Tidbit re Sam Hurd, Miles Austin & Doug Free

[sago1]

Sam Hurd from N.Illinois University (student size - over 25,000) & Miles Austin from Monmouth University (student size - 4,500) in New Jersey were both signed as undrafted free agents by the Cowboys in 06. Neither were drafted despite their WR play because their schools were small. Because of their play/potential in TC & preseason games they made the roster; Parcells said Cowboys had info both would be grabbed off waivers if we attempted get them on PS. He also said they'd have to play on ST to remain on the roster. Although neither had ever played on ST, both went on to make significant contributions and Austin even replaced TT as kick returner & returned the kick for a TD against Seattle in the playoffs.

Now Hurd (6-2, 195) is really stepping it up in his 2nd year (with coaching from TO) but Miles Austin (6-3, 215) is viewed by the Cowboys as having the most potential because of his speed; Austin doesn't yet have the polish of Hurd but in last preseason against Minny he really came on. The Cowboys see Hurd as a possible #2 WR and Austin maybe even better potential.

Finally LT Doug Free also came from the same small school as Hurd & obviously knew each other before Free came to Dallas.

So what does this mean? Absolutely nothing. Except we are lucky there is a bias against WRs from small schools when draft time rolls around. Same bias also applies to QBs which is why Romo wasn't drafted. BTW: Didn't he come from a small school in the midwest? Just checked Cowboy roster. Romo came from Eastern Illinois & not same school as Free & Hurd. That would have been too much of a coincidence.

 

[StanleySpadowski]

You do realize that N. Illinois is a member of the MAC conference right? The MAC's considered a mid-major but none of its members could properly called "small" schools, especially when you consider that N. Illinois has more players in the NFL today than more than half of the BCS conference schools.

 

[sago1]

Thanks for the info. I thought a student base of 25,000 sounded large to me but I remember it was referred to as a small school when discussion came up re Hurd. That wasn't the case when Free was discussed. Anyway that explains why Hurd is ahead of Austin in his development but hope to see Austin get time on the field catching an occasional pass.

 

[StanleySpadowski]

Thanks for the info. I thought a student base of 25,000 sounded large to me but I remember it was referred to as a small school when discussion came up re Hurd. That wasn't the case when Free was discussed. Anyway that explains why Hurd is ahead of Austin in his development but hope to see Austin get time on the field catching an occasional pass.

Don't let the enrollment numbers factor into it. Notre Dame for example only has around 8,000 undergrads.

 

[Rocky]

ESPN had to mock Hurd on one of their highlight shows after the Giants game. Sam "who is this guy" Hurd caught the pass (I paraphrase there but effectively that's what was said).

I have a feeling they will become quite familiar with him by the end of the yr. He's got moxie.

 

[vicjagger]

N. Iilinois produced a good running back recently. Was it Turner, LT's back-up?

 

[JerryFan]

Northern Illinois is a pretty big school. It's not to far from Aurora (about 30-40 minutes) and about 1 1/2 - 2 hours from Chicago. I'd say 25,000 sounds about right for enrollment. Ever since Joe Novack took over the NIU program they have been very good. A couple years ago NIU picked off a few BCS schools @ their house and was either ranked in the top 25 or very close to it.

 

[mitchell2254]

N. Iilinois produced a good running back recently. Was it Turner, LT's back-up?

Yes and Justin Mccareins too.

 

[StanleySpadowski]

Yes and Justin Mccareins too.

Ryan Diem and Hollis Thomas are probably the best current players from there.

 

[CrazyCowboy]

We do better with FA then draft