Seniors workout for NFL clubs
Quarterback Akili Smith
worked out for as many
as 20 NFL scouts Friday
By Rob Moseley
Oregon Daily Emerald
A group of Oregon seniors
highlighted by quarterback Akili
Smith worked out Friday for a
group of 15 to 20 NFL scouts at
the Ed Moshofsky indoor facili
ty.
Smith, expected to be a high
first-round pick in the upcoming
NFL draft, participated in just
two drills, the 40-yard dash and
a passing drill in which he
threw every conceivable route
before a crowd of about 75 on
lookers.
“I’m just relaxing and having
fun, and we’ll see what my agent
has to say about the feedback,”
Smith said.
Smith’s agent, possibly the
most visible in the business, is
Leigh Steinberg, who also rep
resents NFL quarterbacks such
as Steve Young and Troy Aik
man.
Smith completed every single
pass to receivers Pat Johnson, a
former Duck now playing for the
NFL’s Baltimore Ravens, and
fellow prospects Jed Weaver,
Kevin Parker, Damon Griffin
and Anthony Martin, a defen
sive lineman who may move to
tight end.
"This was a fireworks dis
play,” Steinberg said. “It was re
ally a wonderful tryout in terms
of velocity on the ball, accuracy
and quick release. This was an
opportunity to see Akili up close
and personal, and I think he’s
worked his way up so that he’s
probably in position to be one of
the top three of four picks in the
first round.”
A few mock drafts even list
Smith as high as second, to the
Philadelphia Eagles, a pick
Smith said the Seattle Seahawks
may try to acquire through a
trade.
The Pacific-10 Conference co
player of the year admitted such
talk is keeping him up at night.
“It weighs on me a lot, but I'm
just trying to kick back and relax
and try not to think about it too
much," Smith said.
Smith is one of a large group of
quarterbacks expected to be
picked in the first two rounds
when the draft takes place April
B17 and 18. Ken
tucky’s Tim
Browns, with
Central Florida’s Dante Culpep
per, Syracuse’s Donovan McN
abb and UCLA’s Cade McNown
joining Smith as possible high
first-round picks.
“It’s just a question of individ
ual teams here having the chance
to meet and interact with him,”
Steinberg said. “They’re going to
be impressed by his personality
and his football acumen and
knowledge.”
Jason Maas also participated in
the throwing drills, while comer
back Eric Edwards and offensive
lineman Marco Aguirre also
worked out.
The scouts, representing more
than half of the NFL teams, in
cluding the Super Bowl-chainpi
on Denver Broncos and losers At
lanta Falcons, measured the
players’ broad and vertical jumps
and timed their 40-yard dashes,
shuttle runs and a figure-eight
drill.
Edwards ran the fastest 40 of
the day, a 4.47, and Martin im
pressed with his jumps, but what
all the scouts obviously came to
see was the mechanics of the
quarterback who is projected by
many to be picked as high as sec
ond.
Smith threw long bombs,
quick outs, slants and screens,
showing off his arm strength,
timing, touch and accuracy.
Punter Josh Bidwell worked
out earlier in the day for the
Green Bay Packers, and will do
the same for Miami on Mon
day.
Packers scouts watched Bid
well run through situational
kicks, testing his accuracy and
placement. Bidwell said the
drills had to be run outdoors at
Autzen Stadium because he
would be likely to get the foot
balls stuck in the rafters of the
Moshovsky building.
At the scouting combine earli
er this year at Indianapolis, Bid
well said the teams were mainly
interested in testing his leg
strength. The All-American was
told he was the best punter at the
combine, Bidwell said.
The other Ducks were in Indi
anapolis as well, with Friday's
workout serving as a chance to
improve on those earlier perfor
mances. Edwards said he had
run a 40 in the 4.6 range, while
Aguirre was looking to improve
his times in the foot-work drills
like the shuttle run.
UO earns three All-American honors
Pole vaulter Karina
Elstrom set a personal best
at 12 feet, 71/2 inches
By Scott Pesznecker
Oregon Daily Emerald
Three All-American honors
were earned by members of the
Oregon men’s and women’s track
and field teams at the NCAA In
door Championships, held in Indi
anapolis on Friday and Saturday.
The rest of the Oregon women’s
team opened its outdoor season at
the Linfield Icebreaker in McMin
nville on Saturday.
Pole vaulter Karina Elstrom be
came the Ducks’ first All-Ameri
can this season by clearing 12
feet, 7 1/2 inches during Friday’s
competition. Elstrom made her
opening attempts at her first three
heights before falling at 12-10,
which is her personal best.
“It feels like everything has
paid off, everything I worked for,”
Elstrom said in a released state
ment. “I had a feeling it would.
Last year when I came to the
NCAA Indoor meet I was really
disoriented, while this year it felt
really comfortable from the start. ”
Senior Kaarin Knudson fin
ished eighth in the mile on Satur
day with a personal-best time of 4
minutes, 43.88 seconds, to earn
the second All-American honor of
her career. It was Knudson's first
appearance at an NCAA indoor
meet.
Knudson’s
time put her in
fifth place on
Oregon’s all
time mile list,
behind former
NCAA champi
on Leann War
ren’s fourth-place time of 4:30.36.
On the men's side, junior Steve
Fein won All-American honors in
the 3,000 meters. Fein crossed the
line in seventh with a time of
7:58.51 and was one of nine run
ners to finish below eight minutes.
“Even though I wanted to finish
higher, today was a good learning
experience,” Fein said. “I need to fo
cus my strength more on racing up
in the front instead of passing people
at the end like I have in the pak. ’’
Teammate Micah Davis fol
lowed in 15th place in his NCAA
indoor debut.
At the Linfield Icebreaker, the
women claimed top finishes and
solid marks to open their spring
outdoor season.
Freshman Alexis Yeater de
buted on the outdoor circuit with
wins in the 100 meters (12.11)
and 200 meters (25.15).
Following Yeater in the sprints,
Oregon’s Hilary Holly (12.43), Al
isha Wallace (12.44) and Taryn
Tarver (12.48) swept second,
third and fourth places in the 100
meters. Wallace also took second
in the 200 meters with a time of
25.42.
Senior Melissa Abramson won
the 400-meter hurdles (1:04.93)
and finished second in the 100
meter hurdles (15.26) behind
teammate Katie Rowlett (15.09).
Heidi Fisk posted double victo
ries in the throws, winning the
discus (152-11) and shot put (44
3). The Ducks swept first through
third place in the javelin, led by
Tasha Cooper’s distance of 137-0.
The men’s and women’s teams
will officially open the outdoor
track season at the Oregon Pre
view, held on March 13 at Hay
ward Field.
Sports Briefs
Ducks impressive at
Easton Tournament
In showcasing its considerable
talents at the Easton Showcase
Tournament in Fullerton, Calif.,
during the weekend, the No.15
Oregon softball team won five of
six games.
Friday, the Ducks (16-6) opened
the tournament with a 6-1 win
over Santa Clara.
Later that afternoon, Oregon’s
offense was stifled by Northwest
ern in a 3-1 loss. The Ducks man
aged just six hits.
Saturday, Oregon recovered
with a 12-4 win over Illinois State.
In game two of the day, the
Ducks held off Cal-State Fullerton
for a 4-3 victory. Oregon was led
by Cook’s pitching.
Sunday, the Ducks concluded
the tournament with two more
wins. Oregon disposed of Auburn,
6-2, and Pacific, 6-4.
Women’s tennis aces
Washington schools
Facing No. 42 Washington Sun
day afternoon, the Oregon
women’s tennis team earned its
second upset of the weekend, beat
ing the Huskies 5-4 in Seattle.
Oregon’s No. 1 singles player,
junior Alina Wygonowska, beat
the nation's No. 16 player.
On Friday, Oregon defeated No.
52 Washington State, 5-3.
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