Tiny return men face long odds in draft

[cowboyjoe]

Tiny return men face long odds in draft
Posted by Michael David Smith on April 22, 2010 9:15 AM ET
Of all the numbers produced by all the prospects at this year's scouting combine, there may not have been any more startling than this: Kansas State wide receiver Brandon Banks stepped on the scale in Indianapolis and weighed in at 149 pounds.

Is it even possible for a man who weighs less than 150 pounds to play in the NFL? Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has a good look at the prospects of the smallest players in this year's draft, and the comments of scouts suggest that most think it's unrealistic to expect a 149-pounder to make it in the NFL.

"[Expletive], he's 149," one special-teams coach told McGinn. "Can you tell me the last guy that played at 149 [expletive] pounds in this league?"

Banks and LSU's 5-foot-5 Trindon Holliday both have a chance of getting drafted and making it in the league as return men, but there's plenty of skepticism about whether they're just too small to play.

"I can't remember anyone who came in the league that played at that height," Indianapolis Colts President Bill Polian said of Holliday.

Still, there may be just enough interest in Banks and Holliday as return men for them to be chosen late in the draft.

"This kid can play," one scout said of Holliday. "To say they can't do it just because there aren't others . . . there are always exceptions to every rule."

 

[cowboyjoe]

Small LSU kick returner Holliday intrigues some teams

AP
LSU’s Trindon Holliday is one of the fastest, and smallest, prospects in this week’s NFL draft.


View All Blog PostsGreen Bay — When Louisiana State's diminutive Trindon Holliday took the field on those glorious football Saturday nights in "Death Valley," the 92,000-plus Tigers faithful snapped to full attention.

"I will say that Holliday did generate excitement," said Phil Savage, a consultant for the Philadelphia Eagles who served as analyst on the University of Alabama radio network in 2009. "His teammates, the fans, they absolutely love to see this guy. They just can't wait to see what's going to happen."

At the combine in March, Holliday ran the fastest 40-yard dash (4.31 seconds) befitting his status as the defending NCAA 100-meter champion.

Holliday, a return specialist who might also contribute as a No. 5 wide receiver, measured 5 feet, 5 1/4 inches and weighed 166.

"I can't remember anyone who came in the league that played at that height," Indianapolis Colts President Bill Polian said.

C.O. Brocato, 80, has spent a lifetime in football, including the last 36 years in scouting for the Tennessee Titans.

"Very few as far as I can remember that have a chance to go to the league," Brocato replied when asked if he had ever seen a legitimate player so short. "I remember there was a little-bitty corner that came out of New Mexico, but I can't remember his name, that was so long ago."

There's another tiny return man in this draft, Kansas State's Brandon Banks, who is taller than Holliday at 5-6 1/2 but even lighter at 149.

"(Expletive), he's 149," one special-teams coach said. "Can you tell me the last guy that played at 149 (expletive) pounds in this league?"

Several scouts brought up the name of Gerald "The Ice Cube" McNeil, who came out of Baylor to return kicks for Cleveland from 1986-'89. He was listed at 5-7 and 145.

Somebody mentioned "Mini-Mack" Herron, the running back for New England in the mid-1970s who was listed at 5-5, 170.

Stefon Logan, the former Canadian Football League returner who handled the dual chores for Pittsburgh last season, is a shade over 5-6 and 180.

There's Darren Sproles, San Diego's 5-6, 185-pound ball of dynamite.

Two scouts thought about Michael Lewis, who left his job driving a beer truck to return for New Orleans from 2001-'06.

Holliday, who had an astounding 42-inch vertical jump, posted good but certainly not exceptional return numbers for LSU. For the teams that value him as a fifth-round choice, speed is the enticement. For those that don't value him, size is an issue too big to overcome.

"He's built pretty good, but I don't know how long he's going to last," said Brocato. "Somebody's going to hem him up and nail him. At 5-5, they're going to get you somewhere."

Another factor that doesn't augur well for Holliday's longevity is his fearless style of running. If he was more elusive, there might be more of a buzz.

Moreover, he mishandled way too many punts to interest some teams.

"Whoever takes him, keeps him, because he will scare the (expletive) out of everyone they're playing," one of Holliday's benefactors in the scouting fraternity said. "This kid can play. To say they can't do it just because there aren't others . . . there are always exceptions to every rule."

 

[zrinkill]

I have been touting Trindon Holliday for months now.

 

[cowboyjoe]

I have been touting Trindon Holliday for months now.

me too, or kelton tindal

 

[Arch Stanton]

me too, or kelton tindal

I like the statuesque Banks. Lolz