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Oklahoma associate head coach Brent Venables was hoping junior linebacker Curtis Lofton would return for his final season with the Sooners.

After what transpired at 5:57 p.m. local time Saturday, Venables is leaning more in the other direction.

The Atlanta Falcons chose Lofton with the 37th pick in the draft and made him the third linebacker selected overall.

Did Lofton make the right decision leaving one year early for the NFL?

"Absolutely,” Venables said with conviction Saturday night. "Strike while the iron is hot. It was a win-win for Curtis. I felt like he was at peace with leaving early.”

Leading up to the draft, Lofton had been told he'd be picked anywhere from No. 15 to No. 40.

"Nothing surprises you,” Venables said of the wide-range prediction for Lofton. "Just look at the draft today. There are countless examples of people being surprised. I felt sure just because of his productivity compared to other linebackers.”

Lofton's numbers last season with the Sooners were borderline ridiculous with 157 tackles (94 unassisted), first as a strong-side linebacker for 10 games and then as a middle linebacker for the final four contests. That's the most tackles at OU since George Cumby had 160 in 1979.

Lofton also had three interceptions and scored two touchdowns.

But put a stopwatch on Lofton and make him run in a straight line, and the wow factor dipped. It didn't plummet, but it did dip a tad.

Running a 4.77 in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine is pretty good — if you're a defensive lineman who starts each play with a one hand on the ground.

It's not a great time for an upright man in the middle expected to cover large chunks of territory.

The 6-foot Lofton also scared away some teams with his lack of height.

The Falcons obviously liked what they saw in Lofton, who was saved by his immeasurables.

"When it comes to the first round, getting drafted is often right off the measurables,” Venables said. "Right, wrong or indifferent, that's just what it is.”

Venables said Lofton's intangibles helped his cause.

"He'll be a terrific fit for them,” said Venables, who is OU's defensive coordinator. "Dependability, accountability and consistency. He's just a first-class individual that you would want in your locker room. He will take the utmost professional attitude to work every day. He has some real intangibles that not everybody possesses.

"That, combined with his productivity, makes him a slam dunk. He's that type of guy.”

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