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Ex-UT QB Crompton improving draft status
By Jim Wyatt • THE TENNESSEAN • April 7, 2010
http://www.tennessean.com/article/2...7086/Ex-UT+QB+Crompton+improving+draft+status
Buzz up!Twitter FarkIt Type Size A A A Jonathan Crompton was called a lot of things during his playing days at the University of Tennessee, some of them not so nice at times.
Now, one draft analyst is calling him the second-best quarterback available in the upcoming NFL draft. Over a half-dozen teams, meanwhile, have lined up visits for Crompton after the NFL Combine snubbed him despite his impressive senior season. He’s on a West Coast tour of teams this week, in fact.
But with names like Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford, Notre Dame’s Jimmy Clausen, Florida’s Tim Tebow and Colt McCoy of Texas dominating the conversations among quarterbacks, how does Crompton measure up?
“He’s my super sleeper of the entire draft,’’ said Russ Lande, a former Browns scout who’s now an analyst for The Sporting News. “Jonathan Crompton is the No.2 quarterback in the entire draft in my opinion. I have Bradford 1, then Crompton, and then Clausen. And I think Crompton’s worthy of a first-round pick.
“ … I think he’s going to make it and be a good starting quarterback in the NFL.’’
Others, of course, aren’t nearly as convinced. And even Lande admits he doesn’t think a team will pull the trigger on Crompton early. He expects him to be a mid- to late-round pick.
“I’m not sure that is a case of a guy loving (Crompton) as much as he dislikes everybody else. And that logic I understand,’’ Scouts Inc. draft analyst Matt Williamson said. “I don’t like Tebow, I don’t like McCoy. I do like Bradford, but I have my questions about Clausen. And Crompton is one of the few guys in this draft who is at least physically gifted enough to be a true starting quarterback in the league. So in that regard I see it. Yes, it will take time, but there is a little more light at the end of the tunnel than with most of the guys in the draft. A lot of them don’t have the arm and the physical abilities, and Crompton at least does.
“I bet he’s the fifth quarterback picked. And everybody is going to say, “Wow, that’s early.’’
There’s no denying Crompton’s stock seems to be rising, despite the fact he wasn’t one of 18 quarterbacks invited to the NFL Combine, where they worked out for NFL scouts and talked with team officials.
Crompton, who worked alongside Tebow at D1 Sports Training in February, has made up for lost time, however. He made a good impression at the Texas vs. The Nation All-Star game, and he also worked out at Tennessee’s Pro Day last month.
Crompton visited the Seahawks on Tuesday, and he was also set to travel to Oakland and San Diego this week. He’ll visit the Saints, Jaguars and Packers next week and said the Lions have also expressed interest.
“Personally, I believe I am just as good as any quarterback in this draft. And that is the competitor in me,’’ said Crompton, who threw for 2,800 yards, 28 touchdowns and 13 interceptions last season. “I believe if I am given the opportunity everyone else is given, it will come out. But at the same time I like to praise everybody because everybody in this draft is a good quarterback. We are all different, but I personally believe I am just as good as anybody I draft.’’
Most draft experts have Crompton going somewhere in the second half of the draft and not among the top quarterbacks taken. His agent, Joel Turner, thinks he’ll go somewhere between the 2nd and 4th rounds.
“I think he is the best quarterback in this draft,’’ Turner said. “Now that doesn’t mean he will be the first or second or third one picked. But I think he has more tools and has the complete package to be successful in this league.’’
While everyone agrees Crompton has the size – 6-foot-4, 228 pounds — and arm strength to be successful, some have questioned whether he can handle the mental side of the game. There are conflicting reports about how he did at his Pro Day. Some say he excelled, others say he overthrew receivers and was off-target on several throws.
Crompton downplays the criticism but is hardly surprised to hear it, although he said he doesn’t pay attention.
He heard plenty of negativity during his 2008 season at Tennessee, when fans ripped him during a season when he struggled mightily. But he rebounded in ’09 with the Vols and went out with a bang.
And he believes he’s more NFL-ready because of the experience.
“Going through everything I had to go through, it made me mature quicker, and it taught me to be a better person,’’ Crompton said. “I’ve had a lot of lows and a lot of highs in my playing career, and but I am kind of glad I had to go through it.
“Some people ask me: If I could go back and be in high school again would you not go to UT because of some of the things that went on?’’ Crompton continued. “No, I wouldn’t not go because of the things I had to go through.’
“God put me in that situation because he knew it would make me stronger in the end. Now I can tell my story to other guys and tell them: Don’t ever quit. Always keep fighting no matter what happens.’’ That’s what I did and that’s what I’ll keep on doing. And I’m looking forward to what God has in store for me next.’’
Reach Jim Wyatt at 259-8015 or [email protected].
By Jim Wyatt • THE TENNESSEAN • April 7, 2010
http://www.tennessean.com/article/2...7086/Ex-UT+QB+Crompton+improving+draft+status
Buzz up!Twitter FarkIt Type Size A A A Jonathan Crompton was called a lot of things during his playing days at the University of Tennessee, some of them not so nice at times.
Now, one draft analyst is calling him the second-best quarterback available in the upcoming NFL draft. Over a half-dozen teams, meanwhile, have lined up visits for Crompton after the NFL Combine snubbed him despite his impressive senior season. He’s on a West Coast tour of teams this week, in fact.
But with names like Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford, Notre Dame’s Jimmy Clausen, Florida’s Tim Tebow and Colt McCoy of Texas dominating the conversations among quarterbacks, how does Crompton measure up?
“He’s my super sleeper of the entire draft,’’ said Russ Lande, a former Browns scout who’s now an analyst for The Sporting News. “Jonathan Crompton is the No.2 quarterback in the entire draft in my opinion. I have Bradford 1, then Crompton, and then Clausen. And I think Crompton’s worthy of a first-round pick.
“ … I think he’s going to make it and be a good starting quarterback in the NFL.’’
Others, of course, aren’t nearly as convinced. And even Lande admits he doesn’t think a team will pull the trigger on Crompton early. He expects him to be a mid- to late-round pick.
“I’m not sure that is a case of a guy loving (Crompton) as much as he dislikes everybody else. And that logic I understand,’’ Scouts Inc. draft analyst Matt Williamson said. “I don’t like Tebow, I don’t like McCoy. I do like Bradford, but I have my questions about Clausen. And Crompton is one of the few guys in this draft who is at least physically gifted enough to be a true starting quarterback in the league. So in that regard I see it. Yes, it will take time, but there is a little more light at the end of the tunnel than with most of the guys in the draft. A lot of them don’t have the arm and the physical abilities, and Crompton at least does.
“I bet he’s the fifth quarterback picked. And everybody is going to say, “Wow, that’s early.’’
There’s no denying Crompton’s stock seems to be rising, despite the fact he wasn’t one of 18 quarterbacks invited to the NFL Combine, where they worked out for NFL scouts and talked with team officials.
Crompton, who worked alongside Tebow at D1 Sports Training in February, has made up for lost time, however. He made a good impression at the Texas vs. The Nation All-Star game, and he also worked out at Tennessee’s Pro Day last month.
Crompton visited the Seahawks on Tuesday, and he was also set to travel to Oakland and San Diego this week. He’ll visit the Saints, Jaguars and Packers next week and said the Lions have also expressed interest.
“Personally, I believe I am just as good as any quarterback in this draft. And that is the competitor in me,’’ said Crompton, who threw for 2,800 yards, 28 touchdowns and 13 interceptions last season. “I believe if I am given the opportunity everyone else is given, it will come out. But at the same time I like to praise everybody because everybody in this draft is a good quarterback. We are all different, but I personally believe I am just as good as anybody I draft.’’
Most draft experts have Crompton going somewhere in the second half of the draft and not among the top quarterbacks taken. His agent, Joel Turner, thinks he’ll go somewhere between the 2nd and 4th rounds.
“I think he is the best quarterback in this draft,’’ Turner said. “Now that doesn’t mean he will be the first or second or third one picked. But I think he has more tools and has the complete package to be successful in this league.’’
While everyone agrees Crompton has the size – 6-foot-4, 228 pounds — and arm strength to be successful, some have questioned whether he can handle the mental side of the game. There are conflicting reports about how he did at his Pro Day. Some say he excelled, others say he overthrew receivers and was off-target on several throws.
Crompton downplays the criticism but is hardly surprised to hear it, although he said he doesn’t pay attention.
He heard plenty of negativity during his 2008 season at Tennessee, when fans ripped him during a season when he struggled mightily. But he rebounded in ’09 with the Vols and went out with a bang.
And he believes he’s more NFL-ready because of the experience.
“Going through everything I had to go through, it made me mature quicker, and it taught me to be a better person,’’ Crompton said. “I’ve had a lot of lows and a lot of highs in my playing career, and but I am kind of glad I had to go through it.
“Some people ask me: If I could go back and be in high school again would you not go to UT because of some of the things that went on?’’ Crompton continued. “No, I wouldn’t not go because of the things I had to go through.’
“God put me in that situation because he knew it would make me stronger in the end. Now I can tell my story to other guys and tell them: Don’t ever quit. Always keep fighting no matter what happens.’’ That’s what I did and that’s what I’ll keep on doing. And I’m looking forward to what God has in store for me next.’’
Reach Jim Wyatt at 259-8015 or [email protected].
