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Opportunities Abound at Biggest Pro Day in JMU History
March 22, 2010 • By Dan Lobdell, The Breeze
http://breezejmu.org/2010/03/22/opportunities-abound-at-biggest-pro-day-in-jmu-history/
College football players get to showcase themselves for NFL scouts only a handful of times. Due to the sheer number of programs at all four levels of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, scouts must gain as much knowledge as they can from as little as one to two viewings.
The Pro Day is a vital opportunity that players must take full advantage of before entering the professional ranks. Friday, at perhaps the most notable amateur athletic showcase to ever hit Harrisonburg, 11 departing Dukes did just that.
As the drills commenced, the majority of scouts in attendance had one name on their tongues: Arthur Moats. The senior proved he was a superior college player by winning the Buck Buchanan award as the Football Championship Subdivision’s (formerly 1-AA) best defensive player. The defensive end is considered by scouts to be the former JMU player most likely to be taken with an NFL draft pick come April.
But college success does not automatically translate to the professional ranks, especially for a small-school defensive lineman barely scraping six feet. So he set out to prove what many already believed — that he belongs in the NFL.
“A lot of them, they like, first off, my eagerness to just do whatever,” Moats said. “They want me to play outside linebacker and do those drills, I run through those drills. Middle linebacker, defensive line, whatever, they know that I won’t back down from it. They called me out to run a 60-yard shuttle, I had never even practiced it, and I went out and ran it for them today and impressed them.”
Of the 20-plus scouts in attendance, it was obvious that each not only knew Moats’ name, but knew exactly who the gregarious player was.
“I’ve been hearing positive feedback from all of it,” he said. “A lot of the teams, they definitely like me, any of the rounds. So I’m not really caught up in as far as when I’m going, as long as I go. You know, I’m just trying to make the 53-man roster.”
His teammate on the offensive side of the ball is Brooks, who was also invited to the combine in Indianapolis. Brooks excelled in the 20-yard shuttle at the combine, tying for sixth among offensive lineman with a 4.66 second time.
“It’s another opportunity, you know, to showcase your skills around the teams that’s gonna hopefully be paying you money and playing the game you love,” Brooks said. “I think that’s the best part about it. You know, not too many people get this opportunity, so it’s a great time getting out here.”
The other JMU players participating included Dorian Brooks, Mike Caussin, Scotty McGee and Rockeed McCarter.
Both Moats and Brooks know the value of hard work coming from a school without a big name. Brooks said the chance to play at the next level, regardless of pedigree, is enough for any player to give his all.
“I feel when you come to this Pro Day, you’ll see that, you know, just because he doesn’t have a USC or a Georgia on his helmet, you know he’s still just as good as those players if not better,” Moats said.
March 22, 2010 • By Dan Lobdell, The Breeze
http://breezejmu.org/2010/03/22/opportunities-abound-at-biggest-pro-day-in-jmu-history/
College football players get to showcase themselves for NFL scouts only a handful of times. Due to the sheer number of programs at all four levels of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, scouts must gain as much knowledge as they can from as little as one to two viewings.
The Pro Day is a vital opportunity that players must take full advantage of before entering the professional ranks. Friday, at perhaps the most notable amateur athletic showcase to ever hit Harrisonburg, 11 departing Dukes did just that.
As the drills commenced, the majority of scouts in attendance had one name on their tongues: Arthur Moats. The senior proved he was a superior college player by winning the Buck Buchanan award as the Football Championship Subdivision’s (formerly 1-AA) best defensive player. The defensive end is considered by scouts to be the former JMU player most likely to be taken with an NFL draft pick come April.
But college success does not automatically translate to the professional ranks, especially for a small-school defensive lineman barely scraping six feet. So he set out to prove what many already believed — that he belongs in the NFL.
“A lot of them, they like, first off, my eagerness to just do whatever,” Moats said. “They want me to play outside linebacker and do those drills, I run through those drills. Middle linebacker, defensive line, whatever, they know that I won’t back down from it. They called me out to run a 60-yard shuttle, I had never even practiced it, and I went out and ran it for them today and impressed them.”
Of the 20-plus scouts in attendance, it was obvious that each not only knew Moats’ name, but knew exactly who the gregarious player was.
“I’ve been hearing positive feedback from all of it,” he said. “A lot of the teams, they definitely like me, any of the rounds. So I’m not really caught up in as far as when I’m going, as long as I go. You know, I’m just trying to make the 53-man roster.”
His teammate on the offensive side of the ball is Brooks, who was also invited to the combine in Indianapolis. Brooks excelled in the 20-yard shuttle at the combine, tying for sixth among offensive lineman with a 4.66 second time.
“It’s another opportunity, you know, to showcase your skills around the teams that’s gonna hopefully be paying you money and playing the game you love,” Brooks said. “I think that’s the best part about it. You know, not too many people get this opportunity, so it’s a great time getting out here.”
The other JMU players participating included Dorian Brooks, Mike Caussin, Scotty McGee and Rockeed McCarter.
Both Moats and Brooks know the value of hard work coming from a school without a big name. Brooks said the chance to play at the next level, regardless of pedigree, is enough for any player to give his all.
“I feel when you come to this Pro Day, you’ll see that, you know, just because he doesn’t have a USC or a Georgia on his helmet, you know he’s still just as good as those players if not better,” Moats said.