The biggest recruiting chore Bob Stoops may have this week is trying to get Malcom Kelly to return to Oklahoma for his senior year.

     This gifted wide receiver is projected as a mid-first to early second round NFL draft selection. The deadline for underclassmen to declare for the draft is next Tuesday. So the clock is ticking on Kelly.

     If you had to put money on what Kelly would do this moment the word is that he will probably come out. Money is not the object with this Texas native. That will not be the big factor in his decision. He has told insiders that he wasn’t thrilled this past year because the Sooners didn’t use him in their offense like they did a year ago.

     There was some talk last week that Kelly could have played in the Fiesta Bowl, but didn’t want to go and his injury wasn’t that bad. That’s not true. He tried to warm up and see if he could go. But he just wasn’t going to be close to full speed. He definitely wanted to play because he could have showcased his talents to all of the NFL teams.

     What Stoops will do is talk to the NFL people and try to get a good feel of exactly where Kelly will go in the draft. He will then meet with the family and share these findings. The question that must be asked is can Kelly improve his status by coming back next season.

     What Stoops will have to do is convince his star wide receiver that the Sooners will use him a lot more than they did this season. Right now Kelly’s feelings are somewhat hurt because of what has transpired. I’d say at this moment it’s 70-30 that he leaves.

     The only other two underlclassmen that might come out are cornerback Reggie Smith and offensive lineman Duke Robinson. There are some who project Smith as a late first round pick. But most have him going in the second round.

     Robinson is a talented lineman who could probably use another year of seasoning. Draft experts have him going from the second to fifth round. Curtis Lofton has also been exploring about leaving early. However it would be a stunner if he did leave.

     This will not be a great year for Oklahoma players in the draft. But next season will. In fact it could compare to the 2004 season when the Sooners had more players drafted than any other school.