Why Undrafted?: Gabe Ikard, C, Oklahoma
By Charlie Campbell, @draftcampbell
The 2014 NFL Draft didn’t feature a strong class of center prospects, so it was surprising that Oklahoma’s Gabe Ikard went undrafted. He spent three seasons as a consistent blocker for the Sooners and received numerous All Big XII honors. Ikard also developed his versatility with starting experience at guard as well. After topping Alabama in his final game, Ikard had a quality week of practice at the East-West Shrine.
League sources couldn’t really point to a specific reason why Ikard went undrafted. Some teams felt he was a touch undersized at 6-foot-3, 303-pounds and would need to add strength for the NFL, but those weren’t huge issues. Ikard didn’t have a medical red flag or off-the-field concerns according to any of those teams. Sources said they had draftable grades on Ikard, but he was just one of those players that slipped through. The 2014 class had more draftable players than slots, so some prospects were bound to slip through.
Ikard landed in a good spot with the Tennessee Titans. A year ago, they used a mid-round pick on Brian Schwenke, but he hasn’t proven he is definitely the long-term answer at center. If Schwenke does lock down the job, Ikard could be a versatile backup at guard and center. With his versatility and experience, Ikard looks like a good bet to make the team as a depth player on game days. The Titans consider themselves fortunate to have landed Ikard.
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