I Beat the Odds: From Homelessness, to The Blind Side, and Beyond

As Oher prepared to graduate, he also had to prepare for the NFL draft. First, he had to choose an agent to represent him and deal with a number of things—including legal issues. The Tuohys had a close friend who was an agent, but Oher chose another with an ethical reputation—someone many of his college teammates also chose. However, once they began working together, Oher realized his agent might not be the best fit for him. Agents help prepare their clients for pre-NFL draft events, and Oher’s agent sent him someplace that focused on sprinting speed; Oher felt he should have worked on strength and conditioning instead.

In February 2009, Oher attended the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The players performed a series of physical and mental tests so teams could get a complete picture of their skills before the draft. They also had brief interviews with interested teams. Oher did well but thought he might have done better with different preparation. Therefore, after the event, he decided to hire the Tuohys’ agent friend, Jimmy Sexton.

The draft was held in New York City at the end of April. Before it took place, some commentators wondered if Oher would have the same drive he did before his adoption by the wealthy Tuohys.