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The University of Mississippi Athletics
INSIDER: Big Mike Puts NFL Dream On Hold
11/11/2008 | Football
By Thomas McKee
OleMissSports.com INSIDER
Ole Miss offensive tackle Michael Oher had every reason to leave Ole Miss and start his professional career in the National Football League at the conclusion of last season.
The 6-foot-5 Memphis, Tenn., native racked up the accolades last year, being named a consensus First Team All-SEC selection and Fourth Team All-American by Phil Steele.
Oher was a key blocker for BenJarvus Green-Ellis' back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons in 2006 and 2007.
He had suffered through three-straight losing seasons and had experienced just three Southeastern Conference wins in as many seasons.
To top it all off, he was projected by some as being selected in the top 10 overall in the 2008 NFL draft.
The decision seemed even easy for Oher himself. Last January, just weeks after Houston Nutt was hired as the new head coach, Oher made an announcement that he was declaring for the NFL draft and would forgo his senior season.
That was that, the end of Oher's dominance on the offensive line in Oxford.
However, less than 24 hours later, Oher released a statement that would end up being valuable to both himself and his team - he was staying.
So far things have worked out great, better than Oher ever imagined. Not only has he helped Ole Miss return to bowl contention, but his NFL stock continues to soar.
Amongst the numerous NFL Draft websites, Oher is commonly a top-five choice for next year, and Rivals.com predicted the tackle to be the No. 1 overall pick.
"I'm pleased that I stayed at Ole Miss," Oher said. "I've gotten a lot better as a player. I've had the chance to spend more time with my teammates and friends. I've also been able to be around my family a lot more. Just getting an opportunity to play with a great staff has made it worthwhile."
"Big Mike" said that he wanted to spend one more year with his teammates, and have that shot to go to a bowl game - something the Rebels, currently at 4-4, have a chance to do.
The new coaching staff, led by Nutt, also played a big role in Oher coming back for one more season at Ole Miss.
"I don't see how someone can let a coach like him go - a great coach like that, who's been to a bowl eight out of the last 10 years," Oher said. "Just the opportunity to work with those guys, it's big for me. They have turned me into the player I am, and I give all the credit to those guys.
"My offensive line coach, coach (Mike) Markuson, is a hard-nosed, traditional guy. He's helped me bend more and stay down longer in my technique. Coach (Don) Decker, our strength coach, has gotten me a lot stronger. It's just been a big turnaround for me."
His progress hasn't gone unnoticed by his teammates, as fellow senior and team captain Jason Cook has seen major strides in Oher.
"He's changed a lot in being more selfless and more for the team," Cook said. "His talk is a lot more positive than it has been in the past and that does a lot for the team."
By coming back, the Briarcrest Christian School product was able to be part of Ole Miss' biggest win since 1977, a 31-30 victory over the then-No. 4 Florida Gators on the road.
"It was amazing to know that all of your hard work finally paid off, especially against a top 5 team like Florida," Oher said. "Just knowing that you can compete with those guys is really special."
Oher has benefited personally, and so have the Rebels. They got not only a very talented player for one more season, but a dependable one as well. The senior has started 42 straight games, which ranks third in the SEC among active players.
"Mike is a vocal guy, but he leads more by his actions and his play on the field," Cook said. "In my time here, I think I've seen him miss maybe one or two practices in his four years here. He's never missed a game. So you have a guy that is dependable to play week in and week out, and that's big for the football team."
With four games left to play in his career as an Ole Miss Rebel, Oher still has some things he wants to accomplish, things he hasn't had a chance to do during his first three seasons in Oxford.
"The main thing I want to do is win out," Oher said. "Going to a good bowl and practicing in December for the first time - that would be fun."
Thanks to his new coaches, and his commitment to his team, Oher has grown as a football player both mentally and physically, but he understands there are still areas that he can improve on before he gets to the next level.
"I have to work on sticking in my technique, finishing and being more of a leader."
Oher, who is the subject of The New York Times best seller "The Blind Side: The Evolution of a Game," did much more than just write another chapter in his story by returning to Ole Miss for his senior season - he improved it from cover to cover.
OleMissSports.com INSIDER
Ole Miss offensive tackle Michael Oher had every reason to leave Ole Miss and start his professional career in the National Football League at the conclusion of last season.
The 6-foot-5 Memphis, Tenn., native racked up the accolades last year, being named a consensus First Team All-SEC selection and Fourth Team All-American by Phil Steele.
Oher was a key blocker for BenJarvus Green-Ellis' back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons in 2006 and 2007.
He had suffered through three-straight losing seasons and had experienced just three Southeastern Conference wins in as many seasons.
To top it all off, he was projected by some as being selected in the top 10 overall in the 2008 NFL draft.
The decision seemed even easy for Oher himself. Last January, just weeks after Houston Nutt was hired as the new head coach, Oher made an announcement that he was declaring for the NFL draft and would forgo his senior season.
That was that, the end of Oher's dominance on the offensive line in Oxford.
However, less than 24 hours later, Oher released a statement that would end up being valuable to both himself and his team - he was staying.
So far things have worked out great, better than Oher ever imagined. Not only has he helped Ole Miss return to bowl contention, but his NFL stock continues to soar.
Amongst the numerous NFL Draft websites, Oher is commonly a top-five choice for next year, and Rivals.com predicted the tackle to be the No. 1 overall pick.
"I'm pleased that I stayed at Ole Miss," Oher said. "I've gotten a lot better as a player. I've had the chance to spend more time with my teammates and friends. I've also been able to be around my family a lot more. Just getting an opportunity to play with a great staff has made it worthwhile."
"Big Mike" said that he wanted to spend one more year with his teammates, and have that shot to go to a bowl game - something the Rebels, currently at 4-4, have a chance to do.
The new coaching staff, led by Nutt, also played a big role in Oher coming back for one more season at Ole Miss.
"I don't see how someone can let a coach like him go - a great coach like that, who's been to a bowl eight out of the last 10 years," Oher said. "Just the opportunity to work with those guys, it's big for me. They have turned me into the player I am, and I give all the credit to those guys.
"My offensive line coach, coach (Mike) Markuson, is a hard-nosed, traditional guy. He's helped me bend more and stay down longer in my technique. Coach (Don) Decker, our strength coach, has gotten me a lot stronger. It's just been a big turnaround for me."
His progress hasn't gone unnoticed by his teammates, as fellow senior and team captain Jason Cook has seen major strides in Oher.
"He's changed a lot in being more selfless and more for the team," Cook said. "His talk is a lot more positive than it has been in the past and that does a lot for the team."
By coming back, the Briarcrest Christian School product was able to be part of Ole Miss' biggest win since 1977, a 31-30 victory over the then-No. 4 Florida Gators on the road.
"It was amazing to know that all of your hard work finally paid off, especially against a top 5 team like Florida," Oher said. "Just knowing that you can compete with those guys is really special."
Oher has benefited personally, and so have the Rebels. They got not only a very talented player for one more season, but a dependable one as well. The senior has started 42 straight games, which ranks third in the SEC among active players.
"Mike is a vocal guy, but he leads more by his actions and his play on the field," Cook said. "In my time here, I think I've seen him miss maybe one or two practices in his four years here. He's never missed a game. So you have a guy that is dependable to play week in and week out, and that's big for the football team."
With four games left to play in his career as an Ole Miss Rebel, Oher still has some things he wants to accomplish, things he hasn't had a chance to do during his first three seasons in Oxford.
"The main thing I want to do is win out," Oher said. "Going to a good bowl and practicing in December for the first time - that would be fun."
Thanks to his new coaches, and his commitment to his team, Oher has grown as a football player both mentally and physically, but he understands there are still areas that he can improve on before he gets to the next level.
"I have to work on sticking in my technique, finishing and being more of a leader."
Oher, who is the subject of The New York Times best seller "The Blind Side: The Evolution of a Game," did much more than just write another chapter in his story by returning to Ole Miss for his senior season - he improved it from cover to cover.
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