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Webb will soon learn NFL fate
Matt LeBlanc Published: Tuesday, April 14, 2009 at 11:00 a.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, April 14, 2009 at 11:03 a.m.
With the NFL draft less than two weeks away, potential draftees are now playing the waiting game.
Having run the drills at the NFL Combine and their pro days, players are now just waiting to see who will select them and when they will be selected.
Such is the case for Nicholls State’s Lardarius Webb.
Webb, an All-American and two-year starter at safety for the Colonels, has done it all this offseason.
Early on, Webb participated in the Texas vs. the Nation All-Star game, where he helped himself during practices leading up the game, as well as the game itself.
From there, he went to the NFL Combine in February.
If teams didn’t know about Webb before the combine, they knew about him after it. Webb ran the fastest 40-time amongst defensive backs and ranked highly in several other workouts.
From there was the Nicholls State pro-day. It wasn’t a busy day for Webb, since teams had already seen him at the combine, but he did run some position drills for some NFL coaches and scouts.
Since then, he has visited with the Baltimore Ravens, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Tennessee Titans.
And now?
It’s the waiting game.
Last summer, one website projected Webb as a first-round pick. While it was exciting to see that, it was admittedly a lofty projection, considering the lack of regular-season visibility teams in the Football Championship Subdivision get.
Still, current projections aren’t that far off from the Rivals’ first-round prediction of last summer.
Various draft websites and publications project Webb to be selected anywhere from the third to the fifth round.
That would seem to be reasonable.
But it would also seem reasonable to believe that Webb could outperform that slot.
Webb is projected as a cornerback in the NFL, but while playing safety at Nicholls, showed that he doesn’t shy away from physicality.
So, if a team would need him at safety, he could probably make that switch.
His versatility could also allow him to play the nickel or dime spots early in his career. Considering the rate at which teams in the NFL seem to be passing the ball lately, those two positions are increasingly important.
But it doesn’t stop there.
Webb describes his biggest strength as being a “playmaker.” And Webb’s playmaking ability shines brightest as a kickoff and punt returner.
That skill, more than anything else, should allow Webb to contribute immediately. The biggest question NFL teams might have are character concerns.
After two years at Southern Mississippi, Webb was dismissed from the team for violating team rules.
However, since arriving at Nicholls, Webb has been a model citizen and hasn’t shown any character issues, according to others within the program.
Even with his playing days with the Colonels finished, Webb continues to contribute to the team.
When the program was short on coaches for spring practices, Webb took time out of preparing for the draft to help run drills during practice.
Sure, it’s a small gesture, but one that speaks volumes about what kind of player and teammate Webb could be.
At Nicholls, Webb seems to have proven any character issues are well behind him.
And with draft day in less than two weeks, it’s safe to say that with his play on the field and workouts in the offseason, he’s proven to NFL teams that he’s worth a draft pick.
The only remaining questions are who and when will that draft pick come from.
Staff writer Matt LeBlanc can be reached at 857-2212 or 448-7600 ext. 2212 or matt.leblanc@houmatoday.com.
Matt LeBlanc Published: Tuesday, April 14, 2009 at 11:00 a.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, April 14, 2009 at 11:03 a.m.
With the NFL draft less than two weeks away, potential draftees are now playing the waiting game.
Having run the drills at the NFL Combine and their pro days, players are now just waiting to see who will select them and when they will be selected.
Such is the case for Nicholls State’s Lardarius Webb.
Webb, an All-American and two-year starter at safety for the Colonels, has done it all this offseason.
Early on, Webb participated in the Texas vs. the Nation All-Star game, where he helped himself during practices leading up the game, as well as the game itself.
From there, he went to the NFL Combine in February.
If teams didn’t know about Webb before the combine, they knew about him after it. Webb ran the fastest 40-time amongst defensive backs and ranked highly in several other workouts.
From there was the Nicholls State pro-day. It wasn’t a busy day for Webb, since teams had already seen him at the combine, but he did run some position drills for some NFL coaches and scouts.
Since then, he has visited with the Baltimore Ravens, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Tennessee Titans.
And now?
It’s the waiting game.
Last summer, one website projected Webb as a first-round pick. While it was exciting to see that, it was admittedly a lofty projection, considering the lack of regular-season visibility teams in the Football Championship Subdivision get.
Still, current projections aren’t that far off from the Rivals’ first-round prediction of last summer.
Various draft websites and publications project Webb to be selected anywhere from the third to the fifth round.
That would seem to be reasonable.
But it would also seem reasonable to believe that Webb could outperform that slot.
Webb is projected as a cornerback in the NFL, but while playing safety at Nicholls, showed that he doesn’t shy away from physicality.
So, if a team would need him at safety, he could probably make that switch.
His versatility could also allow him to play the nickel or dime spots early in his career. Considering the rate at which teams in the NFL seem to be passing the ball lately, those two positions are increasingly important.
But it doesn’t stop there.
Webb describes his biggest strength as being a “playmaker.” And Webb’s playmaking ability shines brightest as a kickoff and punt returner.
That skill, more than anything else, should allow Webb to contribute immediately. The biggest question NFL teams might have are character concerns.
After two years at Southern Mississippi, Webb was dismissed from the team for violating team rules.
However, since arriving at Nicholls, Webb has been a model citizen and hasn’t shown any character issues, according to others within the program.
Even with his playing days with the Colonels finished, Webb continues to contribute to the team.
When the program was short on coaches for spring practices, Webb took time out of preparing for the draft to help run drills during practice.
Sure, it’s a small gesture, but one that speaks volumes about what kind of player and teammate Webb could be.
At Nicholls, Webb seems to have proven any character issues are well behind him.
And with draft day in less than two weeks, it’s safe to say that with his play on the field and workouts in the offseason, he’s proven to NFL teams that he’s worth a draft pick.
The only remaining questions are who and when will that draft pick come from.
Staff writer Matt LeBlanc can be reached at 857-2212 or 448-7600 ext. 2212 or matt.leblanc@houmatoday.com.
