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http://www.jacksonsun.com/article/2...outs+from+Browns++Giants+see+West+Tenn+talent
LOCAL COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Scouts from Browns, Giants see West Tenn talent
By MATT VINES
[email protected]
• April 3, 2010
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Buzz up!Twitter FarkIt Type Size A A A Next Page1| 2Previous PageMARTIN - Local senior football players sprinted, jumped and lifted their way through combine drills Friday for several NFL scouts at the UT Martin pro day held on campus.
UTM's Joe Gibbs (offensive lineman), Mike Hicks (wide receiver), Dexter Anoka (wide receiver) and Derrius Dowell (defensive tackle) joined several Lambuth and Bethel players hoping to garner attention for a future football career.
Two of the NFL teams represented were the Cleveland Browns and the New York Giants, where UTM graduate and West Tennessee native Jerry Reese is the general manager.
Dowell, who transferred to UTM from Vanderbilt before his senior season, said he experienced a different type of nervousness before working out for scouts.
"I've never felt this nervous before a game, but you just try to do your best," Dowell said. "Most of us have been playing football for 12 or 13 years, and this is the day that pretty much sums up all of those years.
"You always know that you have another play in a game, but this is a one-time shot."
Dowell did 25 of the 225-pound repetitions in the bench press, second to Gibbs, Lambuth running back Ben Stallings and Bethel running back Rickey Currie. They each had 26 reps.
Gibbs might have been the most impressive prospect of the day, running in the five-second range in the 40-yard dash.
One scout said Gibbs (6-foot-5, 290 pounds) is one of the more athletic offensive linemen and could be offered a free-agent contract after the draft.
Gibbs said he thought his first pro day happened as expected.
"The numbers I produced today had been about what I had been doing in training," Gibbs said. "You just get your drills down and make sure you stick your footing and have a sound performance.
"I don't really know where I am projected or what the talk about me is, but hopefully I will find out after today."
Gibbs was a member of the AFCA Football Championship Subdivision All-America team as he didn't allow a sack at right tackle.
UT Martin coach Jason Simpson said he recruited Gibbs as a tight end, but beefed the Alabama native to offensive lineman size.
"Those (workout) numbers definitely give him an opportunity at the next level," Simpson said. "Gibbs is the only one still on campus working out because the others have already graduated, so he did an excellent job of maintaining his motivation."
Hicks, who recovered from a hamstring injury that slowed his senior season, exceeded his goal with 16 225-reps but his 40-time of slower than 4.7 seconds fell short of his 4.5 target.
"The big question with (Hicks) is whether he can be in that 4.5 range," Simpson said. "He is built in that Keyshawn Johnson mold in that he can win jump balls and help in run blocking, and it will depend on what specific teams' needs are."
Hicks said he is hearing his name mostly in the free-agent discussion, but he has a long shot at being a late-round draft pick.
Bethel players included Currie, B.J. Banks (defensive back), Luke Roth (punter), Sean Frazer (kicker) and Desmond Zollicoffer (defensive end/linebacker).
Currie was arguably the most impressive specimen at the workout despite not playing the past two seasons because of injury and academic issues, but he said he was disappointed in his mid-4.6 40-yard dash.
"I need to improve that, but overall I thought I did pretty good," Currie said. "I also long snap, and I would be open to playing any position in the NFL, (Canadian Football League) or the (United Football League)."
Zollicoffer's workout numbers stood out for a defensive end with the second-leading broad jump (9-feet, 8.5 inches) and third-highest vertical jump of 30 inches. His 40 time was in the 4.8 range.
Simpson and Bethel coach Dino Kaklis were in attendance to watch their former players.
"My role in this process is give the guys any advice I can and answer the scouts' questions honestly because you want to build a good professional reputation," Simpson said.
Kaklis said he emphasized the importance of the entire process.
"(The scouts) are grading you on everything from following directions on drills to your appearance and attitude," Kaklis said. "It's important to be even-keeled in the workout and not get too excited or too depressed."
-Matt Vines, 425-9634
LOCAL COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Scouts from Browns, Giants see West Tenn talent
By MATT VINES
[email protected]
• April 3, 2010
Print this page E-mail this article Share
Del.icio.us Facebook Digg Reddit Newsvine
Buzz up!Twitter FarkIt Type Size A A A Next Page1| 2Previous PageMARTIN - Local senior football players sprinted, jumped and lifted their way through combine drills Friday for several NFL scouts at the UT Martin pro day held on campus.
UTM's Joe Gibbs (offensive lineman), Mike Hicks (wide receiver), Dexter Anoka (wide receiver) and Derrius Dowell (defensive tackle) joined several Lambuth and Bethel players hoping to garner attention for a future football career.
Two of the NFL teams represented were the Cleveland Browns and the New York Giants, where UTM graduate and West Tennessee native Jerry Reese is the general manager.
Dowell, who transferred to UTM from Vanderbilt before his senior season, said he experienced a different type of nervousness before working out for scouts.
"I've never felt this nervous before a game, but you just try to do your best," Dowell said. "Most of us have been playing football for 12 or 13 years, and this is the day that pretty much sums up all of those years.
"You always know that you have another play in a game, but this is a one-time shot."
Dowell did 25 of the 225-pound repetitions in the bench press, second to Gibbs, Lambuth running back Ben Stallings and Bethel running back Rickey Currie. They each had 26 reps.
Gibbs might have been the most impressive prospect of the day, running in the five-second range in the 40-yard dash.
One scout said Gibbs (6-foot-5, 290 pounds) is one of the more athletic offensive linemen and could be offered a free-agent contract after the draft.
Gibbs said he thought his first pro day happened as expected.
"The numbers I produced today had been about what I had been doing in training," Gibbs said. "You just get your drills down and make sure you stick your footing and have a sound performance.
"I don't really know where I am projected or what the talk about me is, but hopefully I will find out after today."
Gibbs was a member of the AFCA Football Championship Subdivision All-America team as he didn't allow a sack at right tackle.
UT Martin coach Jason Simpson said he recruited Gibbs as a tight end, but beefed the Alabama native to offensive lineman size.
"Those (workout) numbers definitely give him an opportunity at the next level," Simpson said. "Gibbs is the only one still on campus working out because the others have already graduated, so he did an excellent job of maintaining his motivation."
Hicks, who recovered from a hamstring injury that slowed his senior season, exceeded his goal with 16 225-reps but his 40-time of slower than 4.7 seconds fell short of his 4.5 target.
"The big question with (Hicks) is whether he can be in that 4.5 range," Simpson said. "He is built in that Keyshawn Johnson mold in that he can win jump balls and help in run blocking, and it will depend on what specific teams' needs are."
Hicks said he is hearing his name mostly in the free-agent discussion, but he has a long shot at being a late-round draft pick.
Bethel players included Currie, B.J. Banks (defensive back), Luke Roth (punter), Sean Frazer (kicker) and Desmond Zollicoffer (defensive end/linebacker).
Currie was arguably the most impressive specimen at the workout despite not playing the past two seasons because of injury and academic issues, but he said he was disappointed in his mid-4.6 40-yard dash.
"I need to improve that, but overall I thought I did pretty good," Currie said. "I also long snap, and I would be open to playing any position in the NFL, (Canadian Football League) or the (United Football League)."
Zollicoffer's workout numbers stood out for a defensive end with the second-leading broad jump (9-feet, 8.5 inches) and third-highest vertical jump of 30 inches. His 40 time was in the 4.8 range.
Simpson and Bethel coach Dino Kaklis were in attendance to watch their former players.
"My role in this process is give the guys any advice I can and answer the scouts' questions honestly because you want to build a good professional reputation," Simpson said.
Kaklis said he emphasized the importance of the entire process.
"(The scouts) are grading you on everything from following directions on drills to your appearance and attitude," Kaklis said. "It's important to be even-keeled in the workout and not get too excited or too depressed."
-Matt Vines, 425-9634
DAL @ GB
