Over the next week or so, I'm going to take a look at the players the Steelers might land with the 15th pick of the 1st Round in the 2007 NFL Draft. I'm going to begin with those defensive players that the Steelers might acquire, mainly because I believe that's the direction they're going to take with their first round selection. I, of course, could be wrong, so I will also profile some of the offensive talent that is projected to land in the 10-20th pick range.
I'd like to begin with Amobi Okoye, one of the most intriguing players in this year's draft. The first thing you need to know about Okoye is he's only 19 years old, yet has graduated from the University of Louisville with a degree in psychology. The Nigerian-born Okoye incredibly played his first collegiate game at the ripe age of 16. He wasn't just on the team though. He actually played in all 13 games, and recorded 30+ tackles and a sack.
Can I get an age check on aisle 12 please?
Now might be a good time to mention that the defensive tackle position is hardly the aspect of our football team that most needs an upgrade. We of course have Casey Hampton dominating the interior of the line at DT, but I'm positive we could find a way to exploit the talents of both players. The bottom line is this guy's room for growth, not to mention raw talent, would be far too desirable for us to pass up at #15.
Okoye recorded some impressive numbers at this year's Combine, including a 30" vertical leap, and 29 reps of 225 lbs on the bench. The man (I mean kid, I guess) is a physical specimen, and the scary part is he's not yet anywhere near his potential physically, or as a football player.
Okoye may very well get snagged in the first 10 picks of the draft, but if he does miraculously fall to #15, rest assured the Steelers would not pass on this unique talent.