Former Cougars shine in last chance for NFL scouts

[cowboyjoe]

Former Cougars shine in last chance for NFL scouts
By JOHN MCCLAIN Copyright 2009 Houston Chronicle
March 27, 2009, 3:50PM
Share Print Email Del.icio.usDiggTechnoratiYahoo! BuzzFacebookBecause they were not invited to the Indianapolis scouting combine, University of Houston prospects like offensive tackle Sebastian Vollmer, defensive end Phillip Hunt, tight end Mark Hafner, free safety Ernest Miller and defensive end Ell Ash had one chance to impress NFL scouts.

Many of the scouts left the Cougars’ pro day on Friday impressed with Vollmer’s size and speed and Hunt’s athleticism.

Vollmer, who grew up in Germany and redshirted as a freshman with the Cougars, is the most intriguing prospects. He was a shade taller than 6-7 and weighed 312. One scout timed him in 5.08 in the 40-yard dash. He also had a 37 1/2-inch vertical jump.

“He’ll get drafted just based on his size and speed,” said C.O. Brocato, who is Tennessee’s national supervisor of college scouting. “I told him that he could gain 30 pounds in the weight room and still not be overweight. He’s an awesome specimen, and he runs well for his size.

"He’s got a good attitude, and he works hard. He’s come a long way since he got here. He’ll have to play on the right side. I think he’ll get drafted and be placed on a practice squad to see how he develops.

The scouts and coaches put Vollmer through a lot of drills at a pro day that lasted more than three hours because 13 prospects, including a few from other schools, participated.

"This was a good chance for me to show them what I can do,” Vollmer said. “I think it went well. I learned a lot. I want to learn a lot more. I tried to do everything as well as I could. I did things twice when they asked me to.”

Vollmer has no idea who’ll draft him or in what round.

“I’m going to work hard, see where I go and then do everything I can to improve and see what happens,” he said.

When Vollmer arrived at Houston, he wasn’t a novice at football.

“I started playing when I was 14,” he said. “We played with the same rules. I still had to learn the sport.

“When I got here as a freshman and redshirted, obviously, there was better competition. I got better each year. My senior year, I got stronger and more confident and realized I have a chance to play at the next level.”

Vollmer put in a lot of hours learning to play offensive tackle.

“Since I’ve been here, I’ve watched a lot of games and a lot of film,” he said. “I’ve tried to talk to as many as I could about what it takes to play the game and my position. Now I’m excited to find out how I’m going to do at the next level.”

Some scouts shy away from prospects like Vollmer because they haven’t played the game as long as players they’ll be competing against. Others love prospects like Vollmer because they watch them develop.

“Vollmer’s an intriguing kid,” Green Bay scout Alonzo Highsmith said. “Man, he just looks the part.

"I like the way he’s worked hard to improve. When you think how long he’s been here playing this game, where he is now is even more impressive. I can’t wait to see how he develops.”

Hunt, who was almost 5-1, weighed 244. He had an incredible vertical jump of 42 1/2.

“He’s a good athlete,” Brocato said. “He’s quick. He’s pretty explosive. He can come around the corner. He’s undersized for a 4-3 end. I think he’ll have to be a 3-4 outside linebacker who’ll become a rush guy in passing situations.”

john.mcclain@chron.com

 

[Biggems]

Former Cougars shine in last chance for NFL scouts
By JOHN MCCLAIN Copyright 2009 Houston Chronicle
March 27, 2009, 3:50PM
Share Print Email Del.icio.usDiggTechnoratiYahoo! BuzzFacebookBecause they were not invited to the Indianapolis scouting combine, University of Houston prospects like offensive tackle Sebastian Vollmer, defensive end Phillip Hunt, tight end Mark Hafner, free safety Ernest Miller and defensive end Ell Ash had one chance to impress NFL scouts.

Many of the scouts left the Cougars’ pro day on Friday impressed with Vollmer’s size and speed and Hunt’s athleticism.

Vollmer, who grew up in Germany and redshirted as a freshman with the Cougars, is the most intriguing prospects. He was a shade taller than 6-7 and weighed 312. One scout timed him in 5.08 in the 40-yard dash. He also had a 37 1/2-inch vertical jump.

“He’ll get drafted just based on his size and speed,” said C.O. Brocato, who is Tennessee’s national supervisor of college scouting. “I told him that he could gain 30 pounds in the weight room and still not be overweight. He’s an awesome specimen, and he runs well for his size.

"He’s got a good attitude, and he works hard. He’s come a long way since he got here. He’ll have to play on the right side. I think he’ll get drafted and be placed on a practice squad to see how he develops.

The scouts and coaches put Vollmer through a lot of drills at a pro day that lasted more than three hours because 13 prospects, including a few from other schools, participated.

"This was a good chance for me to show them what I can do,” Vollmer said. “I think it went well. I learned a lot. I want to learn a lot more. I tried to do everything as well as I could. I did things twice when they asked me to.”

Vollmer has no idea who’ll draft him or in what round.

“I’m going to work hard, see where I go and then do everything I can to improve and see what happens,” he said.

When Vollmer arrived at Houston, he wasn’t a novice at football.

“I started playing when I was 14,” he said. “We played with the same rules. I still had to learn the sport.

“When I got here as a freshman and redshirted, obviously, there was better competition. I got better each year. My senior year, I got stronger and more confident and realized I have a chance to play at the next level.”

Vollmer put in a lot of hours learning to play offensive tackle.

“Since I’ve been here, I’ve watched a lot of games and a lot of film,” he said. “I’ve tried to talk to as many as I could about what it takes to play the game and my position. Now I’m excited to find out how I’m going to do at the next level.”

Some scouts shy away from prospects like Vollmer because they haven’t played the game as long as players they’ll be competing against. Others love prospects like Vollmer because they watch them develop.

“Vollmer’s an intriguing kid,” Green Bay scout Alonzo Highsmith said. “Man, he just looks the part.

"I like the way he’s worked hard to improve. When you think how long he’s been here playing this game, where he is now is even more impressive. I can’t wait to see how he develops.”

Hunt, who was almost 5-1, weighed 244. He had an incredible vertical jump of 42 1/2.

“He’s a good athlete,” Brocato said. “He’s quick. He’s pretty explosive. He can come around the corner. He’s undersized for a 4-3 end. I think he’ll have to be a 3-4 outside linebacker who’ll become a rush guy in passing situations.”

john.mcclain@chron.com

yes, I can see where a 5-1 guy would be a bit undersized....but that is just me.

 

[cowboyjoe]

now it works

 

[Bizwah]

yes, I can see where a 5-1 guy would be a bit undersized....but that is just me.

Yeah, kind of takes the polish off of that HUGE vertical huh?

But, I bet he has no problems getting under the OL.

 

[silverbear]

Yeah, kind of takes the polish off of that HUGE vertical huh?

But, I bet he has no problems getting under the OL.

The significant thing about Hunt's workout is his weight; he was listed at 260 on most draft websites, now he's down to 245?? And according to NFL Draft Scout, he ran a marginal 4.75 40 at this workout...

I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not, but we shouldn't forget that he was the Conference USA defensive player of the year in 2008...

 

[Chocolate Lab]

I'm hoping we take a shot on Hunt in one of the late rounds. If he's just a good special teamer and 3rd down rusher, he'd be worth it at that spot.

The Vollmer guy sounds interesting, too. Can he play at all right now, or is he purely a size-speed prospect?

 

[jterrell]

I'm hoping we take a shot on Hunt in one of the late rounds. If he's just a good special teamer and 3rd down rusher, he'd be worth it at that spot.

The Vollmer guy sounds interesting, too. Can he play at all right now, or is he purely a size-speed prospect?

I like Hunt as a situational 3-4 OLB.

He would be a good get in the late 5th. He can be a special teams guy like Rogers and Carpenter but actually play some 3-4 OLB which is a big bonus.

That vert is very impressive because he will be able to cover the flat a bit with that wingspan and leaping ability.

 

[Bizwah]

The significant thing about Hunt's workout is his weight; he was listed at 260 on most draft websites, now he's down to 245?? And according to NFL Draft Scout, he ran a marginal 4.75 40 at this workout...

I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not, but we shouldn't forget that he was the Conference USA defensive player of the year in 2008...

Yeah, at 5-1 that's awesome!

:

I just love typos in articles.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Phillip Hunt Q&A with PD

Posted on March 23, 2009

by Chris Warner
chris.warner@patriotsdaily.com

picIn order to avoid getting bypassed by NFL teams on draft day, players tagged with the dreaded “tweener” label need to excel. Houston’s Phillip Hunt continues to do just that.

Hunt, an undersized defensive end, turned the heads of as many pro scouts as he did offensive tackles in 2008 on his way to becoming the Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year. He fit in an interview with PD between workouts as he prepared for his pro day later this month.

I’m curious if you can tell me how a guy who has 14 sacks in 2008 and 10.5 sacks in 2007 doesn’t get the kind of national attention he might deserve. Do you think it’s something where Conference USA gets overlooked a little bit?

Yeah, I think that’s part of the problem. A lot of people speculate that the opponents in Conference USA are not as talented as the players in other conferences such as SEC and ACC, but there’s some pretty good players in that conference. You got guys like (current NFL running back) DeAngelo Williams coming out, and guys like myself and a lot of other guys that have a lot of potential and just are overlooked by a lot of scouts. Just because of the conference.

What do you think it’s going to take to convince scouts that you’re someone they should take a good look at?

Well, my pro day is on the 27th of this month. So, I think (if) I put up good numbers at the pro day, some of the best in the nation, that will show that I’m athletic, or more athletic than guys in other conferences that are being ranked higher than me right now. I think my pro day will play a huge role at draft time.

What do you think your numbers are going to be? How often have you been working out?

I’ve been working out pretty good. I should have a 40-inch vertical. I should run a 4.6 in the 40, and the shuttle drill should be like a 4.68. I’ve put up some pretty good numbers, and I’m competing with the best in the country, so it should look pretty good.

Now, you’re about 6-1, 260, is that right?

Yes.

So how does that guy get to a quarterback 14 times over a season from the defensive end spot?

I’m way more agile than the average offensive lineman, and I have a good burst off the ball…Combined with my athleticism, that just (helps) me get more sacks than a lot of guys. Just the determination and will to want to pass rush is another key to it, too.

Do you have an array of pass (rush) moves, or are you mostly a speed rusher?

I have an array of pass rush moves. Most of the time I just use my hands, and whatever position that gets me in, I just go from there.

Have you talked to anybody about moving to a different position in the NFL?

I talked to a lot of scouts, and they just asked me what I think about it. I’m going to try and work a little bit at outside linebacker, too, as well as D-end. I tell you, I could play a little outside linebacker in the NFL.

What teams have you talked to about that?

Only teams that were down (in Houston) for the East-West Shrine Game, like Jacksonville, Carolina, Washington and Minnesota. I talked to all those different teams, and a lot more, too. They just asked me how I’d feel moving to outside linebacker, or do I like playing with my hand in the dirt as a defensive end.

Did you talk to the Patriots at all?

The Patriots? No, I never talked to the Patriots.

How do you think that transition would be, moving to outside linebacker? Have you ever played that position before?

No, I never played it, but I’m pretty sure just practicing on it, and my athleticism, I think I can transfer (to it well).

Do you think it helps having played a different defense your senior year than in previous years?

Yeah, I think that helps a lot, too, and just knowing where I am on the field when I have to spot-drop, knowing how to read the receivers and the quarterback when I drop back. I think it helped a lot my senior year.

Could you talk a little bit about that, about (assistant defensive line) Coach Jim Jeffcoat and what he brought to the Cougars?

Coach Jim Jeffcoat, he was a great coach. He came in and he taught us hands-on how to use our hands well. Just having his appreciation for the game, and a lot of players looked up to him because he won so many Super Bowls and he was a great player for the Cowboys. A lot of people didn’t want to let him down, so we’d go all-out for him. He coached us well, and he brought a lot of enthusiasm to the team. He helped us win a lot of games.

Do you think he’s going to help Houston get noticed a little more in the future?

Well, I’m not sure about that, because I know Coach (Kevin) Sumlin and his staff. Coach Sumlin, he’s an awesome coach as well, and then the players that he has down there, like (QB) Case Keenum, (RB) Bryce Beall, (WR) Tyron Carrier and all those guys, they’re high-character, great athletes. I think they’ll bring U of H up as well as Coach Jeffcoat will bring them up.

Now that you’re working out for your pro day and getting ready for the draft, what’s your schedule like day-to-day?

I work out twice a day: once in the morning at 9:15, and then once at two o’clock. After that, I just wind down and watch film of games that I’ve played, and watch films on my technique, on how to run the 40 and different techniques on how to vertical jump. Just different aspects of pro day.

When you watch game film, what are you looking for?

I’m looking for what I need to improve on…as a player, try to find out what are my strengths and what are my weaknesses as a player, and just work on that.

Do you think it would be a big adjustment for the pro game in terms of defensive schemes?

Well, I don’t know…I figure I can play the run and the pass as a defensive lineman, and if they want to move me to outside linebacker, I’m pretty sure I can adjust well to dropping back sometimes as an outside linebacker. It shouldn’t be too hard. It doesn’t look hard, but I mean, you never can tell until you go and play in the NFL.

Do you have any specific area, any specific teams you’d like to go to?

No. Whoever drafts me, I just want them to know I’m a hard worker, I’m determined, and I have a passion for the game. I just love playing the game. I just want to go anywhere I can make the team better.

Sounds good. Phil, thanks very much for your time today. I appreciate it.

All right. Appreciate you, too.