Few of those other 18 linebackers were as productive in college as Thomas, who had been a Butkus Award finalist, a two-time consensus All-American and the Southwest Conference's defensive player of the year.
But Thomas wasn't tall enough. He didn't run fast enough. He didn't jump high enough.
In the end, none of that mattered.
Twelve years later, only Ray Lewis from that linebacking class has been to more Pro Bowls than Thomas.
During this weekend's NFL Draft, Oklahoma linebacker Curtis Lofton, who draws similar comparisons to Thomas, will be counting on NFL teams not to repeat the same mistake and wait until the second day to draft him.
Lofton, who only ran a 4.77 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine followed by a 4.67 40-time at OU's pro day, won't impress scouts with his measurables.
But neither did Thomas.
And still, few linebackers have had a more prolific NFL career over the last decade than Thomas.
"After the combine, I was disappointed,” Lofton said. "But a lot of teams told me, ‘Curtis, we looked at your film, don't worry about this.'”
Lofton, in his first year as a starter, arguably had the best season of any linebacker in college football last season.
Like Thomas, Lofton was a consensus All-American and the Big 12 Conference's defensive player of the year.
Besides being a tackle machine, he forced several critical turnovers throughout the season, which probably was the difference in OU winning the Big 12 championship.
"NFL teams will look at the numbers a little bit, and overall, I don't test well,” Lofton said. "But when they turn on the game film, I don't think anyone is going to play as fast as me and play like the way I do.”
Even though he had another year of eligibility remaining at OU, Lofton decided to capitalize on his spectacular junior season and jump to the NFL.
Lofton, who before the Fiesta Bowl was leaning toward staying, made the decision to leave while visiting Florida with his girlfriend in January.
"There, I still thought, well, I'm coming back,” he said. "But I felt real uneasy about it, so I started praying and talking to other people and former OU players, and I decided to come out.”
Of the several ex-Sooner players he talked with, Lofton said only Teddy Lehman recommended that he return for his senior year.
"This has been a dream of mine since I was little,” Lofton said. "Nothing is guaranteed. I wasn't going to get any bigger, and I wasn't going to get any faster than I am right now. I'm healthy now, and I don't think I could've had a better season than I had last year.”
Several NFL teams have met with Lofton as one of their allowed 30 pre-draft visits, including the New England Patriots, who could use their late second-round pick on a young middle linebacker to replace the aging Tedy Bruschi, who also was drafted ahead of Thomas in 1996.
But that's as low as Lofton is projected to go.
More likely, Lofton will be taken late in the first round or early in the second, thanks in part to this being a weak class for linebackers.
Keith Rivers of USC and Jerod Mayo of Tennessee appear to be the only other linebackers being considered as first-round possibilities.
Lofton said he thinks that NFL teams don't appear to be as fixated on 40-yard dashes and vertical leaps as they were in 1996 when Thomas was passed over 18 times.
"Again, I'm not a great tester,” Lofton said. "But they didn't bring me to (OU) to test. They brought me here to play football. And I'm a football player.”
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OSU should be a lock or, at least be a favorite for the big12 south this year.No way O-who will even come close to winning the south since,the Gooners have lost alot of there talent in the draft and,due to graduation so,we should take them out at Boon pickens stadium no problem.....I think Texass will be our biggest challenge so,I give my pokes a 50/50 shot on winning in austin....Zac Robinson and,Dez Bryant are going to own all big12 defenses this year.Plus,,Our defense will be be much improved with all the redshirts and,the top quality depth coming in from the JUCO ranks ...Buy your tickets now Pokes fans,we will be in KC for the BIG12 CG....Go Pokes,Big 12 champs 2008
Zach, didn't play much? Maybe not in that particular game due to injury or something, but Lofton was the #1 rated player in OK as a Sr., ahead of Felix Jones (McFadden's partner at AR) and Reggie Smith and the #4 inside LB in the country. Every program in the country wanted him and you didn't think he'd make it at OU? Wow.
as an OSU fan I wish him the very best and hope he has alot of sucess but for morons like danny and itmustsucktobeosu i hope the can they can afford to move out of their mothers houses
I wish him the best in the NFL, and I think he will do well. I also wish he had played at OSU. The kid has tons of talent. Thanks Les FOR NOT ANSWERING THE DANGED PHONE!!!!
It wouldn't be out of the question for Lofton to make a name for himself or not in the NFL. My high school played against him at Kingfisher and he didn't do much. He didn't even play much. No one on the team thought he'd make it at OU. They thought he'd be a 4 year bench player and he turned out to be possibly the best linebacker in the country with exception to Lauranitis at Ohio State and Keith Rivers at USC. People don't give him enough credit and he seems to shine the most when people don't believe in him. Just wait and watch. This kid's going to be something special.
OSU fans should love him anyway. He's an Oklahoma kid from a small town. He's living the dream and no one can take anything away from him. But it's guys like this moron who give OU a bad name. He wanted a national tite, not just a conference title and Tulsa didn't even win their conference. As much as you're going to hate it, if Gundy keeps getting these stellar recruits you're going to be eating your words when every Bedlam goes to the wire.
I do bash osu players and fans though, not going to stop either, osu fans would be loving this kid if he went to stillwater, he didnt so they bash him. The guy wanted to compete for championships so he went to the only school outside of conference USA where that was possible, hey thats funny of the three big schools in Oklahoma, osu always ends up third.
itmustsucktobeosu, ardmore - Apr 24, 2008 at 1:49 pm
Yea, Lou...we wrote it down...one of the Dumbest comments ever posted. The only whiner noted is you. This guy is a Winner, not whiner...like lou...just my opinion...
Curtis is a football player. He manages to be where he is supposed to at the right time and makes big plays when they are needed. He plays all-out every play. Even with his measureables coaches around the conference and the country voted him All-Conference and All-America honors. Best of everything to Curtis.
Ladies and gentlemen. Lou from Yukon our "Delusional Aggie of the Week" winner for April 21-25.Thanks Lou. Here's your parting gift.Eat s--t and live!!!
Comeon Lou, the rest of us don't badmouth your team's players. You know nothing, nor Lofton either. He is one humble young man and his work ethic like that of Adrian Peterson. His great attitude, refusal to giveup, onfield success, hard work will make him a LB to remember in the NFL - so go bite the wall.
If his work ethic and attitude remain intact, Curtis will be a VERY productive NFL linebacker. While his "measurables" aren't spectacular (but they are "in range"), his "viewables" are: watch tape of any film last year and against all levels of competition he had very good to great games. Still, I don't see him going in Round 1, but he's great value in Round 2.
His humility will take him far. He is right, he is not a tester, he is a player. I am really glad he came to the University of Oklahoma. Good Luck Curtis!!!
Curtis was all over the field, weak side, strong side, pass routes, flats, etc...it didn't matter this kid was everywhere. It seemed like to me, everytime OU had a big play against its defense, when someone would miss an assignment or a tackle...lofton was there to chase down and clean up the tackle. He was a tremendous linebacker for the Sooners and I think he will be a solid linebacker in the NFL.
Jonathon, Oklahoma City - Apr 24, 2008 at 10:23 am
It all depends on the defensive tackles. One of the reasons he was so good this past season was he didn't have to fight off linemen as much as others do and that was because OU had good d-linemen. If he has good d-linemen he will be ok but never a star. If he has bad d-linemen then he will be a bust. Minnesota with the williams wall of Kevin and Pat would be the best place for him.
GOOD LUCK Curtis! You gave us great games as a Sooner and I'm looking forward to watching you in the Pros. You're a class player and person! Best of luck.
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