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USF's Grothe Hopeful Of Draft Day Phone Call
By Tom Zebold
THE LEDGER
Published: Monday, April 19, 2010 at 10:16 p.m.
Last Modified: Monday, April 19, 2010 at 10:16 p.m.
( page of 2 )
Matt Grothe is healthy enough to play football again and he's definitely ready to get this week's "nerve-wracking" waiting game over with.
Click to enlarge
USF Bulls quarterback Matt Grothe scrambles for forward yardage during their game against the University of Memphis Tigers in the magicJack St. Petersburg Bowl at Tropicana Field in St.Petersburg ,Fl. Saturday December 20 , 2008. Ernst Peters/The Ledger The former South Florida star quarterback, fully recovered from a season-ending knee injury last season, might not have an NFL future set in stone, but he's hopeful a team will call his number during the draft.
"I'm ready for this weekend to come and just ready to see where I end up," the former Lake Gibson High School standout said Monday.
The stellar way Grothe was playing football a season ago might have made his draft status much more clear, but his decorated college career came to an unfortunate, screeching halt.
The Big East's career leader in offense tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee last September in the Bulls' 59-0 blowout against Charleston Southern. The abrupt ending to his senior season silenced the announced crowd 38,798 at Raymond James Stadium as he was helped off the field that night.
What followed was an intense comeback attempt by Grothe, who recently made great strides by running full speed without a brace for scouts at USF Pro Day in March.
Grothe didn't stop there.
He impressed the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during a workout with the team on April 8.
"I did a really good job," he said. "I felt like I threw the ball real well. They were definitely happy and showed a lot of interest."
Grothe said numerous other teams, including the New York Giants, Denver Broncos and Minnesota Vikings, also have contacted either him or his agent, John Phillips.
"A lot of teams are saying I'm definitely draftable for them," Grothe said.
USF's Grothe Hopeful Of Draft Day Phone Call
By Tom Zebold
THE LEDGER
Published: Monday, April 19, 2010 at 10:16 p.m.
Last Modified: Monday, April 19, 2010 at 10:16 p.m.
( page 2 of 2 )
Matt Grothe is healthy enough to play football again and he's definitely ready to get this week's "nerve-wracking" waiting game over with.
Click to enlarge USF Bulls quarterback Matt Grothe scrambles for forward yardage during their game against the University of Memphis Tigers in the magicJack St. Petersburg Bowl at Tropicana Field in St.Petersburg ,Fl. Saturday December 20 , 2008. Ernst Peters/The Ledger
The former South Florida star quarterback, fully recovered from a season-ending knee injury last season, might not have an NFL future set in stone, but he's hopeful a team will call his number during the draft.
"I'm ready for this weekend to come and just ready to see where I end up," the former Lake Gibson High School standout said Monday.
The stellar way Grothe was playing football a season ago might have made his draft status much more clear, but his decorated college career came to an unfortunate, screeching halt.
The Big East's career leader in offense tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee last September in the Bulls' 59-0 blowout against Charleston Southern. The abrupt ending to his senior season silenced the announced crowd 38,798 at Raymond James Stadium as he was helped off the field that night.
What followed was an intense comeback attempt by Grothe, who recently made great strides by running full speed without a brace for scouts at USF Pro Day in March.
Grothe didn't stop there.
He impressed the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during a workout with the team on April 8.
"I did a really good job," he said. "I felt like I threw the ball real well. They were definitely happy and showed a lot of interest."
Grothe said numerous other teams, including the New York Giants, Denver Broncos and Minnesota Vikings, also have contacted either him or his agent, John Phillips.
"A lot of teams are saying I'm definitely draftable for them," Grothe said.
"It's going to be a matter of if I fall into the right place at the right time," he added.
But don't expect Grothe's eyes to be glued to the TV the whole time. He plans to stay busy during the draft and will be doing some good in the process Friday when he visits the Ronald McDonald House at All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg.
Grothe, however, did admit he'll be keeping his phone close to him as he waits for a call that may or may not come. Though he's not projected to be one of the top quarterbacks taken in the draft, there's still a chance he could get selected in the always-unpredictable NFL Draft.
Teams have taken chances on players they didn't even speak with before in past drafts and Grothe certainly has kept that in mind.
"You don't know what goes on behind closed doors in those buildings," he said. "It's going to be a matter of if they need me or they need somebody else."
If Grothe doesn't get a call, he could go the free agent route and work out for NFL teams or show off his game farther north in the Canadian Football League, which might be a strong possibility. The Hamilton Tiger Cats took a look at Grothe during a private workout, they were represented at USF Pro Day and have remained in contact with Phillips.
Whatever Grothe's future path might be, he is mentally prepared for it and confident he'll prove himself - wherever that might be.
"I feel like I can play football at the next level," he said. "I feel like I'll get a chance somewhere. If I do, I have to go take it and run with it."
[ Tom Zebold can be reached at [email protected] or at 863-802-7553. ]
DAL @ GB
