Temple’s Reddick ready for double duty if needed Underwood OK with outside approach

Temple’s Haason Reddick is ready for any test at this weekend’s NFL scouting combine. He has prepared answers for awkward interview questions and has trained for two workouts.

After his long, winding football journey, this should be a breeze. The guy who switched from defensive back to defensive end in college will now try to show he can take the next step up into the NFL.

“It doesn’t matter who they put in front of me, I’m going to do it the best I can,” Reddick said Saturday at the league’s annual scouting combine. “That was my approach at the Senior Bowl and I did very well with it.” Sunday is Reddick’s day to show his stuff —at two positions if necessary.

Scouts, coaches and general managers all see Reddick as a pro pass rusher. The upcoming workouts will help determine whether the 6-foot-1¼, 237-pound Reddick would be better suited at defensive end or linebacker.

Reddick’s ability to adapt is one the biggest reasons he’s gone from college walk-on to a potential first-round draft choice.

Two injuries to his right knee cost him most of his junior and senior high school seasons and scared off recruiters. Reddick, from Camden, New Jersey, applied to Rutgers and Temple. He earned a spot on the football team as a walk-on and eventually won a starting job before receiving a scholarship. He had a huge senior season, leading the nation in tackles for loss and then impressed scouts by playing linebacker at the Senior Bowl. His draft stock is soaring, but considering where Reddick has come from he is still one of the most unlikely invitees in Indianapolis. All he has to do now is impress the toughest crowd he’s ever faced that he has talent and measurable skills to emulate the player he’s been studying, Von Miller.

“I think I can get a 4.5 (Sunday),” Reddick said, referring to his time in the 40-yard dash. “I have bigger goals for myself but I’d like to keep those private right now. But I think I can get 4.5. I’m not making any promises.”

The Cowboys fired up 36 3-pointers in Saturday’s 90-85 loss to Kansas.

That’s a season-high for an OSU team that ranks second only to Iowa State in the Big 12 for 3-point shots attempted. Still, Cowboys coach

didn’t regret the outside approach. And his guys made 12, led by

five and

three. “That’s who we are,” Underwood said. “I mean, you are who you are. We’re not a team that dribble-drives the ball an overabundance.

gets the ball in the paint, but they’re hard to score against in the paint. I think it was what presented itself.

“We’ve got guys who can make shots. When you score 85 at home… It’s probably too many, but I’m going to live and die with Phil and Jeffrey Carroll. That’s who we are.”

KU’s Jackson fires a dagger

The Cowboys pulled within three, 83-80, with 2:14 to play, needing a stop for a chance to pull even and raise the roof on a sold-out Gallagher-Iba Arena.

But KU’s fired in a corner 3, extending the lead to six with a shot Underwood considered the biggest of the game.

“Josh hit a big shot from the corner, that we talked about we were willing to give up,” Underwood said. “A 23 percent 3-point shooter in his last five... Jumps up and does what a lottery pick does and makes it.”

Up Next: Big 12 Tournament

The Cowboys open play in the Big 12 Tournament on Thursday, taking on No. 24 Iowa State.

Tip time at the Sprint Center is 11:30 a.m.

Oklahoma State is the No. 5 seed, which comes with a a first-day bye. The Cyclones are the No. 4 seed.

Iowa State swept the regular season series, though both were one-possession games late. The Cyclones pulled away at the finish to win 96-86 in Stillwater on Jan. 11, then held on for an 86-83 win in Ames last week.

Quotable

Kansas coach on

the legendary OSU coach who watched the game courtside and received a post-game greeting from Self, who coached on Sutton’s first three OSU staffs (1990-93):

“I’ve had a chance to coach for three Hall of Fame coaches, in my opinion. And nobody did it better than what Coach Sutton did, as far as tying everything together — family atmosphere, recruiting, being a representative and ambassador for the school, and also being a great coach and getting the most out of his players. He deserves to be in the Hall of Fame and hopefully some day he will be. It’s obviously sad to see his health has failed him some in the last couple of years. But it was great to see him here. And I know he loves Oklahoma State. He’s done a lot for myself and my career, but he’s done a lot for a lot of people, including a ton of players. I know everybody really respects what he’s done for them.”