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Full Version: So...What Seniors have a chance at being invited to a NFL preseason camp?
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My big speculation is Nick Mayers, reported at 5 7', will he have a chance at the pros. He just may fall 2 inches too short. What do you guys think?
Obviously, Jonathan Plisco has a good chance at a NFL job. Bobby Wilder has said it himself several times. There was early speculation that Craig Wilkins could be drafted. Chris Burnette has a good chance of getting signed by a team for a look. I could see Nick Mayers or Colby Goodwin possibly having a chance in the CFL.
Goodwin is not a Sr. He has another year
(12-11-2012 10:58 PM)Big Blue Crazy Wrote: [ -> ]Goodwin is not a Sr. He has another year

We have Goodwin for another year? Thats a good look for the backs.
I dont remember how many offensive lineman we have that are seniors, but I know a couple of them we have some offers.
Duncan and Carr are the only two Sr. on OL. Carr did not play much
We are a very young team all around.
I am pretty sure we return 8 or 9 starters on both sides of the ball.
Every team in the FCS or at least the CAA should be thanking us
For moving up.
To be quite honest, I don't think anyone on this team get's drafted. As Lucky mentioned, there was talk of Wilkins being a target of some teams and who knows, maybe someone will take a late round flier on him, but considering how badly our defense performed this season and he was the on the field play caller and captain, it doesn't seem very likely he will get drafted after this past season.

More than likely though, Plisco, Wilkins, Burnette and maybe even Mayers get camp spots and a chance to make an impression much like Ronnie Cameron did. In fact, I'm pretty sure the team Ronnie was initally in camp with was the Bears and when he was cut, Cleveland decided to pick him up and put him on the practice squad and when an opening became available, he was added to the active roster.

I could see a very similar fate awaiting any of those 4 seniors listed above. They all have talent and could make it to the next level.....but a draft pick just frankly seems unlikely to me considering all the other players around the country from FBS and other talented players from the FCS as well.

Getting drafted, even in the late late round, usually means you are one of the top 20-30 or maybe even 40 players in the country at your position. I like the guys a lot, but I don't think you can say Burnette is one of the 40 best lineman in all of college football, nor Mayers at WR or Wilkins at LB.

The only one who probably is among the top 40 is Plisco and even then, unless you are just a flat out STUD, punter's tend not to be drafted. Plisco had a fairly disappointing senior year so I doubt he gets drafted by an NFL team.

Remember, only about 10 or so NFL teams are actually even looking for a punter in the first place because some of the guys in the NFL absolutely are not getting replaced by ANYONE, much less a college punter and much much less an FCS punter who didn't even have a great season. And even if they were to somehow unseat him, the odds of that team actually DRAFTING a punter are even lower when they can probably just invite the guy to camp and save the pick for someone else.

I'd love to see our first ever draft pick happen this year, but more than likely, based on what I've seen so far, the first ODU draft pick of all time is whenever Heinecke gets his name called in the 2015 NFL draft. He may not be the only Monarch, in fact, to have his name called that year as we have several very talented sophomore WR's and lineman that could also get drafted in the later rounds.....but I honestly think Heinecke could end up getting picked in the 3rd or 4th round of the draft if he continues to put up numbers like he is currently accumulating.

Romo, Gannon, McNair, Phil Simms, Jon Kitna, Daunte Culpepper, Chad Pennington, Joe Flacco, Josh McCown, Tavaris Jackson etc. are all NFL QB's who have been drafted in the high rounds from FCS schools over the years and I'm sure there are more that I am forgetting or didn't know went to FCS schools.

And that doesn't even include guys like Kurt Warner who went undrafted or guys from the smaller FBS conferences who ended up getting drafted like Big Ben, Charlie Batch, Byron Leftwhich, Bruce Gradkowski, David Garrard, Favre etc.

The only strikes Heinecke currently has against him are his height and the sentiment that he could be a "system QB" although anyone who has seen him play knows that is absolutely not true. He throws a beautiful deep ball and is VERY mobile almost to the point of being a weapon with his leg, none of which is "typical" of a system QB. Taylor can make every throw on the field and will have a chance to prove that he can get it done against FBS competition and bigger, taller, stronger and faster defensive lines at BCS schools over the next couple years and believe me, if he has the talent, it will translate to the next level and NFL scouts WILL take notice.

So yeah.....I fully expect Heinecke to be ODU's first ever NFL draft pick. The kid is legit.
I believe Wilkins will has a good chance. If I remember correctly his combine numbers were very impressive last off-season relative to many who were drafted. I think his personal on-field accomplishments coupled with his athleticism will outweigh the defensive waknesses of the Monarchs as a whole.
I remember reading (perhaps in the pilot) that wilkins measurables at the combine would be on par would the best LB'ers from last year. those are workout #'s and game tape still tells a lot, but if he has a good combine (providing he gets an invite - I suppose he has a chance there) then I could see a team taking a late round flier on him. we'll see...any chance any of these guys get invited to play in any of the all-star games they have for college Sr's?

as far as Heinecke goes, yeah, his height is a problem, but I don't see him as much smaller than Brees and Russle wilson, maybe a couple of inches shorter than Bob3. although his height is def going to be an issue, but he's also got two years (not that I expect a growth spurt) to put up #'s and also against stronger competition...also, I've never seen him take a snap from under center. its always shot gun. thats where I see him being labled a "system" QB. that will turn off some coaches.
Tony Romo and John Kitna were undrafted.
Hard to imagine Nick gets an invite to an NFL camp. Not too many 5-7 players in the NFL. While he is a tough SOB for only being 5-7 he is still small. At least Sproles for the Chargers and now Saints) had a background as a running back.... His only chance is if someone sees him a return man. But no one will look at him at WR. No one. Desmond Howard was 5-10 and he was too small to be an NFL WR. And it wasn't as much his height as his size and weight. He would get popped at the line of scrimmage and completely taken out of his route. Nick is giving up 3 inches and quite a number of pounds to Howard's size. So no way will any NFL team bring him in as a WR. I wish it were different, because I love his heart, but he can't escape his genetics.
Isn't Goodwyn a Soph?

I don't think any of them will be drafted. I do think Plisco and Wilkins are virtual locks to be signed as undrafted free agents. Burnette is a possibility. Unfortunately, I don't think Mayers will be signed. I could only see him signed if he was a returner and he hasn't been a returner at ODU.
I haven't kept up with the potential draft stock of any of the other players, but I definitely agree about Wilkins and Plisco. Undrafted free agents all the way. I think Wilkins can make someone's practice squad at the very least and Plisco is more than capable of proving his worth at his position.
(12-12-2012 09:52 AM)ODU True Blue Wrote: [ -> ]Hard to imagine Nick gets an invite to an NFL camp. Not too many 5-7 players in the NFL. While he is a tough SOB for only being 5-7 he is still small. At least Sproles for the Chargers and now Saints) had a background as a running back.... His only chance is if someone sees him a return man. But no one will look at him at WR. No one. Desmond Howard was 5-10 and he was too small to be an NFL WR. And it wasn't as much his height as his size and weight. He would get popped at the line of scrimmage and completely taken out of his route. Nick is giving up 3 inches and quite a number of pounds to Howard's size. So no way will any NFL team bring him in as a WR. I wish it were different, because I love his heart, but he can't escape his genetics.

Kendall Hunter from SF is 5'7. Andrew Hawkins from Cincy is a 5'7, undrafted WR. LaRod Stephens-Howling is 5'8. Dexter McCluster is 5'8. Jacquizz Rogers is 5'6. Stefan Logan is 5'6. Brandon Banks from the Skins is 5'7. You already mentioned Sproles.

Granted that's not many, but there are a few.
But most of them are running backs. Much different than a small guy on the outside. Hawkins also runs a 4.34 40. Sproles is sucessful out of the backfield as a pass catcher...again because he is out of the backfield and not lined up on the line where he can get popped.

I hope to be proved wrong, I love Nick. I just don't think he can make it. Doesn't have the speed, like Hawkins, or the power to be a RB, and he is unproven as a return man.
Regardless of the "system", Heinecke has the arm, the accuracy, the ability to read defenses, can feel pressure in the pocket, and can scramble. I would assume that he is already getting NFL looks.
(12-12-2012 02:58 PM)djnva Wrote: [ -> ]
(12-12-2012 09:52 AM)ODU True Blue Wrote: [ -> ]Hard to imagine Nick gets an invite to an NFL camp. Not too many 5-7 players in the NFL. While he is a tough SOB for only being 5-7 he is still small. At least Sproles for the Chargers and now Saints) had a background as a running back.... His only chance is if someone sees him a return man. But no one will look at him at WR. No one. Desmond Howard was 5-10 and he was too small to be an NFL WR. And it wasn't as much his height as his size and weight. He would get popped at the line of scrimmage and completely taken out of his route. Nick is giving up 3 inches and quite a number of pounds to Howard's size. So no way will any NFL team bring him in as a WR. I wish it were different, because I love his heart, but he can't escape his genetics.

Kendall Hunter from SF is 5'7. Andrew Hawkins from Cincy is a 5'7, undrafted WR. LaRod Stephens-Howling is 5'8. Dexter McCluster is 5'8. Jacquizz Rogers is 5'6. Stefan Logan is 5'6. Brandon Banks from the Skins is 5'7. You already mentioned Sproles.

Granted that's not many, but there are a few.

There's more but here are a couple notables:
Maurice Jones-Drew, 5'7
Danny Woodhead, 5'8
Ray Rice, 5'8
Doug Martin, 5'8
Trindon Holliday, shortest in the league at 5'5

The one thing these guys all have in common is incredible speed and I'm not sure if he measures up
Plisco will be the closest. Nick Mayers.....could actually keep getting better at receiver. To make an NFL team he will need to keep working at it. It's hard to fill a player spot with the gamble on his size. He could fit a franchise looking at stepping way out

Quick thoughts on my behalf.....assuming that Plisco and Mayers are seniors.
A lot of those guys that you listed are built like a bowling ball.
5' 7" 175 does not compare to 5' 7" 220.
Ray Rice (RB) Height: 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) Weight: 212 lb (96 kg)
Maurice Jones Drew (RB) Height: 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) Weight: 208 lb (94 kg)
For the last time, height isn't mayers problem!!!

It's his weight and position!

175, at 5"7, doesn't even come close to cutting it at WR in the NFL. All those short rb's you mentioned are built like railroad cars and able to take hits from NFL safties and linebackers who are built like tanks.

At 5"7 175, mayers would get annihalated by NFL defenses. Absolutely no chance he gets DRAFTED, which is what this thread was about.

Who knows, maybe someone will give him a camp spot but even that seems doubtful....Ronnie Cameron, who was a fcs all American, caa player of the year and 6"1 300 pounds BARELY got invited to a camp and then even when he did, he eventually got cut!

It wasn't until the browns claimed him on waivers that he finally found a home and that was only thanks to injuries.

It's THAT hard to make it into the NFL. So no, a 5"7 175 pound fcs WR doesn't stand much of a chance of making it to the league. Just reality fellas.
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