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The Port Arthur News, Texas, Bob West Column: Memorial's Gorrer Could Boost Total of PA Draftees
April 19, 2009
By Bob West, The Port Arthur News, Texas
Apr. 19--Thanks to an impressive workout at Texas A&M's pro day in early March, Memorial ex Danny Gorrer is back on the radar of NFL scouts. Gorrer, whose stock had dropped after he suffered an ACL injury against Texas Tech in 2007, opened some eyes by clipping off 40 times of 4.42 and 4.40. "He really helped himself with the way he ran. I think he'll be drafted late," said former Dallas Cowboys talent guru Gil Brandt who evaluates players on NFL.com. Gorrer, a cornerback who graduated in January, has been working out in California the past three months under the direction of the Athletes First agency that also represents former Memorial teammate Jamaal Charles. According to Gorrer, the teams showing the most interest in him are New Orleans and San Diego. He's been told Tampa Bay is also interested . .
. If Gorrer is picked, he would become the 22nd player from a Port Arthur high school to be drafted. Frank Eidom, taken by the Philadelphia Eagles in the third round of the 1955 draft, was the first Port Arthuran ever drafted, but was tragically killed in an automobile accident before he got a chance to play. Charles, picked in round three by Kansas City in 2008, was the last PA player drafted. Two Port Arthurans -- Joe Washington (Chargers) and Aaron Brown (Chiefs) -- were first rounders and three more -- Jonathan Babineaux (Falcons), Tom Smiley (Bengals) and Cotton Speyrer (Commanders) went in the second round. Eleven of the 21 draftees played at Lincoln, seven attended Jefferson, two were from SFA and one graduated from Memorial.
One of the best stories tied into the upcoming NFL draft is that of 6-3, 245 USC linebacker Clay Matthews. The nephew of former Houston Oilers Hall of Famer Bruce Matthews, he was a 166-pound backup linebacker/tight end his junior year in high school and his only scholarship offer a year later was from Idaho. Although he was told he was too small and too slow, he walked on at USC, red-shirted his first year, built himself up in the weight room, became a star and is projected as a first-round selection. Amazing . . . The Detroit Lions are said to be waffling between taking Georgia QB Matthew Stafford, a former Texas schoolboy star at Highland Park, or Baylor offensive tackle Jason Smith with the No. 1 pick in the draft. If they wind up passing on Stafford and take Smith, he would become the first Baylor player ever taken at the top of the NFL draft . . . . This will shock a lot of Texas A&M fans, but the QB a lot of them didn't think could play -- Stephen McGee -- has gotten high marks from scouts and could be drafted as high as the fourth round. Word is that McGee will be the fifth or sixth quarterback taken. He's another great example of a kid who made a poor choice out of high school and got burned by being in the wrong offensive system. You would be surprised at how that happens in big time college football.
Sports editor Bob West can be e-mailed at rdwest@usa.net. His Sportsrap radio show airs Mondays at 8:05 p.m. on KLVI (560-AM).
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To see more of The Port Arthur News or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.panews.com/.
Copyright (c) 2009, The Port Arthur News, Texas
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.
April 19, 2009
By Bob West, The Port Arthur News, Texas
Apr. 19--Thanks to an impressive workout at Texas A&M's pro day in early March, Memorial ex Danny Gorrer is back on the radar of NFL scouts. Gorrer, whose stock had dropped after he suffered an ACL injury against Texas Tech in 2007, opened some eyes by clipping off 40 times of 4.42 and 4.40. "He really helped himself with the way he ran. I think he'll be drafted late," said former Dallas Cowboys talent guru Gil Brandt who evaluates players on NFL.com. Gorrer, a cornerback who graduated in January, has been working out in California the past three months under the direction of the Athletes First agency that also represents former Memorial teammate Jamaal Charles. According to Gorrer, the teams showing the most interest in him are New Orleans and San Diego. He's been told Tampa Bay is also interested . .
. If Gorrer is picked, he would become the 22nd player from a Port Arthur high school to be drafted. Frank Eidom, taken by the Philadelphia Eagles in the third round of the 1955 draft, was the first Port Arthuran ever drafted, but was tragically killed in an automobile accident before he got a chance to play. Charles, picked in round three by Kansas City in 2008, was the last PA player drafted. Two Port Arthurans -- Joe Washington (Chargers) and Aaron Brown (Chiefs) -- were first rounders and three more -- Jonathan Babineaux (Falcons), Tom Smiley (Bengals) and Cotton Speyrer (Commanders) went in the second round. Eleven of the 21 draftees played at Lincoln, seven attended Jefferson, two were from SFA and one graduated from Memorial.
One of the best stories tied into the upcoming NFL draft is that of 6-3, 245 USC linebacker Clay Matthews. The nephew of former Houston Oilers Hall of Famer Bruce Matthews, he was a 166-pound backup linebacker/tight end his junior year in high school and his only scholarship offer a year later was from Idaho. Although he was told he was too small and too slow, he walked on at USC, red-shirted his first year, built himself up in the weight room, became a star and is projected as a first-round selection. Amazing . . . The Detroit Lions are said to be waffling between taking Georgia QB Matthew Stafford, a former Texas schoolboy star at Highland Park, or Baylor offensive tackle Jason Smith with the No. 1 pick in the draft. If they wind up passing on Stafford and take Smith, he would become the first Baylor player ever taken at the top of the NFL draft . . . . This will shock a lot of Texas A&M fans, but the QB a lot of them didn't think could play -- Stephen McGee -- has gotten high marks from scouts and could be drafted as high as the fourth round. Word is that McGee will be the fifth or sixth quarterback taken. He's another great example of a kid who made a poor choice out of high school and got burned by being in the wrong offensive system. You would be surprised at how that happens in big time college football.
Sports editor Bob West can be e-mailed at rdwest@usa.net. His Sportsrap radio show airs Mondays at 8:05 p.m. on KLVI (560-AM).
-----
To see more of The Port Arthur News or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.panews.com/.
Copyright (c) 2009, The Port Arthur News, Texas
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.