R.J. Oliver's NFL Draft Diary -- January 23, 2006

R.J. Oliver’s NFL Draft Diary

January 23, 2006

I’m looking forward to a chance to play in the NFL. I think any kid who grows up playing sports dreams about someday becoming a pro athlete in football, basketball or baseball. I know I did.

But I started to realize my future was in football around my sophomore year of high school at Escondido High. I realized then that not only is football my best sport, but there aren’t too many 5-foot-9 guards in the NBA.

As for baseball, once I reached high school I used my speed on Escondido’s track team. I won the CIF San Diego Section title in the 400 meters my senior year in 2000.

I get my speed from my Mom, Toni Griffin. Back in the 1970s, my Mom ran for Wilt Chamberlain’s women’s track team, Wilt’s Wonder Women. She also was a pioneer in college women sports on Arizona State’s track team. I have relied on her for a lot of support and advice during my athletic careers in high school and college.

I need some time to get ready for NFL Draft, because right now my foot is in a boot while I go through rehab here in Phoenix. But I feel I have speed and I gained valuable experience competing in the Pac-10 that will be beneficial for me to play at the next level.

After all, I’ve faced some talented offensive players. Maybe you’ve heard of a couple of Heisman Trophy winners from USC -- quarterback Matt Leinart and my fellow San Diegan, running back Reggie Bush.

If I didn’t think I could play in the NFL, I would throw in the towel and get started now on the rest of my life. I graduated in May, 2005, and I took graduate courses in secondary education during the 2005 football season. Maybe someday I’ll be a coach, but like I said, first I want to prove there is a place for me in the NFL.

I’ve felt that way since after my junior season in 2003 when I was projected as a fifth- or sixth-round pick. I considered entering the 2004 draft, but I changed my mind and returned to school for what I thought would be my senior season.

Ironically, I ended up staying at Arizona State two more years and six seasons in all.

I was supposed to be a fifth-year senior in 2004 since I had redshirted my first year on campus in 2000. But I tore ligaments in my foot in preseason camp and missed the entire 2004 season. The NCAA later granted me a sixth-year medical redshirt so I could finish my college career in 2005.

I had been looking forward to the 2004 season because not only was I a returning starting cornerback, the coaches planned to use me to return kicks. That’s something I did in high school and something I want NFL scouts to be aware of about me. I recognize how important playing special teams is to earning a NFL roster spot, especially as a rookie. I’m a hard worker, and I’ll help a team anywhere the coaches need me.

My agent, Kris King of Sacramento, tells me I could be a fourth- to sixth-round draft pick, but I need to show NFL general managers, coaches and scouts I'm fully recovered from my injury.

I suffered sprained ligaments between my big toe and second toe in the final regular-season game against Arizona, a Nov. 25 game we won 23-20. I was trying to come underneath a block when I got pushed to the side and I rolled my foot.

I should be out of my protective boot in another week or so, and I plan to be 100 percent for the two pro days in March at Arizona State. Those are the days when pro scouts visit college campuses to test draft-eligible players.

I plan to test well. My goal is to run a 40-yard time in 4.3 seconds. I don’t want any doubts about my injury.