cowboyjoe
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 28,435
- Reaction score
- 757
NFL draft: Corner hopes to get a call Friday
Whetstone grad could be picked on second day
Tuesday, April 20, 2010 2:51 AM
By Tim May
http://www.dispatch.com/live/conten...orner-hopes-to-get-a-call-friday.html?sid=101
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Akwasi Owusu-Ansah played at Indiana (Pa.) University.
The NFL draft starts on Thursday night this year, but Akwasi Owusu-Ansah is hoping that his fun begins Friday.
That's when the second and third rounds will be conducted in the new three-day extended format that will see the first round take place Thursday night.
"It's been a long road, but it's been quick success, from nobody knowing who I am to possibly getting drafted in the second round," Owusu-Ansah said. "I just try not to think about it, because there have been plenty of stories of people who were supposed to go in one round and didn't, or didn't get drafted at all.
"I try not to worry or think about where I'm going and just hope for the best."
Coming out of Whetstone High School four years ago, Owusu-Ansah wasn't even a blip on the major-college recruiting radar. Now, after a strong career as a cornerback and returner at NCAA Division II Indiana (Pa.) University, he is a pulsar.
Some might discount his stats, which included 10 interceptions and nine returns for touchdowns (four punts, three kickoffs, one interception, one fumble), because of the level at which he played. But there was no denying what he did at the Ohio State pro-day workouts March12.
The 6-foot-1, 207-pound Owusu-Ansah ran a sub-4.35-second 40-yard dash and bench-pressed 225 pounds 21 times. That was despite knowing he would have surgery on a shoulder a week later.
"I have put in a lot of hard work, but I didn't put in all of that work necessarily to go to the NFL, but to get better as a player," he said. "I guess that hard work has put me in the position to get drafted. And the training I put in to get ready for my pro day definitely helped."
Owusu-Ansah did that at the Ignition facility in Naples, Fla., along with several other prospects, including Cincinnati receiver Mardy Gilyard. He not only got into peak condition, but also proved he could compete with Division I products.
"There were guys there from Georgia, Cincinnati, Rutgers, Kentucky, a lot of the big schools you see on TV, and that definitely helped my confidence, knowing you could compete with them as well," he said.
His Division II resume still likely will be held against him. But his coach, Lou Tepper, was once the coach at Illinois and he saw several players go high in the draft, including Simeon Rice. And Tepper said Owusu-Ansah has the goods.
"In my mind he's got second-round ability," Tepper told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. "But he'll probably go from the third to fifth."
What's certain is the interest. Owusu-Ansah was flown in for visits by Dallas, Miami, the New York Giants, Minnesota, Chicago and Kansas City. Projected as a safety by Tepper, Owusu-Ansah's initial foot in the door could be his ability to return punts and kicks.
"They probably know I am going to have to learn some things about the defense, but they also know from a special-teams standpoint I could impact the team immediately," Owusu-Ansah said.
Regardless, Owusu-Ansah doesn't hold illusions that he will further shoot up the board.
"I am going to start watching the draft on Friday," said Owusu-Ansah, who will tune in at his sister Linda's house in Reynoldsburg. "It can be hard for some players. I think it could be extra hard for those guys who think they might go in the first round but don't and have to wait a whole day to see where they go. Hopefully, my day is Friday."
[email protected]
Whetstone grad could be picked on second day
Tuesday, April 20, 2010 2:51 AM
By Tim May
http://www.dispatch.com/live/conten...orner-hopes-to-get-a-call-friday.html?sid=101
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Akwasi Owusu-Ansah played at Indiana (Pa.) University.
The NFL draft starts on Thursday night this year, but Akwasi Owusu-Ansah is hoping that his fun begins Friday.
That's when the second and third rounds will be conducted in the new three-day extended format that will see the first round take place Thursday night.
"It's been a long road, but it's been quick success, from nobody knowing who I am to possibly getting drafted in the second round," Owusu-Ansah said. "I just try not to think about it, because there have been plenty of stories of people who were supposed to go in one round and didn't, or didn't get drafted at all.
"I try not to worry or think about where I'm going and just hope for the best."
Coming out of Whetstone High School four years ago, Owusu-Ansah wasn't even a blip on the major-college recruiting radar. Now, after a strong career as a cornerback and returner at NCAA Division II Indiana (Pa.) University, he is a pulsar.
Some might discount his stats, which included 10 interceptions and nine returns for touchdowns (four punts, three kickoffs, one interception, one fumble), because of the level at which he played. But there was no denying what he did at the Ohio State pro-day workouts March12.
The 6-foot-1, 207-pound Owusu-Ansah ran a sub-4.35-second 40-yard dash and bench-pressed 225 pounds 21 times. That was despite knowing he would have surgery on a shoulder a week later.
"I have put in a lot of hard work, but I didn't put in all of that work necessarily to go to the NFL, but to get better as a player," he said. "I guess that hard work has put me in the position to get drafted. And the training I put in to get ready for my pro day definitely helped."
Owusu-Ansah did that at the Ignition facility in Naples, Fla., along with several other prospects, including Cincinnati receiver Mardy Gilyard. He not only got into peak condition, but also proved he could compete with Division I products.
"There were guys there from Georgia, Cincinnati, Rutgers, Kentucky, a lot of the big schools you see on TV, and that definitely helped my confidence, knowing you could compete with them as well," he said.
His Division II resume still likely will be held against him. But his coach, Lou Tepper, was once the coach at Illinois and he saw several players go high in the draft, including Simeon Rice. And Tepper said Owusu-Ansah has the goods.
"In my mind he's got second-round ability," Tepper told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. "But he'll probably go from the third to fifth."
What's certain is the interest. Owusu-Ansah was flown in for visits by Dallas, Miami, the New York Giants, Minnesota, Chicago and Kansas City. Projected as a safety by Tepper, Owusu-Ansah's initial foot in the door could be his ability to return punts and kicks.
"They probably know I am going to have to learn some things about the defense, but they also know from a special-teams standpoint I could impact the team immediately," Owusu-Ansah said.
Regardless, Owusu-Ansah doesn't hold illusions that he will further shoot up the board.
"I am going to start watching the draft on Friday," said Owusu-Ansah, who will tune in at his sister Linda's house in Reynoldsburg. "It can be hard for some players. I think it could be extra hard for those guys who think they might go in the first round but don't and have to wait a whole day to see where they go. Hopefully, my day is Friday."
[email protected]
DAL @ GB
