Oh, by the way, you blasted my comment about Oklahoma’s draft drought calling it an “ESPN nugget,” but if Oklahoma didn’t start really flinging it until the mid-90s, that still leaves 12 or 13 years of cruddy skill players not getting picked until Clayton in 2005 and Peterson in 2006.

I feel my Big Ten bias is legit. I wasn’t saying Oklahoma receivers are stars but play in an offense that translates well … Without stating the obvious in Adrian Peterson, which could become an one-hit wonder, but Quentin Griffin was productive and several offensive lineman have become starters, Davin Joseph in TB, Chris Chester in Balt, Jammal Brown in NO and Stockar McDougle in Det, I know offensive lineman don’t score points but do play in the same offense. I wouldn’t be shocked if Allen Patrick makes a few ESPN highlights in the coming year or two.
Also, add Choice in the mix, since he started his career at Oklahoma before transferring because of Peterson and Patrick.
How many Michigan State guys have remained starters on offense in the past decade, and I’ll even give you T.J. Duckett? That’s where the comparison was being made.

With the exception of Plaxico Burress; Braylon Edwards, Santonio Holmes, Anthony Gonzalez and, Ted “Speed Lightning” Ginn Jr. all basically have had one good year, albeit Gonzalez and Ginn were rookies, also three of them come from the same school, which has dominated the NCAA minor league for the past eight years, no comparison. One college does not make a whole conference, no matter how much Notre Dame claims.

Plus, we shouldn’t weigh on where players are drafted to determine their value in the pros. I believe Steve Smith was a rather late pick and played special teams for a few years before taking off.

My knock on Devin Thomas is that he produced for just one year, although he came from junior college, I’m still a little weary on picking him over Malcolm Kelly, who has been steady for three years on a very competiive team.

“In fact, when Clayton was picked in 2005 it broke a 20-year streak of no Oklahoma receivers being picked since Buster Rhymes was picked by the Vikings in 1985.” is a classic misleading ESPN stat-nugget since Oklahoma didn’t start using a passing offense until the late the 1990s, no wonder there weren’t any wide receivers picked. All they did was block. I’m sure there were four times as many Nebraska running backs picked over their wide receivers too over that time span.

Again, I await your next division review!

And to rip Felix Jones? He may not dominate in the NFL, but he’s not expected to. He just has to be a counterpoint to Marion Barber. They’re not going to use all three backs, Jones will get first crack at it because he’s making the big money and he’s from Arkansas He’ll be perfect for the role.

As for Thomas and Kelly, I guess it’s a pickem in my opinion. I think they’re both great additions. You need to curb that Big Ten bias a little. Going back to 2000, Plaxico Burress, Braylon Edwards, Santonio Holmes, Anthony Gonzalez and, ahem, Ted Ginn Jr. were all drafted in the first round. They’re all Big Ten alums, and most of them have significant roles in the NFL.

Thomas has been compared to Michigan State alum Burress. That’s enough for me to peg him.

Oklahoma’s receivers? What crack you on?
Travis Wilson (2006, Browns), Mark Bradley (2005, Bears), Brandon Jones (2005, Titans) all busts. Mark Clayton (2005, Ravens) is the only one who’s really been a consistent NFL threat. No Sooners wideouts were picked in 2007, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001… In fact, when Clayton was picked in 2005 it broke a 20-year streak of no Oklahoma receivers being picked since Buster Rhymes was picked by the Vikings in 1985.
So, what part of the Oklahoma offense “translates” to the NFL?