Steelers interview three draft prospects

[83-Steelers-43]

Steelers interview three draft prospects

By John Harris
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Tuesday, April 17, 2007

The Steelers interviewed three draft prospects Tuesday, highlighted by Louisville defensive tackle Amobi Okoye.

Okoye, projected to be a top-10 selection in next week's NFL draft, was joined by Nebraska defensive end Adam Carriker and Lane College wide receiver Jacoby Jones at the team's South Side facility.

Of the three players, Okoye is the unlikeliest player to fall to the Steelers, who have the No. 15 overall pick. The Steelers would have to trade up to acquire Okoye, 19, who arrived at Louisville as a 16-year old true freshman and played in all 13 games his first season.

In 2006, Okoye (6-2, 302) registered 55 tackles, 15 tackles for a loss, eight sacks and three forced fumbles. He's considered the top defensive tackle prospect in the draft.

Carriker (6-6, 296) has the ability to play inside in a 3-4 alignment and outside in a 4-3. He started all 14 games in 2006 and finished with 52 tackles, 16 tackles for a loss, seven sacks, one interception and one blocked kick.

Jones is considered a sleeper. He's a big wide receiver (6-3, 210) and a track star who amassed 2,089 all-purpose yards and earned second-team Division II All-American honors in 2006.

The Steelers will meet with draft prospects through Friday, the final day that interviews can be held.

In other news, the Steelers signed unrestricted free agent defensive end Nick Eason to replace former backup Rodney Bailey, who signed with Arizona.

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/s_503167.html

[The Duke]

If Okoye falls to 15 is he worth taking? Obviously he won't replace Hampton, and I think Hoke is underated on our team, but he is getting kinda old.

[fansince'76]

Merged duplicate thread.

[alittlejazzbird]

If Okoye falls to 15 is he worth taking? Obviously he won't replace Hampton, and I think Hoke is underated on our team, but he is getting kinda old.


Wow, I've been reading up some on Okoye over the last few days. He sounds like a textbook Tomlin guy: Prodigiously smart, great character, fabulously athletic, and until relatively recently he was a little bit under the radar. Here's what SI had to say about him:

"His athleticism at size is eye-opening enough, but when you factor in his maturity level, poise and intelligence, Okoye bears all the traits of the classic overachiever, who will adapt well to whatever situation he lands in. NFL coaches love this type of player, because there just aren't as many self-starters making it to the league these days, and far too many unfinished products.

If Okoye had the fortitude to handle high school before he was a teen, and didn't get overwhelmed by college life at 16, something tells me he won't crack under the pressure of trying to produce right away in the NFL. He doesn't even know he's not supposed to succeed at this level at his age. All he has to go on is how well everything has worked out at every step along the way. That's not a bad way to go through life."


In my opinion, definitely worth consideration, although I think the Steelers would have to trade up to get him, as opposed to him falling to 15...but as The Duke said, where to put him?