Spring Break
Combine Time
Terry Horstman
Issue date: 2/17/09 Section: Sports
With the Pro Bowl now complete and free agent signing just around the corner, we are moving into the ever interesting NFL offseason, with a head of steam and the next big event for us football nerds and geeks alike, is known as the hardest job interview on the planet: the infamous NFL combine.
Although this winter has belonged to the Oregon State basketball team, the football players are giving Beaver nation plenty to get excited about. OSU will be well represented at this year's combine, with several Beavers making the trip to Indianapolis including a couple who have a very good chance at hearing their names called on the first day of the draft this April.
Big boy upfront, Andy Levitre, will most certainly be the first Beaver off the board as he makes the jump from playing tackle on Saturdays to the guard spot where he'll play on Sundays. Levitre right now is seen as a second round pick, and good combine numbers could possibly make him jump into the draft's first round.
Let's take a step outside the tackle box and look at the receiver position, where the electrifying Sammie Stroughter will represent the orange and black. Stroughter's size may hurt his stock a little as his 6-foot, 186-pound frame will be viewed as small by NFL standards. But once the scouts in Indy take a look at Stroughter's versatility, you can bet that his phone will be ringing off the hook on draft day.
Stroughter more than likely will play the slot in the NFL and could also be used as a return man. If Sammie flashes anything of what we saw in Corvallis his junior and senior years, and flashes that million-dollar smile, be sure to tune in on draft day because seeing one of Sports Illustrated's "most fun athletes to watch" hear his name called will be something you wont want to miss.
From here, we move to the opposite side of the ball where the best defense in the Northwest is once again very well represented.
The dynamic duo of Keenan Lewis and Brandon Hughes at the corner spot should both expect phone calls of good news this draft day, but in all likelihood a different Beaver cornerback will come off the board first.
Although this winter has belonged to the Oregon State basketball team, the football players are giving Beaver nation plenty to get excited about. OSU will be well represented at this year's combine, with several Beavers making the trip to Indianapolis including a couple who have a very good chance at hearing their names called on the first day of the draft this April.
Big boy upfront, Andy Levitre, will most certainly be the first Beaver off the board as he makes the jump from playing tackle on Saturdays to the guard spot where he'll play on Sundays. Levitre right now is seen as a second round pick, and good combine numbers could possibly make him jump into the draft's first round.
Let's take a step outside the tackle box and look at the receiver position, where the electrifying Sammie Stroughter will represent the orange and black. Stroughter's size may hurt his stock a little as his 6-foot, 186-pound frame will be viewed as small by NFL standards. But once the scouts in Indy take a look at Stroughter's versatility, you can bet that his phone will be ringing off the hook on draft day.
Stroughter more than likely will play the slot in the NFL and could also be used as a return man. If Sammie flashes anything of what we saw in Corvallis his junior and senior years, and flashes that million-dollar smile, be sure to tune in on draft day because seeing one of Sports Illustrated's "most fun athletes to watch" hear his name called will be something you wont want to miss.
From here, we move to the opposite side of the ball where the best defense in the Northwest is once again very well represented.
The dynamic duo of Keenan Lewis and Brandon Hughes at the corner spot should both expect phone calls of good news this draft day, but in all likelihood a different Beaver cornerback will come off the board first.
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