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Pulled out of the Senior Bowl. Think that is a mistake on his part. Lots of polarizing opinion on him. Have a feeling he is intriguing enough that someone might pop him in 2nd or 3rd round, but not playing is a strange move on his part.

That's weak. He had a chance to prove he can compete with the top talent out there.

He has issues with penalties and not finishing through the whistle. Lack of effort. He's got all the physical tools, and some coach is going to pick him up because of that and his youth. With the proper coaching, he could become very good. But he had a chance here to prove he's already at that elite level. Not a good look.

Could he possibly just be hurt?

It has to be an injury or something non-football related.

Zero upside for sitting out this game. Even if he didn’t play a good game, it wouldn’t hurt his stock all that much considering he’s already essentially known as a “project” pick.

(01-21-2018 09:30 AM)Hoekjeness Wrote:  It has to be an injury or something non-football related.

Zero upside for sitting out this game. Even if he didn’t play a good game, it wouldn’t hurt his stock all that much considering he’s already essentially known as a “project” pick.

His stock is tanking in the mock drafts. The highest I’ve seen him ranked is the 15th best RT in the draft.

(01-21-2018 09:30 AM)Hoekjeness Wrote:  It has to be an injury or something non-football related.

Zero upside for sitting out this game. Even if he didn’t play a good game, it wouldn’t hurt his stock all that much considering he’s already essentially known as a “project” pick.

I haven't seen one thing out there that he has any sort of injury. It's not just him, others are pulling out of the game too, but whoever is giving him that advice I think just cost him money. Because while his athleticism is on display on tape, he isn't consistently dominant on tape. And it's going to leave teams to question his heart, as well as mental toughness.

I think that once a kid has an agent and the agent is in his ear he's already relying on his current tape and measurements during the combine... Chukes doesn't really need to prove much at this point given his current tape...

Most of all its an opportunity to tweak something or otherwise hurt yourself against other guys trying to prove something... especially at O-Line where getting rolled up on is pretty common... I personally think he's making a smart move here to protect his current stock... and keep himself healthy going into the draft...

Protect his current stock?

This is what one publication has to say about him:

"There have been some reports in the media about Okorafor as an early-round tackle prospect. After speaking with some team sources, they weren't enthusiastic about Okorafor. Some sources felt that while Okorafor has some athletic ability, he is a very soft offensive lineman, and they think he is going to get pushed around in the NFL. Those team sources were grading Okorafor on the third day of the 2018 NFL Draft and were against their teams selecting him."

Chukes, Jarvion, Spillane...

These were leaders and producers and have been silent in the off-season. No NFL love.

Also haven’t heard anything about Darius. He’s going to Senior Bowl correct?

(01-21-2018 06:27 PM)ColinApocalypse Wrote:  Protect his current stock?

This is what one publication has to say about him:

"There have been some reports in the media about Okorafor as an early-round tackle prospect. After speaking with some team sources, they weren't enthusiastic about Okorafor. Some sources felt that while Okorafor has some athletic ability, he is a very soft offensive lineman, and they think he is going to get pushed around in the NFL. Those team sources were grading Okorafor on the third day of the 2018 NFL Draft and were against their teams selecting him."

I am betting this came from Walter Football. I'm not sure that site has even watched a G5 game before. If you follow them, they will rarely have a small school guy prominent in their mocks until it becomes so apparent that its going to happen, they have to add them.

My larger point was that it may not be worth the risk of injury in a game like that... If you are likely guaranteed to go in the first 4 rounds (which at this point should be moot)... why take the risk of getting rolled up on and taking a knee or ankle injury that could possibly knock you right out of the draft... or even out of the game... I would argue that OL-men are more likely to take injuries in game than most any other player on the field... and injuries that LAST... They are big guys that leave their lower bodies mostly unprotected and take hits they can't prepare for more often than most other players...

dpbrugler: Bummer a minor injury during training is keeping WMU OT Chukwuma Okorafor out of the SR Bowl. The rare 20-yr old SR, he has 1st round traits, but is so young in football years. A lot of varied opinions in NFL circles.

http://twitter.com/DraftScout/status/955107485630783490

Now Darius Phillips is out with a sprained ankle. No Broncos will be playing in the Senior Bowl this year.

It's a damn shame, I was looking forward to seeing our guys compete in this prestigious all-star game.

Straight from my Bleacher Report feed. “WMU Football: Chukwuma Okorafor NFL Prospect“. Kind of a Chukes “highlight reel” minus the highlights. Just a bunch of standing around with some graphics in the margins that are tough to read -
https://youtu.be/JaZujo2hT9k