Linebacker Mike Balogun, right, runs the 40 yard dash for NFL representatives during pro day at the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Okla., Tuesday, March 9, 2010. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Balogun works out after missing season

The past 15 months have been full of confusion and frustration for senior linebacker Mike Balogun, but for three hours at OU’s Pro Day on Tuesday he finally got to play his final year of collegiate football.

The last time the 26-year-old senior suited up was in the 2009 National Championship Game in Miami, Fla., when he started at middle linebacker against the Florida Gators. Balogun recorded six tackles in the loss.

Since the moment he returned to Norman from Florida, the only news concerning Balogun has portrayed his eligibility in a negative light. His eligibility was de-certified by the NCAA in August for allegedly playing semi-professional football after the age of 21, a claim Balogun denies to this day.

Since Balogun was denied his season, he had to cram a 13-game season’s worth of highlight reels and impressions into one practice session at Everest Training Facility in front of scouts representing almost every National Football League team.

“I could have done better on some drills,” Balogun said. “There’s always better numbers you could put up, but I think I did good.”

Tuesday morning was essentially Balogun’s 2009 season, and he had a productive season.

Balogun hustled during the linebacking drills, put up good numbers in the individual drills and impressed some scouts who approached him following his workout, Balogun said.

Balogun ran a 4.72 40-yarddash, posted a 35-inch vertical jump and put up 18 reps on the 225-pound bench press. Once he was done with his on-field drills, he took the Wonderlic Test, which he did not find so terrible, Balogun said.

The best news Balogun could have received during the Pro Day was when he was told his year out of the starting lineup and on the Sooners’ scout team did not hurt him and he still had the term draft-able attached to him, Balogun said.

“A lot of teams like me,” Balogun said. “If you give me a shot, I’ll prove it to you. I’ll prove I deserve a roster spot. That’s all I need.”

Balogun will continue to work out and will participate in OU’s next Pro Day that will feature Heisman-winner Sam Bradford on March 25, but Balogun’s collegiate work is far from over. Balogun is finishing his remaining four credits needed to graduate, and will continue his lawsuit against the NCAA that he filed shortly after being decertified. None of the scouts at Pro Day asked Balogun about the lawsuit, meaning that it hopefully will not hurt his future, Balogun said.

“I have no clue [if the lawsuit will hurt my draft status],” Balogun said. “I don’t think so. I don’t think [scouts] care. Surprisingly nobody asked me about the lawsuit.”

If Balogun had not been decertified for the 2009 season, his situation may have been a lot different.

“I would have had a great season,” Balogun said. “I know I would. I was ready to go.”

McCoy has short workout

Junior defensive tackle Gerald McCoy worked out for a 15 minute period Tuesday at OU’s Pro Day at Everest Training Facility where he participated in individual drills in front of scouts from most NFL teams.

McCoy did not participate in the same drills he did at the NFL Combine, but rather more specific drills aimed at testing the defensive line position.

“I just wanted to come out here and move around a bit,” McCoy said. “[At Pro Day], you know what they’re going to test you on, but you don’t know what position work you’re going to do. So when you come here you’ve got to be ready for anything. It was a little different, but nothing I couldn’t adjust to.”

McCoy will redo the bench press drill in OU’s next Pro Day on March 25 with Heisman-winner Sam Bradford and other OU players who did not work out Tuesday. McCoy was heavily criticized for posting 23 reps of 225 pounds at the NFL Combine in late February.

The reason for the poor performance at the Combine was nerves since the 23 reps was two less than he posted on his first day of training for the Combine, McCoy said.

“I was just nervous,” McCoy said. “I’m just going to give myself a little bit of time off, keep training and come back and do it on [March] 25.”