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Injured All-American receiver Ryan Broyles has a message for any NFL general managers who might be listening: give him a chance and he'll give you his all.
Broyles' final season at Oklahoma came to an early end when he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee against Texas A&M last month. He ended his career with the most receptions in NCAA history and now is hoping his injury doesn't derail his chances to play at the next level.
''If a team is going to give me a shot, I'll go out and do all I can with it. I'm just looking forward to the opportunity,'' Broyles said. ''Training-wise, I'm ready to get on that. I took running for granted. When I'm up and running again, I'm not going to stop.''
Broyles had his knee repaired by Dr. James Andrews in Pensacola, Fla., and he's already walking without crutches. He expects to be running in a pool in 10 weeks, but with an estimated recovery time of six months, he won't be able to run at the combine and his workouts will be limited leading up to the NFL draft in April.
Broyles said he plans to stay in Norman through January to do his rehab and then head out in February to work on his upper-body training, prepare for interviews and study for the Wonderlic test. He plans to attend the combine and meet with coaches and general managers and then return to Norman for more rehab.
''If a team gives me a shot, I'm going to go out there,'' Broyles said. ''My dream has always been to play in the NFL, not be a first-round draft pick, just to be a pick. ... It's not about where you get picked. It's not about how much money you make. It's about how much you save. I've heard that a lot. I'm on my saving kick already.''
At 5-foot-10, Broyles lacks the size of NFL superstars such as Calvin Johnson and Randy Moss - or even fellow All-American Justin Blackmon of Oklahoma State. He has made up for it with an elusiveness and ability to get open at a record rate.
He finished his career with an NCAA record 349 catches for 4,586 yards and 45 touchdowns. He was also the leader among active players with 1,194 career yards on punt returns at the time he got hurt.
Because of his stature, his ability to play in the slot and the fact that he's a native Oklahoman, Broyles frequently gets compared to New England Patriots receiver Wes Welker - who leads the NFL in receptions (82) and yardage (1,143) this season.
Broyles even got an email of encouragement from Welker, who also had a torn ACL heading into the draft and didn't get picked. Welker also led the NFL in receptions in 2009 and tied for the league lead in 2007.
''I feel like I'm Ryan Broyles,'' he said, shying away from the comparison. ''I'm going to take to the game whatever I've showed out here on the field.''
Broyles said he's not worried about his prospects in the NFL. There's plenty of evidence of what he can do on the football field, even if he won't be able to show it off for scouts at pro days, the combine or private workouts.
All it takes is one team to believe in him.
''Coaches have said all along I have enough film. I feel the same way. If a team gives me a shot, I'm going to give it all I have,'' Broyles said.
''I had doubters coming out of high school, I'm sure I'll have doubters coming out of college. I'm just going to go in there and compete.''
Just two years ago, teammate Sam Bradford got taken as the No. 1 overall pick even though he missed much of his final season in college with an injury to his throwing shoulder. So, Broyles knows there are plenty of opportunities out there even for players who get hurt at an inopportune time.
''I really don't have to talk to anyone to really know that things are going to be OK,'' Broyles said. ''I'm alive. Football is going to be there. There's guys in the NFL that have torn ACLs. After I got hurt, everyone was telling me they had torn theirs before.
''It's not life-ending and it's not football-ending, so that's positive.''
Broyles said he had no regrets for deciding to come back for his senior season instead of entering the NFL draft early. Besides a productive nine games, he would have missed out on life-changing events had he gone.
Broyles went on a mission trip to Haiti with several of his teammates that helped ground him and he recently got engaged.
''I've grown a lot over the past year since last season. I really made some big steps in my life,'' Broyles said.
Despite his injury, Broyles was chosen as one of three finalists for the Biletnikoff Award for the second straight year. Blackmon, who won it last year, and Southern California's Robert Woods are the other two finalists to be named the nation's top college receiver.
The winner will be announced at the college football awards show Dec. 8.
''I didn't really think I was going to get picked, but it's a great deal. It shows the respect people have for me,'' Broyles said. ''At the time before I got hurt, I was up there with the best. I'm just glad I'm a finalist.
''I'm going to go out there and enjoy my time, and hopefully my name gets called.''
