Oklahoma's 'big three' turn heads at pro day

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Thirty-one of the 32 NFL teams were represented at Everest Training Facility, the site of the Oklahoma Pro Day Tuesday morning.
The St. Louis Rams, who have the No. 1 overall pick in the 2010 draft, sent a contingent that included head coach Steve Spagnuolo. A few general managers were on hand among scores of scouts and assistant coaches. One NFL Hall of Famer showed -- representing the Pittsburgh Steelers: Mean Joe Greene.
The spectacle showed that the Sooners, who some project to have as many as five potential first-round picks in the upcoming draft, are producing pro talent.
The headline attraction was defensive tackle Gerald McCoy. McCoy is by all counts in consideration by teams holding picks in the top three, and could even go to the Rams first overall.
Tight end Jermaine Gresham drew plenty of eyes. He hasn't been on the field in this capacity since September, when he underwent knee surgery. Offensive tackle Trent Williams also is projected to be drafted in the first round of the upcoming NFL Draft.
"It felt good to be around guys like that," former Sooner Keenan Clayton said. "They're opening doors for the rest of us."
Clayton might prove to be one who took advantage, although cornerback Dominique Franks might have moved his draft stock into the first-round fringe with a sub-4.5 time in the 40. Working out with linebackers, the position at which he started his last two seasons at OU after coming in a safety, Clayton stood out on the field.
One of seven Sooners to run the three-cone drill, he was easily the fastest, at 6.85 seconds. Nobody else -- among Mike Balogun, J.R. Bryant, Matt Clapp, Brian Simmons, Adron Tennell or Williams -- broke 7.0 seconds.
Clayton also tested out in the 40-yard dash and ran a swift-enough 4.57 seconds. Franks, however, may have helped himself with a 4.47. Next fastest was Tennell at 4.50.
The trio of McCoy, Gresham and Williams worked mostly in untimed position drills -- the main attraction for the many NFL position coaches in attendance -- but remained a hot topic.
"They're an incredibly talented group that could be first-round guys," said OU coach Bob Stoops, who shifted between spectator and glad-handing roles. "But more than that, they're leaders ... Everything you could want in a young man, they've got it."
Gresham measured at 6-5 3/8 and 259 pounds. He appeared completely recovered from knee surgery performed last September but declined to be interviewed, saying only "I'm getting better and better every day."
McCoy was an even 6-foot-4 and 280 pounds. As per usual, he didn't mind talking.
"Here, you know what you're going to be tested on, but you don't know what they're going to do for position drills, so you just have to be ready for anything," he said, pointing out he's not even close to working out before scrutinizing NFL talent evaluators. "Some teams will want to do individual workouts and I'll be ready for that ... it's just like a college visit."
Both McCoy and Gresham looked good in motion and standing still, which is a trait the 6-4 1/2, 314-pound Williams identifies with. Williams was the only one of OU's "big three" prospects to complete any timed drills, completing the three-cone drill in 7.4 seconds and the 20-yard shuttle in 4.4 seconds.
Many of those in attendance will be returning March 25. That's when quarterback Sam Bradford, the other Sooner in the running to be a top pick, will be alone in the spotlight with an agenda of proving he's fully healthy after shoulder surgery.
The very first pick in the draft might hang in the balance.