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Small Pa. schools yield more big-time O-line prospects
Expert By Chris Steuber
Tell Chris your opinion! The Sports Xchange/CBSSports.com
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/story/13939598/small-pa-schools-yield-more-bigtime-oline-prospect
sep. 13, 2010
Five years ago, the New Orleans Saints discovered a treasure in the trenches at a small school in Pennsylvania -- Bloomsburg University -- when they selected offensive guard Jahri Evans in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL Draft.
At the time, Evans wasn't highly thought of and was expected to be nothing more than a late-round draft pick projected to be a reserve. To the surprise of most, Evans made an immediate impact as a rookie and has since developed into the NFL's best interior lineman and an All-Pro.
Jahri Evans surprises even himself with his rise to elite status. (US Presswire)
"I never imagined this; not at all," Evans said. "When I came into the league, I knew that I had to work hard to become a player and to get past the stigma of being a 'small school' guy going into a big man's game. I approached it just like I approached college ball. I worked hard and worked my butt off and tried to learn as much all the time. And now here I am."
Where Evans is now is exactly where two of the nation's premier interior linemen want to be. Coincidentally, the two are from small schools in Pennsylvania, Villanova's Benjamin Ijalana and Lehigh's Will Rackley.
At 6-feet-4, 320, Ijalana is currently NFLDraftScout.com's No. 2-rated offensive guard prospect behind only Florida State's Rodney Hudson. Ijalana is projected to be a late second- to early third-round prospect in the 2011 draft. Ijalana, who was the only Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) player named to the 2010 Outland Trophy Watch list, is projected to be a guard at the next level, but he's primarily lined up at tackle and has been counted on to protect the quarterback's blindside.
Entering his fourth year as a starter, Ijalana has started all 39 games during his career. He possesses quick feet, long arms and sound technique, which allow him to keep defenders at bay. ....
"He's more of a finesse player and lacks aggression down after down," the scout said. "He uses his athleticism and long reach to his advantage, but has to get off the line quicker and explode into the defender. He's more advanced as a pass protector than a run blocker, which leads me to believe he will play tackle in the NFL."
Rackley, on the other hand, has played inside and outside during his time at Lehigh. At 6-4, 305, Rackley is currently NFLDraftScout.com's No. 9-rated senior guard and is projected to be a late fifth-, early sixth-round pick next year.
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NFLDraftScout.com confirmed that evaluators from the Ravens, Browns, Lions, Patriots and Giants convened at Goodman Stadium on Saturday to watch the two up close.
"When you watch guys from bigger schools you kind of know what to expect," said one scout. "But, when you watch guys from smaller schools, you never know what you're going to get. ... These are two guys that are similar all-around and could potentially be drafted in the first few rounds of the draft. They also play an hour away from each other. I guess you can say whoever plays better in this game will have bragging rights."
Chris Steuber is a draft analyst for NFLDraftScout.com, distributed by The Sports Xchange. E-mail Chris at [email protected]; follow him on Twitter @ChrisSteuber.
Expert By Chris Steuber
Tell Chris your opinion! The Sports Xchange/CBSSports.com
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/story/13939598/small-pa-schools-yield-more-bigtime-oline-prospect
sep. 13, 2010
Five years ago, the New Orleans Saints discovered a treasure in the trenches at a small school in Pennsylvania -- Bloomsburg University -- when they selected offensive guard Jahri Evans in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL Draft.
At the time, Evans wasn't highly thought of and was expected to be nothing more than a late-round draft pick projected to be a reserve. To the surprise of most, Evans made an immediate impact as a rookie and has since developed into the NFL's best interior lineman and an All-Pro.
Jahri Evans surprises even himself with his rise to elite status. (US Presswire)
"I never imagined this; not at all," Evans said. "When I came into the league, I knew that I had to work hard to become a player and to get past the stigma of being a 'small school' guy going into a big man's game. I approached it just like I approached college ball. I worked hard and worked my butt off and tried to learn as much all the time. And now here I am."
Where Evans is now is exactly where two of the nation's premier interior linemen want to be. Coincidentally, the two are from small schools in Pennsylvania, Villanova's Benjamin Ijalana and Lehigh's Will Rackley.
At 6-feet-4, 320, Ijalana is currently NFLDraftScout.com's No. 2-rated offensive guard prospect behind only Florida State's Rodney Hudson. Ijalana is projected to be a late second- to early third-round prospect in the 2011 draft. Ijalana, who was the only Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) player named to the 2010 Outland Trophy Watch list, is projected to be a guard at the next level, but he's primarily lined up at tackle and has been counted on to protect the quarterback's blindside.
Entering his fourth year as a starter, Ijalana has started all 39 games during his career. He possesses quick feet, long arms and sound technique, which allow him to keep defenders at bay. ....
"He's more of a finesse player and lacks aggression down after down," the scout said. "He uses his athleticism and long reach to his advantage, but has to get off the line quicker and explode into the defender. He's more advanced as a pass protector than a run blocker, which leads me to believe he will play tackle in the NFL."
Rackley, on the other hand, has played inside and outside during his time at Lehigh. At 6-4, 305, Rackley is currently NFLDraftScout.com's No. 9-rated senior guard and is projected to be a late fifth-, early sixth-round pick next year.
....
......
NFLDraftScout.com confirmed that evaluators from the Ravens, Browns, Lions, Patriots and Giants convened at Goodman Stadium on Saturday to watch the two up close.
"When you watch guys from bigger schools you kind of know what to expect," said one scout. "But, when you watch guys from smaller schools, you never know what you're going to get. ... These are two guys that are similar all-around and could potentially be drafted in the first few rounds of the draft. They also play an hour away from each other. I guess you can say whoever plays better in this game will have bragging rights."
Chris Steuber is a draft analyst for NFLDraftScout.com, distributed by The Sports Xchange. E-mail Chris at [email protected]; follow him on Twitter @ChrisSteuber.
DAL @ GB
