-foot-3. At 6-foot, 246 pounds, Lofton is considered near small end of the spectrum.
A student of the NFL who says he models his game after Shawne Merriman, Ray Lewis and DeMeco Ryans among others, Lofton is quick to site varying examples to support himself.
"If you look at the past linebackers who measured 6-foot. They had great success," he said, referring to Ryans. "There's a couple guys who are having a really successful career. So I don't think it (hurts)me at all."
RELATED LINKS:
- LINEBACKERS: Previewing the linebackers
- PHOTOS: Photos of some of the 2008 NFL Draft prospects
- NFL DRAFT: Draft coverage from AtlantaFalcons.com
- SCOUTING COMBINE: AF.com at the Scouting Combine
- SENIOR BOWL: AF.com at the Senior Bowl
