Russell Okung is perfect for the NFL

INDIANAPOLIS — Russell Okung didn’t pay much attention to the Washington Redskins or the Kansas City Chiefs, the NFL franchises most mentioned as wanting him to protect its quarterback.

It’s not that Oklahoma State’s left mountain is a respecter of teams. It’s that he’s needed elsewhere.

"I’m actually in church,” Okung said of Sunday afternoons. "I don’t get to watch too many games.”

That kind of talk is only going to make the ‘Skins or the Chiefs want him more. That kind of talk is windsong to the ears of NFL executives, who abhor committing tens of millions of dollars to ballplayers who might go all knucklehead on them after the fat bank account arrives.

Offensive tackles have become big business in pro football, and the 2010 class of quarterback protectors is deep, with as many as six projected to go in the first round of the April draft. Okung is considered by some to be the prize of that plum class, headed to Washington with the fourth pick or Kansas City with the fifth.

Okung could be the highest-picked Cowboy since Barry Sanders went No. 3 overall in 1989.

"Not my decision to make,” Okung said without attitude. "Not my place to talk about it. I’m very aware, whether it’s the seventh round or wherever I get drafted, it’s a huge blessing to be standing in front of you guys right now.”

Okung stood in front of the media at the NFL Combine on Thursday at Lucas Oil Stadium, boring writers and thrilling league brass.

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