Light, linemen anticipate getting selected in draft

By Paul Trembacki
Sports Editor

Matt Light was good at sneaking up on people when he played for Purdue the last four years.

This weekend he's hoping to sneak his way up to the second or third round of the NFL Draft, which starts at 11 a.m. Saturday on ESPN.

"A lot of teams need linemen; it's just a matter of timing in the draft and which guy they want at what position," Light said a few weeks ago.

A 6-foot-5, 315-pound All-American left tackle, Light graduated from Purdue with a degree in industrial technology in December. After that he spent time training in Pittsburgh with Jim Steiner, his agent. Steiner's other clients include Mississippi running back Deuce McAllister, Notre Dame tight end Jabari Holloway and Wisconsin receiver Chris Chambers.

Light worked hard to improve his strength and speed, and it paid off. Light's performances at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis Feb. 23-25, combined with a series of strong personal workouts in March, have him tabbed as one of the top six or seven offensive linemen in the draft.

"Whoever gets him is getting a heck of a player," Purdue offensive coordinator Jim Chaney said. "He can play all three positions on the offensive line. And you've got to remember he's only been playing offensive line for three years, so he's got a lot of football ahead of him and a bright future."

Light, who played tight end his freshman year before switching to tackle, has no idea which team will select him. He has talked to every team and has no definite favorite. In fact he never had a favorite pro team, even as a youngster.

"I played football but I never watched it," the Greenville, Ohio, native said. "I was always outside getting in trouble."

Light hopes he's not in trouble on draft day. He also hopes his former teammates get picked.

Vinny Sutherland, Purdue's flashy receiver/punt returner the last few years, has talked with a lot of NFL teams. He said Jacksonville is the team most likely to pick him later in the draft. Sutherland, who did not come back to school for classes this spring, spent time training in San Diego before the scouting combine. He injured his hamstring at the combine and never got officially timed.

Offensive linemen Chukky Okobi and Brandon Gorin have slim chances of getting selected in the late rounds of the draft.

Okobi, a 6-1, 316-pound center, played guard his sophomore and junior seasons. But his versatility isn't in question.

"Half of the teams in the draft are going to look past him because of his height and the other half might feel comfortable that he can come in and play," Chaney said.

Chaney said he's confident that Okobi can make it somewhere.

If Okobi doesn't get selected, he can try to sign a free-agent deal with a pro team, as many players have done before. The same goes for Brandon Gorin, a 6-6, 294-pound tackle who was undersized during his first few years.

"We've had good players get drafted and poor players that did make it," Chaney said.

Chaney knows he's done all he can do with the players. He is left to sit and watch this weekend' draft.

"I'm tickled," Chaney said. "I'm thrilled for everything good that happens to our players."

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Sports editor:
Paul Trembacki

Assistant sports editor:
Anne McLaren

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