Here’s to recognizing the unrecognized; undrafted free agents

By garym | Wednesday, July 29, 2009 | ( 0 )

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This is a tribute to the Unknown soldiers of the NFL. The guys who get less respect than a Bengals security guard. And they make about the same pay, with considerably less job security. I´m talking about the undrafted college free agents. The camp meat. The players who often share the same numbers on their backs with other afterthoughts unless and until they can prove themselves worthy of a real shot of being something other than fodder for the stars.

In the past it was guys like Pat Williams, Wil Demps, Tommy Kelly, Adam Vinatieri and Jason Peters who really beat the odds. But that isn`t the half of it. The real importance comes through the core players that are produced. Not often all-stars. Not even stars. Many of the top special –team players in the NFL came undrafted. They ain`t always pretty, but every coach knows how important they can be.

OFFENSE
QB JOHN PARKER WILSON ALABAMA FALCONS
The best of a weak group. Accurate and productive.

RB MARLON LUCKY NEBRASKA BENGALS
Solid all-purpose back. Unstable.

RB IAN JOHNSON BOISE ST VIKINGS
Matured and motivated.

FB BRANNAN SOUTHERLAND GEORGIA JETS
Tough. Good hands. Solid special-teams.

WR CHRIS WILLIAMS NEW MEXICO ST DOLPHINS
Only 5’7”, 153º. Cat-quick returner. Brings interesting Wildcat options.

WR QUAN COSBY TEXAS BENGALS
Already 27. Only 5’8”. Solid returnman. Good hands. Quick. Tough. Competitive.

WR KEVIN OGLETREE VIRGINIA COWBOYS
Junior. Graduated. Good hands. Works the middle.

TE RYAN PURVIS BOSTON COLLEGE BUCS
Good, not great, in most areas. Reliable.

T GERALD CARDOGAN PENN ST PANTHERS
Best of all the undrafted. Plays soft, but he has definite upside.

T ALEX BOONE OHIO ST 49ers
Tough and aggressive. Loose cannon. Serious alcohol issues.

G ANDY KEMP WISCONSIN VIKINGS
Nice upside. Needs more bulk strength

G ROGER ALLEN MISSOURI WESTERN RAMS
Tough, durable and versatile. Has developmental upside.

C EDWIN WILLIAMS MARYLAND REDSKINS
Very solid athlete. Strong and durable. Should find work somewhere.

PK SAM SWANK WAKE FOREST EAGLES
Strong and consistent. Never been blocked. Can punt.

DEFENSE
DT MITCH KING IOWA TITANS
Team player. Very tough. Only 280º, but fast.

DT CHRIS BAKER HAMPTON BRONCOS
Junior. Run stuffer. Serious character issues.

DE ZACH POTTER NEBRASKA JETS
6’6”. Good tackler. Can be disruptive in the backfield.

DE MICHAEL BENNETT TEXAS A&M SEAHAWKS
More bust than boom, but……

LB JONATHAN CASILLAS WISCONSIN SAINTS
Only 228º, without size upside. Potential backup and solid special-teams.

LB DANNELL ELLERBE GEORGIA RAVENS
Fast and explosive. Strong vs the pass.

LB DARRY BECKWITH LSU CHARGERS
Moves well. Strong in pass coverage.

CB DOMINIQUE JOHNSON JACKSON ST BRONCOS
Tall, but skinny. A project with upside.

CB TONY CARTER FLORIDA ST BRONCOS
Potential special-teams stud. Small, quick.

S RASHAD LANGFORD VANDERBILT EAGLES
In-the-box prospect. Strong special-teams player.

S C. J. SPILLMAN MARSHALL CHARGERS
Stock soured in ’08. Still has real upside.

P GRAHAM GANO FLORIDA ST RAVENS
Solid. Punts and placekicks. Weather inexperience is a concern.

Let me add one player who I like who happens to be a real long-shot:
DE Pierre Walters, Eastern Illinois, drafted by the Chiefs.
Walters stood out at the Texas vs The Nation All-Star game.
At 6’4”, 269º, he projects to both end and linebacker. At end, Walters is versatile enough to play either side.

“Top 15 players NOT invited to the NFL Combine: DE Pierre Walters (Eastern Illinois, 6-4/269/4.78): It's hard to imagine a player with Walters' upside and versatility going undrafted. He plays on either side of the line and is still learning how to use his hands on pass rush moves and to shed. - Chad Reuter, The Sports Xchange,”

That is all

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