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By Jacob Messer
Daily Mail sportswriter
HUNTINGTON -- As he spoke about his future Thursday afternoon, Doug Legursky couldn't help but think about his past.
Legursky recalled his time with the Southwest Bandits. Coached by his father, the team was a powerhouse in the Beckley-based Southern West Virginia Youth Football League.
"We were bad As," Legursky said, kindly choosing to abbreviate his expletive. "We kicked some serious tail back then."
The yellow helmet Legursky wore with the Bandits still hangs from a wall in his bedroom at his parents' Beaver home. Hanging beside it is the white helmet he wore at Marshall University, where he was a four-year starter on the Thundering Herd's offensive line.
There are splotches of red, green and white paint - the results of helmets hitting helmets on blocks and tackles - splattered across the yellow helmet. There is a green oval - trimmed in white and emblazoned with "SW" in white letters - on each side. The facemask once was all green but now is half gray, thanks to the passing of time and the peeling of paint.
The most intriguing aspect of the helmet, however, is hidden inside it.
Scribbled in black letters on white padding in the top of the helmet is the name, age and goal of its owner:
"Dougie Legursky, 11 years old, Lifelong dream Cowboys player."
A Dallas Cowboys fan since he could say America's Team, Legursky has a chance to be taken in this weekend's NFL Draft.
The first two rounds are Saturday; the last five rounds are Sunday.
Legursky likely will go on the second day. If not, he almost assuredly will sign a free agent deal in the hours or days following the draft.
To wind up with the Cowboys, the 6-foot-3, 312-pound center admits, would be the "ultimate dream."
"To tell you the truth, though, it wouldn't be much of a different reaction if it was any other NFL team," Legursky said.
"People always ask me, 'Who is your favorite team?' I always tell them, 'Whoever drafts me or signs me.' But if I'm wearing the silver and blue, playing for Dallas, that would be even better.
"Yeah, that really would be a dream come true."
NFLdraftscout.com ranks Legursky No. 5 among 88 center prospects. It projects him to be chosen in the fifth or sixth round.
NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. calls Legursky a "late round/free agent guy."
NFL Draft expert Todd McShay predicts the Arizona Cardinals will take Legursky in the seventh round with the 225th overall pick.
"You never know what to expect," said Legursky, who also could play guard or long snapper in the pros. "All I can do is expect the worst and hope for the best.
"The best would be getting drafted. The worst would be not getting a chance at all, but I'm pretty confident I will get a chance. Wherever I go, I work hard and give 100 percent. As long as I get a chance, that's all I'm asking for.
"Once you get into camp, it doesn't matter whether you are a draft pick or a free agent. Everybody is on the same level, whether they have a $30 million contract or are just trying to make the 52-man roster. If you show them you can play, they will keep you."
Kansas City, New England and New York Giants are among the teams interested in Legursky.
"We have heard from a handful of teams expressing interest," said Legursky, who also worked out for scouts from Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Pittsburgh and New York Jets last month at Marshall's Pro Day.
"You never know what to think because teams don't want to say too much. They give out the bare minimum of what they want and need. I don't blame them at all. There might be other teams that are very interested in me but haven't called because they don't want their (division or conference) rivals to know they are looking at this guy or that guy."
Legursky isn't worrying about things he can't control.
"I just have to cross my fingers and hope for the best," he said.
n n n
FORMER HERD quarterback Bernard Morris, the Thundering Herd's other 2008 NFL Draft hopeful, couldn't be reached for comment.
His agent, Andy Simms, said eight to 10 teams have expressed interest in Morris but wouldn't name them.
"We won't know anything for sure until Sunday," Simms said. "It's just hard to tell."
http://www.dailymail.com/Sports/MUSports/200804250176
Daily Mail sportswriter
HUNTINGTON -- As he spoke about his future Thursday afternoon, Doug Legursky couldn't help but think about his past.
Legursky recalled his time with the Southwest Bandits. Coached by his father, the team was a powerhouse in the Beckley-based Southern West Virginia Youth Football League.
"We were bad As," Legursky said, kindly choosing to abbreviate his expletive. "We kicked some serious tail back then."
The yellow helmet Legursky wore with the Bandits still hangs from a wall in his bedroom at his parents' Beaver home. Hanging beside it is the white helmet he wore at Marshall University, where he was a four-year starter on the Thundering Herd's offensive line.
There are splotches of red, green and white paint - the results of helmets hitting helmets on blocks and tackles - splattered across the yellow helmet. There is a green oval - trimmed in white and emblazoned with "SW" in white letters - on each side. The facemask once was all green but now is half gray, thanks to the passing of time and the peeling of paint.
The most intriguing aspect of the helmet, however, is hidden inside it.
Scribbled in black letters on white padding in the top of the helmet is the name, age and goal of its owner:
"Dougie Legursky, 11 years old, Lifelong dream Cowboys player."
A Dallas Cowboys fan since he could say America's Team, Legursky has a chance to be taken in this weekend's NFL Draft.
The first two rounds are Saturday; the last five rounds are Sunday.
Legursky likely will go on the second day. If not, he almost assuredly will sign a free agent deal in the hours or days following the draft.
To wind up with the Cowboys, the 6-foot-3, 312-pound center admits, would be the "ultimate dream."
"To tell you the truth, though, it wouldn't be much of a different reaction if it was any other NFL team," Legursky said.
"People always ask me, 'Who is your favorite team?' I always tell them, 'Whoever drafts me or signs me.' But if I'm wearing the silver and blue, playing for Dallas, that would be even better.
"Yeah, that really would be a dream come true."
NFLdraftscout.com ranks Legursky No. 5 among 88 center prospects. It projects him to be chosen in the fifth or sixth round.
NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. calls Legursky a "late round/free agent guy."
NFL Draft expert Todd McShay predicts the Arizona Cardinals will take Legursky in the seventh round with the 225th overall pick.
"You never know what to expect," said Legursky, who also could play guard or long snapper in the pros. "All I can do is expect the worst and hope for the best.
"The best would be getting drafted. The worst would be not getting a chance at all, but I'm pretty confident I will get a chance. Wherever I go, I work hard and give 100 percent. As long as I get a chance, that's all I'm asking for.
"Once you get into camp, it doesn't matter whether you are a draft pick or a free agent. Everybody is on the same level, whether they have a $30 million contract or are just trying to make the 52-man roster. If you show them you can play, they will keep you."
Kansas City, New England and New York Giants are among the teams interested in Legursky.
"We have heard from a handful of teams expressing interest," said Legursky, who also worked out for scouts from Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Pittsburgh and New York Jets last month at Marshall's Pro Day.
"You never know what to think because teams don't want to say too much. They give out the bare minimum of what they want and need. I don't blame them at all. There might be other teams that are very interested in me but haven't called because they don't want their (division or conference) rivals to know they are looking at this guy or that guy."
Legursky isn't worrying about things he can't control.
"I just have to cross my fingers and hope for the best," he said.
n n n
FORMER HERD quarterback Bernard Morris, the Thundering Herd's other 2008 NFL Draft hopeful, couldn't be reached for comment.
His agent, Andy Simms, said eight to 10 teams have expressed interest in Morris but wouldn't name them.
"We won't know anything for sure until Sunday," Simms said. "It's just hard to tell."
http://www.dailymail.com/Sports/MUSports/200804250176
