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Rutgers' McCourty taking on all of Combine's challenges
By KEITH SARGEANT • STAFF WRITER • February 20, 2010
http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20100220/SPORTS0301/2200314/-1/sportsfront
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Buzz up!Twitter FarkIt Type Size A A A Devin McCourty's NFL Draft stock has soared since Rutgers last played two months ago, so much so that the cornerback is now being projected as a late first-round pick by Mel Kiper Jr.
Rated as the No. 31 player overall and the fourth-best cornerback by ESPN's lead NFL Draft analyst, McCourty will head to the NFL Combine this week in Indianapolis hoping to elevate his stock even more.
While many performers who've built similar first-round status will participate in only a few tests, McCourty plans on competing in everything the NFL Combine has to offer.
"The 40 (-yard dash), the (20-yard) shuttle, the L-cone, the broad jump, the vertical jump, the 60-yard shuttle, and then some positional work," McCourty said, naming every skill challenge taking place beginning Thursday under the watchful eyes of hundreds of NFL talent evaluators.
"I just think it shows that I'm not afraid to show everything and I'm not afraid to compete," McCourty added.
There's also the time McCourty will spend interviewing with NFL personnel directors from all 32 NFL clubs, getting-to-know-you exams which the Nanuet, N.Y., native should ace.
McCourty can share tales about a senior campaign in which he was named Rutgers' MVP on both defense and special teams. An All-Big East performer who recorded 80 tackles and 10 pass breakups while also blocking three kicks and scoring on a 98-yard kickoff return, McCourty can also talk about his 3.309 grade-point average and the fact that he was a semifinalist for the academics-based Draddy Trophy last year.
"So far I've heard from a lot of draft analysts, I've talked to Mel Kiper and Todd McShay, and they all say my stock is rising and a good combine can really help," McCourty said. "Some people have talked about maybe I can slip into the first round.
"But right now my only focus is working hard and competing at the combine, and showing people what I can do."
McCourty, who has spent the past month since the Senior Bowl working out at a combine-prep facility called Ignition in Naples, Fla., said he hopes to run the 40 in the 4.3-second range.
"I feel like that's a goal I should be able to reach," said McCourty, who works out in two blocks of time per day, six days a week, in preparation for the combine. "We really focus on explosion. In college, we're working on getting more powerful and stronger. That's still important, but we want to be explosive."
McCourty, who receives advice from his twin brother, Jason — a sixth-round pick by Tennessee in last year's NFL Draft — almost daily, said the time leading up to the combine has the feel of a college football game week.
"I'm starting to get anxious," the 5-foot-11, 185-pounder said. "It feels almost like waiting for that first game of the season, competing in training camp. I've been talking to different people who have said: "Just go out and compete. Your film and what you've done the past four years is also very important.'
"But the main thing is guys want to see you go out and compete, and I'm just trying to excel in everything I compete in at the combine."
Keith Sargeant: ksargeant@MyCentralJersey.com
By KEITH SARGEANT • STAFF WRITER • February 20, 2010
http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20100220/SPORTS0301/2200314/-1/sportsfront
Comments(0)RecommendPrint this page E-mail this article Share
Del.icio.us Facebook Digg Reddit Newsvine
Buzz up!Twitter FarkIt Type Size A A A Devin McCourty's NFL Draft stock has soared since Rutgers last played two months ago, so much so that the cornerback is now being projected as a late first-round pick by Mel Kiper Jr.
Rated as the No. 31 player overall and the fourth-best cornerback by ESPN's lead NFL Draft analyst, McCourty will head to the NFL Combine this week in Indianapolis hoping to elevate his stock even more.
While many performers who've built similar first-round status will participate in only a few tests, McCourty plans on competing in everything the NFL Combine has to offer.
"The 40 (-yard dash), the (20-yard) shuttle, the L-cone, the broad jump, the vertical jump, the 60-yard shuttle, and then some positional work," McCourty said, naming every skill challenge taking place beginning Thursday under the watchful eyes of hundreds of NFL talent evaluators.
"I just think it shows that I'm not afraid to show everything and I'm not afraid to compete," McCourty added.
There's also the time McCourty will spend interviewing with NFL personnel directors from all 32 NFL clubs, getting-to-know-you exams which the Nanuet, N.Y., native should ace.
McCourty can share tales about a senior campaign in which he was named Rutgers' MVP on both defense and special teams. An All-Big East performer who recorded 80 tackles and 10 pass breakups while also blocking three kicks and scoring on a 98-yard kickoff return, McCourty can also talk about his 3.309 grade-point average and the fact that he was a semifinalist for the academics-based Draddy Trophy last year.
"So far I've heard from a lot of draft analysts, I've talked to Mel Kiper and Todd McShay, and they all say my stock is rising and a good combine can really help," McCourty said. "Some people have talked about maybe I can slip into the first round.
"But right now my only focus is working hard and competing at the combine, and showing people what I can do."
McCourty, who has spent the past month since the Senior Bowl working out at a combine-prep facility called Ignition in Naples, Fla., said he hopes to run the 40 in the 4.3-second range.
"I feel like that's a goal I should be able to reach," said McCourty, who works out in two blocks of time per day, six days a week, in preparation for the combine. "We really focus on explosion. In college, we're working on getting more powerful and stronger. That's still important, but we want to be explosive."
McCourty, who receives advice from his twin brother, Jason — a sixth-round pick by Tennessee in last year's NFL Draft — almost daily, said the time leading up to the combine has the feel of a college football game week.
"I'm starting to get anxious," the 5-foot-11, 185-pounder said. "It feels almost like waiting for that first game of the season, competing in training camp. I've been talking to different people who have said: "Just go out and compete. Your film and what you've done the past four years is also very important.'
"But the main thing is guys want to see you go out and compete, and I'm just trying to excel in everything I compete in at the combine."
Keith Sargeant: ksargeant@MyCentralJersey.com
