Club News Archive

NFL Draft: Ex-Husker Green just wants a chance
Published Wednesday | April 23, 2008
BY RICH KAIPUST
WORLD-HERALD BUREAU

LINCOLN — Tierre Green realizes what a splotch it could be on his résumé.

Last season was nothing special for the former Nebraska safety, not giving him that momentum of a great senior year to carry into the NFL draft.

It also was flat brutal for the Husker defense, stripping Green and several others of the luxury of some positive things for scouts to see on film.

Green goes into this weekend having to hope that National Football League teams see through some of NU's disastrous results of 2007. It will help the Omaha Benson graduate that he runs well and has proven athletic ability after being an I-back, cornerback, safety and kick returner during his Husker career.

But his situation is similar to that of several other former Nebraska defensive players.

Among the 2007 Blackshirts, only cornerback Zack Bowman would be considered a safe bet to be picked in the two-day, seven-round NFL draft. Green, cornerback Cortney Grixby and linebackers Steve Octavien, Bo Ruud and Corey McKeon at best would be late-round picks or signed as free agents.

"For us, they're really going more off looking at a bunch of raw talent," Green said. "Having the year like we did, and not really showcasing our abilities, we have to prove we're smart football players and we can work well within a system. It just wasn't portrayed that way this year, for whatever reason."

Latish Kinsler, the agent for Green, said it's not unusual for players' draft status to be affected by something like what happened to NU last season.

"You would like to think teams separated," Kinsler said. "A lot of players not on great defenses have been able to have successful NFL careers. But it is something they take into consideration."

Offensive tackle Carl Nicks has the highest projected draft status among former Huskers. Receiver Maurice Purify and quarterback Sam Keller also are possible draftees off a team that finished 5-7.

In two of the past three NFL drafts, Nebraska has had three defensive players selected in the first four rounds — Fabian Washington (first), Barrett Ruud (second) and Josh Bullocks (second) in 2005, and then Adam Carriker (first), Stewart Bradley (third) and Jay Moore (fourth) in 2007. The last time Nebraska didn't have at least one defensive player drafted in the first four rounds was in 1985.

Green will be at peace with himself as he waits Sunday, knowing that he gave it his best since last season ended.

The 6-foot-1, 200-pounder spent two months with Purify at TEST Sports in Martinsville, N.J. Returning for NU's pro day in March — crucial since he wasn't invited to the NFL Combine — Green ran a 4.32-second 40-yard dash and did well on other speed and agility drills before a host of scouts.

"I felt like I knew my ability, and I was just like, 'Man, no need for me to be nervous,'" Green said. "You are a little anxious to show what you can do, but I was just confident in everything I had been doing. Those guys out in New Jersey really prepared me well."

Green said he ran a 4.27 in New Jersey and has other sub-4.3s. Speed is what helped former NU safety Andrew Shanle, a starter alongside Green in 2006, stick with the New York Giants' practice squad through the Super Bowl last season.

"Any guy who runs fast is going to improve their chances," Green said. "But I think when I did the other drills, I showed that I'm not just a speed guy."

Green made 54 tackles last season, tied for fifth on the NU defense. His Husker career included 36 career starts, 35 kickoff returns for a 20.6 average and a 114-yard rushing game as a redshirt freshman in 2004.

As badly as Green wants to make the NFL, he is savvy enough to know that he'd better have other options.

He could take his sociology degree and test the job market. Maybe go back to school. Even try the Canadian Football League.

"If you don't think about it like that, you're almost in denial," Green said. "You've got to realize nothing's guaranteed now.

"Regardless of if I'm drafted or not, all I'm asking is for an opportunity."

NFL DRAFT 2008

NEW YORK - Joe Flacco was at the center of a more memorable draft-day drama than most. And that wasn't pre-draft smoke the Flacco family and the neighbors were sniffing.

A surprise trade up by the Baltimore Ravens to select the strong-armed Delaware passer with the 18th overall pick wasn't the only excitement.

Hundreds of friends and relatives packed the Flacco household in Audubon, N.J. Then, a morning fire broke out in the nearby elementary school where Flacco and agents Joe Linta and Tom Kleine had scheduled a press conference after the player's selection.

CHRIS LONG: A near-miss as No. 1 pick for Dolphins

Eight fire trucks responded and firefighters wielding axes had to break down doors and walls, according to Linta. It looked like the fire would cause the news conference to be moved to the Flacco front yard. But then firefighters found one big room unscathed so things went according to near plan ? with a couple of wild twists.

After the Atlanta Falcons selected Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan third overall, the Ravens traded down from No. 8 overall to acquire Jacksonville's No. 26 pick and two third-rounders. They then leveraged a third- and sixth-round selection to trade up with Houston for the 18th overall pick to select the strong-armed former Blue Hen whose arm and game have been compared favorably with Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and Denver's Jay Cutler.

"It was just crazy," Flacco said of the fire. "It made the day more interesting."

Flacco talked to Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome, coach John Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Cam Cameron on the phone.

"They said, 'Are you ready to come be a Raven and be the quarterback we want you to be and you can be?'

"Being picked by Baltimore is a great situation," he said. "I felt really comfortable with their coaches. It's a great organization and it's close for my family."

With incumbent and inconsistent Kyle Boller entering the final year of his contract and last year's fifth-rounder Troy Smith competing, Flacco won't have the burden of heavy expectations coming in.

Flacco threw for 23 touchdowns with five interceptions last year in leading Delaware to the Division I-AA championship game.

"I'm out to prove the Ravens made the right choice," Flacco said. "I want to go in there and compete for the job and show I'm ready to lead the Ravens organization into the future."

McMackin on rise for NFL draft
Friday, April 11, 2008
NorthJersey.com

"With the first pick in the 2008 NFL draft, the Miami Dolphins select Shawn McMackin, offensive lineman from Hofstra University."

You won't hear those words when commissioner Roger Goodell opens the annual draft April 26. But the way McMackin has been jetting up some draft boards, the River Vale native might challenge for that honor if the draft was held in a few months, instead of a few weeks.

The 6-foot-3, 295-pound lineman realized how far he has come when he saw his name listed with two USC stars, linebacker Keith Rivers and running back Chauncey Washington, on SI.com's list of top draft risers. McMackin has opened eyes with some stellar Pro Day performances, including 40 reps in the 225-pound bench press and several 40-yard times in the 4.8s.

His versatility — he played every position along the line at Hofstra — adds to his value. "The Giants called my agent [Andrew Bondarowicz of Westfield] recently and asked if I could catch the football," McMackin said. "They said they might be interested in me as a third tight end and a backup offensive lineman. I'll do anything any team wants me to do."

McMackin has not been alone on his quest to fulfill a dream he first had his junior year at Hofstra, when he started games at right guard, left guard and right tackle. Hofstra buddy, Steelers starting right tackle Willie Colon, spent part of his off-season working with McMackin, who started every game at left tackle as a senior.

Then Will Shields, the former Kansas City All-Pro guard, took three days to tutor him at McMackin's workout facility, TEST Sports Clubs in Martinsville.

"He went over a lot of things that were new to me, like changing my stance for each guy I face each week," McMackin said. "Then he wanted to go watch a tape of my play. He didn't say a word while he watched so I figured the worst. But afterwards he just turned to me and said, 'You can play in the NFL, no doubt about it.' "

Shields told McMackin while he may be classified as a guard, he'd probably first get a shot at left tackle because of his athleticism. "Then it would be right tackle before they would bump me inside," added McMackin, who went off to college as a 240-pound defensive end on a partial scholarship.

"I had become the MVP at a Boston College camp on defense," he said. "But in my first spring practice the offensive line coach asked me if I wanted to switch over, I would be given a shot at the starting left guard spot. I didn't know the playbook and must have made a hundred mistakes, jumping offsides and things like that.

"After a week the coach [Joe Gardi] called me into his office and I figured I was headed back to defense. He said to me, 'There's nothing else we can do but offer you a full scholarship.' He said they liked the way I was knocking people down and they could work with me on the rest."

And it has worked to the point where McMackin could get a call from a prospective employer as early as the sixth round of the up coming draft. "It's kind of weird," he said, "to think the way I think of Will Shields is the way people might someday think of me."

Diver's Sweep NJ States
Former Rutgers Scholar Athlete
Assists Rutgers Diving Coach to Produce Champions

Sports performance training is proving to be every bit essential for athletes in the water as well as on the ground.

Lords of the Boards, a Central New Jersey Diving Club based out of the Somerset Valley YMCA, and coached by Fred Woodruff (Rutgers Head Diving Coach) has been sending his athletes to TEST Sports Performance in Martinsville, New Jersey. At the 2008 New Jersey High School State Championships, divers in both men's and women's brackets took 1, 2, 4 and 1, 4, 5 respectively. Producing two NJ State champs from one program and having three in the top five in both the men's and women's bracket is a “TESTament” to the program they have trained under.

Training at TEST for the past 10 months has allowed these divers to develop more perfect movement patterns and efficient explosiveness to decrease injury potential and maximize their athletic potential. This sets up any coach for success as their athlete's newly found athletic ability can easily be transferred on the field or in this case…in the pool.

Kevin Dunn, co-owner of TEST Sports Performance, is a former Rutgers Diver himself. A scholar athlete, Kevin trained under Woodruff and won many honors while at Rutgers.

Now, 12 years later, Dunn and Woodruff are using a team approach in training these elite athletes. “It is a privilege to assist Fred”, says Dunn.
“I am not their coach. That is not my role. I have a very clear understanding of my role and how to maximize an athletes genetic potential. The foundation of movement patterns and creating mobility and stability before working on sport specific drills will determine how quickly an athlete will progress, and stay off of the bench due to injury” Dunn adds.

Coach Woodruff is the 2008 Big East Conference Diving Coach of the Year.

Woodruff explains, “…since our divers began working with Kevin and his staff at Test Sports, we have noticed great improvement in their core strength, flexibility and movement patterns. They have been injury free and they seem more mindful of their diet and getting enough rest. Test Sports is teaching our kids to train smart”.

TEST Sports Performance is located at 1931 Washington Valley Road in Martinsville, New Jersey. This state of the art facility is the premier choice for male and female athletes and attracts them from all sports, all over the country. You can visit the website at www.TestSportsPerformance.com.

For more information, please contact Kevin Dunn at 732-271-1000 x 222 or email at Kevin@TestSportsClubs.com

Amir Pinnix

Amir Pinnix

INNNEAPOLIS - When last speaking of Amir Pinnix I bestowed upon him the title Athlete of the Year for 2007. The reasoning behind the bestowment of the honor was recognition of the many successes he made as a young man on the campus of the University of Minnesota, and in our community overall.

Well, good things happen to good people. In the case of Amir Pinnix, the good thing is a shiny 'hope ticket' for admittance into the historic athletic fraternity known as the NFL. Pinnix is next in line, following the huge success seen by former Gopher running backs Marion Barber III (Dallas Cowboys) and Laurence Maroney (New England Patriots). Those two young men went down in the history books of college football, and now are achieving new heights in the NFL.

Marion Barber III recommended the book 'Battlefield of the Mind' to me"

The path to the NFL is a powerful study in perseverance. As put perfectly by Pinnix, "I have been training my entire life for 90 minutes worth of testing." 

On March 4 Pinnix and a few of his Gopher teammates, including standout fullback Justin Valentine, went through what is called a Pro-Day. This is the 90-minute test Pinnix referenced. Most major universities have a day such as this when NFL prospects are run through a series of physical and mental tests to determine their ability to succeed in the professional ranks.

"Nine to five," was Pinnix exasperated response to my question about daily practice leading up to Pro-Day. Since the end of the Gopher football season you could find him perfecting his craft as an elite running back. I got tired just listening to the long list of backbreaking drills that he squeezed into his daily eight-hour regimen.

"Surprisingly yoga was one of the hardest things I had to do, but it was one of the most beneficial as well. Some of the yoga positions she had me doing were out of this world. Yoga is also great for mental exercise," said Pinnix. "The mental edge is really what separates the elite players from those who don't last long, or don't make it at all. You have to be strong mentally, and know your craft better than the men that are trying to stop you." 

One of my favorite aspects of doing interviews with strong community superstars such as Pinnix is learning about a laundry list of powerful books that guide and inspire them towards greater achievement. "Marion Barber III recommended the book Battlefield of the Mind. I appreciate him for that because it just solidified the mindset that I needed for going through this whole process. The book teaches how maintaining a positive mindset is a requirement for success in anything."

"In order to catch a dream, you have to chase it"

Though Pinnix has very clear-cut goals and action plans outside of football, his positive mindset is apparent when it comes to the question of his potential success with the NFL. "Can't is not an option. I'm ready. All they have to do is give me a chance. After that, it's all on me, and I put it all in Gods hands."

When asked if there was a 'dream team' that he would like to play for in the NFL Pinnix responded, "The NFL is the dream. I have played this game of football since I was seven-years-old. God is blessing me with an opportunity and I am thankful. The dream team is the one that I get to play for."

"I don't know what team I will end up playing for, but in the event that I have to move, I would like to say thank you to everyone in the Twin Cities for their love and support," said Pinnix.

Naturally, I asked Pinnix what he had to say to the young people out there who have a dream. Naturally he gave the perfect response. "Perfect your craft," he said. "There is always something you can do to improve. Michael Jordan talked about how he was still trying to perfect his game when he was towards the end of his career with the Chicago Bulls. He already had four or five NBA Championships at that point. That clearly tells you what your mindset should be if you want to succeed." 

Pinnix motto is: In order to catch a dream, you have to chase it.

Make sure a young person reads this.

Keep your eyes open on NFL Draft Day (April 25 and 26). Look for the name Amir Pinnix, and when you see his name flash across the screen, celebrate. Celebrate because a bunch of neighborhoods just came up – including yours. After that, there is only one question. Who's next?

Congratulations Brendan Ard on a Winning State Championship

NFL combine anxieties
Prospects prep for the big league
By Kyle Stack
Special to amNew York

Rushing for more than 7,000 yards and scoring 98 touchdowns in four years at Northwest Missouri State isn’t enough to guarantee NFL draft prospect Archibong “Xavier” Omon a job after college.

Just a job interview, with millions of dollars on the line.

That’s the pressure heaped upon the shoulders of college football players training for the annual NFL combine, which began yesterday at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis. Omon arrives today as one of the 37 running backs invited.

“You’re thinking about your future in the NFL and if you’ll test out well, especially me, coming from a small school,” said the 23-year-old Omon, who has spent the last six weeks training at Test Sports Clubs in Martinsville, N.J.

Like other sports performance facilities nationwide, Test aims to prepare college players physically and psychologically for the Combine and Pro Days, which occur on hundreds of college campuses throughout next month. NFL teams use these events to evaluate prospects before the NFL draft on April 26 and 27.

Test’s “Methodology” program emphasizes improved player movement patterns, said Kevin Dunn., Test’s chief operating officer. “What we try to do is identify the areas where there is compensation in their movement pattern, which tell us the future on any potential injuries,” said Dunn.

Players appreciate the personalized attention, he said.

“These guys are used to being in big schools; they’re with 100 guys trying to get through a weight room,” Dunn said. “It’s very hard to get personalized attention at a big program.”

Players like Omon often must re-learn how their bodies work, Dunn said.

“They have great hips and they are very strong and powerful guys, but they have done the movements based on what feels natural to them – and that may not be the most efficient way,” he said.

Omon collected five Division II All-America honors and became the first player in NCAA history to rush for 1,500-plus yards in four seasons. He said he’s felt the impact of the Test training.

“They’ve done a lot, cleaning up my running form, making me relaxed,” Omon said.

Mel Tjeerdsma, Omon’s college coach at Northwest, which plays in Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association, said his accomplished former player has several skills to sharpen. “Blocking, play-action, catching the ball out of the backfield, improving his speed,” Tjeerdsma said by phone from his Maryville, Mo. Office. “Those are all things he is going to have to do if he’s going to be successful at the next level.”

NFL teams crave athletic ability in draft prospects, no matter the position. According to Test’s founder and chief executive officer, Brian Martin, the program shaves two-tenths of a second off players’ 40-yard dash times on average, while adding three to four inches to vertical leaps and seven inches to broad jumps.

“We’re not only doing the speed, nutrition, power and psychological stuff, [but] we’re also real focused on the football side of it,” Martin said. “We never lose sight of the fact that they’re football players, not track athletes.”

Texas All-Star Game Set
Louisiana... The Adversiser

Former UL safety LaMar Morgan and cornerback Kyle Ward and former Acadiana High and LSU running back Alley Broussard get another chance to impress NFL scouts today in the 2nd annual Texas vs. the Nation All-Star Challenge in El Paso, Texas. The game will feature collegiate seniors with Texas ties against the nation's top seniors and air nationally at 4 p.m. on CSTV.

The trio will play for Team Texas.

"It's going to be cool to see some familiar faces," said Morgan, who has been training six days a week with Broussard at TEST Sports Club in Martinsville, N.J. "I've seen a bunch of guys I played against in high school and college, and there are five of us who are training together in New Jersey."

Morgan, who is 6-foot-2, 215 pounds, overcame multiple injuries at UL.
The Copperas Cove, Texas, native played in 40 games for the Cajuns, recording 154 tackles, nine pass breakups, four interceptions, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in his career. He had 55 tackles last season.

Rooming with him in El Paso is Ward (6-2, 195). The Dallas native, who ran track at Alcorn State and UL, logged 78 career tackles in 33 games for the Cajuns. He had 15 tackles last season.

Broussard (6-0, 250) ran for 1,537 yards and 18 touchdowns in three injury-filled seasons at LSU before transferring to Missouri Southern State. Broussard, who shares an apartment in New Jersey with Morgan, logged 165 carries for 892 yards and 12 touchdowns last season for the NCAA Division II school.

El Paso finds a few stars
Sunday, February 03, 2008

With the exception of a couple kick returns from NC State's Darrell Blackman, the Texas team romped the rest of the Nation in the final collegiate all-star game on Saturday in El Paso, Tex.

Blackman had six returns for 232 yards and a touchdown. That's a 38.7 yard average!

Other than that, most of the stars were on defense. A lot of these players were out to prove that they were draft worthy, and perhaps a few showed that they were.

Fresno State defensive tackle Jason Shirley improved his stock with a good game. In an interview with a sideline reporter, the massive Shirley said he understood that his job is to clog lanes and stop the run. He not only did that, but he showed some versatility by providing some pass rush as well. Shirley recorded a sack and had a quarterback pressure in his own personal coming-out party.

Also along the defensive line, but for the Nation team, Rutgers defensive lineman Eric Foster showed some hustle by applying some big hits and hustling down running backs all the way to the sideline. You may remember our International Bowl preview in which Foster was also featured. He ended up having two sacks in that game. He's going to end up making some team looking for a sizable defensive end very happy. Maybe it's the Packers, but he may fit best in a 3-4 defensive scheme.
The good news is that he can probably be had late in the draft.

Cornerback Antwaun Molden of Eastern Kentucky showed off his speed. In a broken play in which UTEP receiver Joe West caught ball uncovered, Molden sprinted to tackle him from behind despite West's massive jump start. If the Packers decide to add depth in areas other than cornerback on the first day of the draft, Molden is a cornerback that can be had on the second day.

Appalachian State safety Corey Lynch showed a knack for being around the ball just like he always has. He's the guy who blocked the kick to upset Michigan as time expired. Remember? Well, in the Texas vs. the Nation Challenge Lynch intercepted a pass along the sideline in which he had to run all the way from midfield to get to. He also nearly blocked a punt as well. On the downside, his tackling needs work. He was faked out of his jockstrap on one play. And he had one punt return, but it went for -3 yards. He's a heady player, but he may be a project. Getting in a good strength and conditioning program with some speed work would do him wonders.

On the offensive side, running back Xavier Omon (pictured) of Northwest Missouri State showed why he may be the game's best prospect according to Jason Wright of NFL Draft Countdown. Omon had 9 carries for 91 yards with a 10.1 yard average. This game combined with a good workout at the Combine just could push him up as far as the third round. He's better than many people think while coming from such a small school.

Team Texas Downs Team Nation, 41-14
Omon Wins MVP
2/2/08

Xavier Omon

Team Texas forced six turnovers and limited Team Nation to just 189 yards in total offense in a 41-14 Texas victory in the 2008 Western Refining Texas vs. Nation All-Star Game at the Sun Bowl on Saturday afternoon.

Team Texas, comprised primarily of seniors who played either college or high school football in the Lone Star State, rolled up 431 yards in total offense behind the play of Offensive Player of the Game Danny Amendola of Texas Tech and Game MVP Xavier Omon of Northwest Missouri State.

Amendola caught three passes for a game-high 71 yards and a touchdown while Omon rushed for 91 yards to lead all ballcarriers on the evening.

University of Texas defensive back Erick Jackson earned Defensive Player of the Game honors.

"I really wanted to show people that I could play with I-A players,"
Omon said after the game. "I got an opportunity and I took advantage of it. The speed of the game is a little bit faster but for a runningback it's all about instinct once you get out there."

Colorado State quarterback Caleb Hanie completed 8-of-13 passes for 165 yards while San Jose State signal caller Adam Tafralis was 10-of-19 for
136 yards and a touchdown to give Team Texas 301 yards through the air.

The Texas win evens the two-year-old series at 1-1. The Nation won the inaugural game, 24-20, in 2007.

"We had another successful year," Western Refining Texas vs. Nation Game Executive Director Kenny Hansmire said. "Our attendance was up by 5,000 over the 2007 game and we improved on what were two very strong rosters from a year ago. I expect we'll see a lot of these young men playing professionally next season. I'm very excited about the future of this game."

Amendola and Tafralis hooked up on a 28-yard scoring pass early in the second quarter to give Texas a 7-0 lead. The Nation's Darrell Blackman of North Carolina State quickly erased the deficit when he took the ensuing kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown to tie the game at 7-7 and bring the crowd of 26,821 to their feet with his scintillating return.

But Team Texas would run off 34 unanswered points over the next three quarters as the Nation offense could not solve an attacking Texas defense that limited the Nation to just 12 first downs for the game.

Bethel (Tenn.) runningback Adrian Smith gave Texas the lead for good shortly before halftime when he scored on a four-yard run with 1:05 left in the half. Smith's score was set up by an interception by Oklahoma's Darie Williams that gave Texas the ball at the Nation 15 yard line.

On its first drive the second half the Nation moved 40 yards in 10 plays and was nearing midfield when University of Texas linebacker Robert Killebrew forced a fumble by Richmond runningback Tim Hightower.

Killebrew's Longhorn teammate Erick Jackson scooped up the fumble and sprinted 50 yards for a touchdown and a 21-7 Team Texas lead.

Following a three-and-out by the Nation on its next possession Oklahoma kicker Garrett Hartley converted on a 45-yard field goal to extend the Texas lead to 24-7 with 6:40 to go in the third quarter.

On the Nation's next series Boise State quarterback Taylor Tharp moved the Nation to the Texas 19-yard line. But on Tharp's fourth-and-two pass intended for Washington's Marcel Reese fell short and Texas took over on downs. Nine plays later Hartley converted a 26-yard field goal for a
27-7 Texas lead.

Texas forced a Nation punt on the next series and Hanie engineered a five-play, 70-yard scoring drive that included a 38-yard run by Smith and a 30-yard completion by Hanie to Tennessee fullback Chris Brown.
Missouri Southern's Alley Broussard capped the drive with a one-yard touchdown run for a 34-7 lead with 13:07 left in the game.

Hanie capped the Texas scoring with a one-yard run with 6:35 left in the game. The score ended a nine-play drive that featured a 41-yard third down run by Omon and a 25-yard completion to Amendola on fourth-and-13 that set up Hanie's score.

The Nation finally found the end zone again with 2:29 left in the game when Mount Union's Pierre Garcon returned a Texas punt 62 yards for a touchdown.

Foster Prepares for the NFL at TEST Sports
NFL Network Breaks Down Flacco
By Bobby Deren from ScareltNation.com
January 20, 2008

Eric Foster

Preparation for the future has already gotten underway for Eric Foster. As soon as the season concluded, Foster shifted his focus to sharpening his skills in the various combine events NFL scouts use to gauge draft prospects. Foster now spends most of his time at TEST Sports Clubs in Martinsville, where he is improving by the day.

"It's very exciting," said Foster. "I love it. These guys are so organized. The program they have in place, you can't help but improve all your numbers. I've been here for one week and I can feel a complete increase in everything as far as power, strength, explosiveness, everything."

Training for a combine is a lot different than training for a regular season of football. Experiencing such training for the first time, Foster is very aware of the differences.

"It's more in detail as far as the combine. It's more specific. From training for college to training for the combine, it's a different league. You got to work on your specifics. Everything matters. You got to train for every muscle in your body so all of them work together as one."

Last year, former Scarlet Knights Joe Porter and Derrick Roberson both trained at TEST and improved their numbers dramatically. As a result, both found homes on NFL practice squads this past season even though Porter was not even a starter at the college level. Foster, who shares the same agent as Roberson, said he will definitely look to the former Scarlet Knight for advice.

Much like Roberson and Porter last year, speed will be an area of concentration for Foster. At the professional level, speed is more than just a valuable commodity, it is a sheer necessity.

"The biggest thing for me is to see how much I can improve my speed," said Foster. "Just seeing your results from training gets you excited and knowing the NFL is waiting for you is real exciting. To compete and train with the elite is very exciting and also very nerve-wracking."

The change in training could also lead to a change of position for Foster. Most defensive tackles in the NFL are much bigger than the 265 pound Foster.

"A lot of guys get worried when they change positions, but no matter where they put me, I'm going to produce. You could put me at tight end. I just love the game. No matter where you put me, I'm going to put in the hard work, the effort and the preparation to help the team," said Foster.

With his college diploma already framed, Foster's training is now priority number one. He talked about the ongoing preparation that has become a major part of his daily life.

"The most difficult part of the training is that it's like an actual job. It really matters what you put into your body, being aware of what you eat. It's just a non stop thing and you have to be consistent in what you eat and how you train. Everybody in my family's excited, but I told them that this is a time in my life where I got to be focused. They might not get in touch with me or talk to me as much as they want because it's time for business. It's crunch time."

Foster is off to compete in The Texas vs The Nation game in El Paso next week.

NFLdraftGuys.com review Foster at senior bowl
Eric Foster, DT, Rutgers

PLAYER OF THE DAY. MAJOR buzz among spectators. Extreme power at the point of attack, sick spin move on the heels of a successful bull rush. Seemed like a man on a mission - after beating his opponent, he never showboated, just went back to the huddle in a business like way, and had many wins to celebrate. Led one sideline observer to say "we should try three guys on him instead of one". Always great penetration. Blew by Wiggins and Adams with speed moves. Has a high motor. Deadly rip move. Was a late round guy coming into this game, but if he keeps this up, cover 2 teams like Tampa and Indy will fall in love with him and reach for him in the 3rd-4th round.

Impact Offensive Tackle Enters NFL Draft
OLT Ryan Clady By Adam Caplan
Senior NFL Reporter
Posted Jan 2, 2008

Scout.com has confirmed that Boise St. University OLT Ryan Clady has declared himself eligible for the 2008 NFL draft.

The projected top-10 selection signed Tuesday with JL Sports and will begin training this week in Martinsville New Jersey at TEST Sports.

Clady is regarded as the second-rated offensive lineman of the 2008 draft behind University of Michigan's Jake Long.

As an interesting aside, former Kansas City Chiefs All-Pro G Will Shields will be involved in training Clady for the draft and NFL Combine.

ESPN Video
McShay's Big Prospects from Small Schools

Click here to watch the video

Cajuns' Morgan selected to All-Star game
By Joshua Parrott
jparrott@theadvertiser.com

Lamar Morgan on Right

Louisiana-Haunted by injuries and misfortune throughout his UL football career, Texas native Lamar Morgan received some good news late Tuesday night:

He gets to play one more football game in his home state.

The recent UL graduate and former Ragin' Cajun safety accepted an invitation Tuesday to play in the 2nd annual Texas vs. the Nation All-Star Challenge, which is Feb. 2 at Sun Bowl Stadium in El Paso, Texas. The game will feature the top collegiate seniors with Texas ties against the nation's top seniors and air nationally at 4 p.m. on CSTV.

Morgan will play for Team Texas, which is coached by former Alabama and Texas A&M coach Gene Stallings.

"After all the obstacles I've dealt with, I just wanted to get into a bowl game," said Morgan, currently training six days a week at TEST Sports Club in Martinsville, N.J. "Playing for the Texas team is going to be kind of cool."

Morgan, who played at Copperas Cove High in Texas, overcame multiple setbacks to excel both on and off the field at UL. As a freshman he missed the season-opener with a wrist injury and was sidelined for the final three games of the year when he blew out his left knee, an injury that required a patella tendon transplant from his right knee.

After sitting out the 2004 season as a medical redshirt, Morgan missed two of his last four games as a sophomore when a hit reopened the surgery scar on his right knee. He started all 12 games as a junior despite playing with constant pain, later learning he had been playing with a tumor in his left thighbone.

He underwent surgery in February to have the tumor removed and replaced with a bone graph from his thighbone. Doctors placed a screw inside his hip joint and secured a plate to his thighbone with five screws.

According to Morgan, he played his senior season "85 percent" healthy, logging 55 tackles and three pass breakups in 11 games for the Cajuns (3-9). The team captain missed the season-opener and saw limited playing time in the second and third game as he recovered from surgery, but returned to start the final nine games of the year. He ended the year strong, leading UL with eight tackles in a 34-24 win at Middle Tennessee State on Nov. 10 and adding 10 tackles in a 38-28 win over Florida International on Nov. 17.

Morgan played in 40 games for the Cajuns, recording 154 tackles, nine pass breakups, four interceptions, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in his career.

John Murphy, vice president/director of player personnel for the all-star game, said Morgan was an easy choice for the event. It helps that he's 6-foot-2, 215 pounds and has been timed at 4.5 seconds in the 40-yard dash.

"Lamar more than qualifies for many reasons," Murphy said. "No. 1, he's a Texan. No. 2, he had good stats. And No. 3, you're not going to find a kid with better character."

Academics were also a strong point for Morgan, named to the Sun Belt Conference's Honor Roll or Commissioner's list every year at UL. He was a nominee for the 2007 NCAA National Leadership Conference and a semifinalist for the 2007 Draddy Trophy, given annually to the nation's college football player with the best combination of academics, community service and on-field performance.

"I am very proud of Lamar," UL coach Rickey Bustle said. "He's a good student who has done well academically and excelled on the football field. Lamar is a hard worker on and off the field and in the classroom. He's been a terrific team leader."

Until the all-star game, Morgan will continue training in New Jersey - where he is joined by former Acadiana High, LSU and Missouri Southern running back Alley Broussard. After a brief trip home to Texas for Christmas, Morgan will return to TEST Sports Club and train leading up to his pro workout day in hopes of earning an invitation to the NFL combine.

Now near full health, Morgan leaves for El Paso on Jan. 26. Murphy has learned Morgan could be a sleeper in the upcoming NFL draft.
NFLDraftScout.com ranks Morgan No. 43 out of 133 free safeties on their draft board.

"I've heard teams tell me that he's got a late-round grade," Murphy said. "But his name is mentioned alongside some of the other top strong safeties in the draft. He's just over 6-1, 215 and runs in the 4.5s. In today's game that is exactly what people are looking for at that position.

"In a lot of ways he's been overlooked because no one has seen him at full strength. Now that he's healthy, playing in this game won't do anything but help him."

Morgan looks forward to the opportunity with Team Texas, which lost to Team Nation last year, 24-20. He dreams of one day joining former UL defensive backs C.C. Brown (Houston Texans), Charles Tillman (Chicago Bears), Ike Taylor (Pittsburgh Steelers), Antwain Spann (New England Patriots) and Michael Adams (Arizona Cardinals) in the NFL.

"I know I can play with the other safeties in the country," said Morgan, the eighth Cajun to accept a postseason bowl invitation under Bustle. "Three or four of the scouts (Murphy) has talked to had me in the top 10 in the nation at safety. I'm a hybrid because of my weight and size. Wherever the NFL wants me to play, I'll play.

"I just want to play."

Ravens view Gaither as Ogden's potential heir
By Len Pasquarelli
ESPN.com
July 13, 2007

Jared Gaither

Give credit to Baltimore Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome. One of the best talent evaluators in the business, Newsome might not be sure yet who the Ravens' starting quarterback will be in a couple years, when Steve McNair is retired and former first-round flop Kyle Boller is playing elsewhere.

But Newsome, as evidenced by Thursday's supplemental draft, is certainly putting a face on the offensive line that will be protecting whomever lines up at quarterback.

When the Ravens chose University of Maryland prospect Jared Gaither in the fifth round of the supplemental draft, it was with an eye toward the future, and toward the daunting task of having to replace left tackle Jonathan Ogden at a point not much further down the road. It wasn't the first time this year that Newsome sought to identify the potential successor to Ogden, and it certainly wasn't the first move he has made over the last two years to filter in fresh blood to an aging blocking unit.

During the first round of the April draft, Newsome, cognizant of the fact future Hall of Fame member Ogden is quickly closing in on the end of a brilliant career, was poised to snap up Central Michigan star Joe Staley, a player some scouts felt was the offensive tackle with the most upside in the talent pool. A tremendous pass protector, Staley would have been groomed for Ogden's left tackle spot.

But the San Francisco 49ers traded up to New England's No. 28 slot in the first round, one rung ahead of the Ravens, and pirated Staley from Newsome's clutches.

Three months later, after considerable research on Gaither, who is reputed to be immature and a bit of an underachiever, Newsome made up for not landing Staley by taking a big, imposing specimen who needs plenty of work, but certainly has impressive tools. Like most supplemental picks, Gaither arrives with a high-risk factor. But if he grows up under the tutelage of offensive line coach Chris Foerster, the Ravens could have a solid, young left tackle for the next 10 years.

Certainly, the selection of Gaither, who posted numbers during his audition for scouts that would have ranked among the best results at the February pre-draft combine, should not have been a surprise.

Newsome's staff devoted a lot of hours to researching Gaither, spoke with Maryland head coach Ralph Friedgen about him, conducted in-depth background checks, including a lengthy interview the night before the supplemental lottery.

But there was also this angle: Newsome is systematically revamping an aging offensive line and needed an heir apparent to the left tackle slot, so Gaither was considered worth the gamble.

Gaither now joins a fairly impressive cadre of young blockers who will, over the next year or two, find their way into the Baltimore starting lineup. Some of the young blockers, in fact, will be starters in 2007.

Two-year veteran Jason Brown (fourth round, 2005), started 12 games in 2006 after stalwart Edwin Mulitalo suffered a season-ending triceps injury, and he is projected as the starting left guard going into camp. Tackle Adam Terry (second round, 2005) has only two starts in two seasons, but is being counted on to step in at right tackle for the departed Tony Pashos, who signed with Jacksonville as an unrestricted free agent. Chris Chester (second round, 2006), who started four games at right guard in 2006, is too good not to be on the field, either at right guard or center. The man Newsome took in the first round this year, after Staley was snatched from his clutches, Auburn guard Ben Grubbs, was graded by many scouts as the second-best lineman at any position in the '06 draft. And the Ravens like this year's third-round pick, guard-tackle Marshal Yanda of Iowa, too.

Even if Gaither flops, which clearly is a possibility, Newsome and his staff have assembled the nucleus of their next generation of offensive line starters.

In the opening game of the 2006 regular season, the starting line unit consisted of Ogden at left tackle, Mulitalo at left guard, center Mike Flynn, Keydrick Vincent at right guard, and right tackle Pashos. Ten months later, Pashos and Mulitalo (released earlier this spring) are gone. Despite being one of the NFL's most underrated snappers, Flynn, 33, might not be able to hold off Chester much longer. And Vincent, whose play has been disappointing since coming over from Pittsburgh as a free agent in 2005, will have to upgrade his performance to retain his starting spot.

The key to any offensive line unit is the left tackle position, and so motivating Gaither and having him realize his potential is critical to the Ravens' overhaul. Still, the mammoth tackle is just one piece of a jigsaw puzzle Newsome and his staff is close to completing.

posted on ESPN.com

Where DO Elite Football Players Train?
Press Release
Elite Football Training Facilities Emerge in New Jersey Martinsville, NJ
September 21, 2007

What makes the difference between a good football player and a truly great one? Practice, you might say. Luck. Being on a great team.

There's a little bit of truth in each of those. But in the end, a pretty strong case can be made that how players train - and how they are trained - makes all the difference in the world. And if this is true, as more and more experts are beginning to believe, then TEST Sports Clubs, Brian Martin's impressive trio of elite training facilities that specializes almost exclusively in football, has a lot to say about who wins and loses each week in the NFL. And guess what. The training goes way beyond just the physical aspects of the game. Think equal parts Vince Lombardi and Jerry Maguire.

Martin, the CEO and founder, is a graduate of Bloomsburg University in Pennsylvania with a degree in Exercise Science. He has been in the sports-performance industry for over fifteen years. He holds the C.S.C.S credential of the NSCA and is the Northeast Regional Director for Scout Camp Pro Football Regional Combines. His staff is packed with former NFL players with resumes a mile long, as well as nutritionists and sport psychologists.

TEST trains the #1 football recruit in the country, Will Hill from St. Peters in Jersey City, NJ, who verbally committed to Florida on ESPN late last week.

TEST has trained 30 NFL players in the last 10 years and the numbers are growing.

They concentrate on speed training and football-specific skills. They teach players how to run better routes, take better angles, and how to prepare themselves for the game, for the season, and for life, mentally as well as physically.

"There's just so much more to the game these days than there used to be," says Martin.

"Players need help not just with their physical conditioning and training. They need help and advice about all of things that come with success: all of the money, and the women, and the drugs that are, unfortunately, made readily available."

The concern for the players' physical and mental development is not confined to the TEST facilities, says Martin.

"We go out and watch many of our college-age clients where they play. It's very much a part of the part of the service.

"We evaluate talent, we break down films, and we very much zero in on the football side of the things. We look at biomechanics while they are on the field. We break down their movements, the different things that they should be doing. We go way beyond telling them how may reps they need to do."

Martin's philosophy is, ultimately, business-minded.

"Athletes' bodies are their companies," says Martin. "They really have to take care of themselves at this level, because if they don't do it, their company could be out of business -- in a hurry."

Martin is also a big believer in helping his clients get to their second contract.

"For lots of players, if they don't get a big contract as a high-level draft choice, they really need to produce during that first contract so they can get to the all-important second one. So they need to do two things simultaneously. They need to produce at a very high level
-- and they need to stay healthy. We help them do both of those things."

The big difference, according to Martin, is the mental aspect of the game, which TEST focuses on.

"I truly believe that there are 10,000 guys in this country who can physically play linebacker in the NFL, but there are only 100 who can do it mentally and physically."

About TEST Sports Clubs
MISSION STATEMENT

To provide our clients with an unmatched level of service, state-of-the-art facilities, and a commitment to remain on the cutting edge of the fitness and sports performance industry. We offer creative programs that are safe, effective, and, most of all, fun. Our purpose is to help our clients feel better about themselves, maximize their performance, enhance their appearance, and enrich their quality of life.

TEST Sports Clubs was founded in 1992 by Brian Martin as a sports performance and personal training consulting company joining forces with Kevin Dunn. The first actual TEST facility was launched in Martinsville, NJ in September of 1999. One year later TEST opened its second facility in Red Bank and shortly following, its third and fourth facilities in Bedminster and The Hills. All trainers hold a current, nationally recognized certification.

TEST locations are in Martinsville, Bedminster, and Tinton Falls, New Jersey. For more information on TEST, call 866-619-TEST (8378)

Giants Sign Nebraska OL Chris Patrick
Mike Garafolo
Newark Star ledger
July 18th, 2007

Chris Patrick

With nine days remaining before players report to training camp, the Giants have invited one more player to Albany - Nebraska lineman Chris Patrick. The team signed Patrick to a two-year contract after an impressive workout today, his agent, Joe Linta, has confirmed.

Patrick was not selected in last week's supplemental draft and was thereby eligible to sign with any team as a free agent. He had drawn interest from a few teams, including the Jets, who were hoping to bring him in for a visit in the near future.

Patrick, who trained at TEST Sports Clubs in Martinsville for the past six weeks, skipped his upcoming senior season with the Cornhuskers because of undisclosed family reasons. A converted defensive end, he finished his career in Lincoln as the team's starting left tackle, though he has been projected by many as a guard in the NFL.

Offensive lineman Patrick signs contract with Giants
By Len Pasquarelli
ESPN.com
Updated: July 17, 2007, 9:46 PM ET

Offensive lineman Chris Patrick of Nebraska, who was not selected in last week's NFL supplemental draft, signed with the New York Giants as a free agent on Tuesday evening.

Contract details for Patrick, who worked out earlier in the day for Giants coaches, were not immediately available.

Patrick, 22, was generally regarded as the third best prospect in the supplemental pool, which featured only two selections, cornerback Paul Oliver (by San Diego) and offensive tackle Jared Gaither (by Baltimore), in the fourth and fifth rounds, respectively. There were a handful of teams that contacted Patrick after he went undrafted.

Certainly the Giants signed Patrick, who started 12 games at left tackle in 2006, with an eye toward the future. New York released starting left tackle Luke Petitgout early in the spring, and he subsequently signed with Tampa Bay as a free agent. It appears the Giants will move four-year veteran Dave Diehl from left guard to tackle to fill the void.

In time, however, Patrick could develop into a viable left tackle candidate, although scouts remain split over his best position at the NFL level. Some talent evaluators feel Patrick may be better suited to play guard, the spot where he aligned in 2005.

The former Cornhuskers standout, a conference all-academic selection in 2006, is still maturing physically, and, at 6 feet 4 and 298 pounds, can probably add more bulk to his frame. At his workout for NFL scouts last month, Patrick was clocked at 5.18 seconds in the 40-yard dash, had a 27-inch vertical jump and performed 31 repetitions in the standard, 225-pound bench press.

According to the Nebraska coaching staff's grading system, Patrick scored 80.9 percent in blocking efficiency in 2006. He had 38 "knockdown" blocks, nine blocks that resulted in touchdowns, and surrendered only two sacks.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer for ESPN.com

Georgia's Oliver, Maryland's Gaither chosen in supplemental draft
By John Clayton
ESPN.com
July 12, 2007

Jared Gaither

The San Diego Chargers selected Georgia cornerback Paul Oliver in the fourth round of Thursday's supplemental draft, one of two players selected from a pool of 11 available.

In doing so, the Chargers will give up a fourth-round choice in next year's draft. Oliver, who left Georgia early because of grade problems, was expected to be one of the top corners in the 2008 draft.

His recent 40 time in the high 4.5s may have scared away a couple teams, but the Chargers were looking for depth at the cornerback position. Starting cornerback Drayton Florence is a free agent after this season. Oliver would have the chance to learn cornerback and maybe help in the nickel pass defense over the next couple years.

The Chargers liked the player skills. They recently did a background check and liked what they learned.

The Baltimore Ravens selected Maryland tackle Jared Gaither in the fifth round of the supplemental draft.

The Ravens worked him out right before the draft. They liked his size and speed. He's close to 6-feet-9 and 325 pounds. He ran well at a workout Tuesday, timing around five seconds. He prepared for his pro day at TEST Sports in New Jersey.

"Jared has a chance to play in this league, even at a high level,"
Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome said in a statement. "It would have been interesting to see how high he would have gone in the draft had he played one or two more seasons at Maryland."

Meanwhile, Mark Washington, a versatile defensive end/linebacker from Texas State, agreed to a two-year deal with the San Francisco 49ers after being bypassed in the supplemental draft.

Washington ran in the 4.6-second range in the 40-yard dash during workouts in front of NFL teams, but he was a little slower Tuesday when he worked out.

Because Washington weighed in the 250-pound range, teams had to decide if they wanted him at defensive end or linebacker. The 49ers wanted him at linebacker and believe he has the ability and size to challenge for a position as a strongside outside linebacker.

Senior writer John Clayton covers the NFL for ESPN.com

Maryland's Gaither applies for entry to supplemental draft
By Len Pasquarelli
ESPN.com
Updated: June 28, 2007, 9:38 PM ET

Jared Gaither

University of Maryland offensive tackle Jared Gaither, who figures to generate plenty of interest from NFL scouts, on Thursday officially applied for entry to the supplemental draft.

Barring any paperwork hang-ups, Gaither will be part of the July 12 lottery, which has now expanded to four known prospects. Gaither joins Georgia cornerback Paul Oliver, Nebraska offensive lineman Chris Patrick and Morgan State defensive tackle Robert Armstrong as players in the supplemental draft. Patrick & Gaither have been busy preparing for their pro days at TEST Sports Clubs in New Jersey.

A starter in 17 of his 23 appearances for the Terrapins over the past two seasons, Gaither might challenge Oliver for top billing in the supplemental draft. The summertime lottery, which is limited to "special cases"
prospects, typically includes about three or four players every year. It is believed there are still one or two players deliberating over whether to apply for the 2007 special draft.

Gaither was declared academically ineligible two weeks ago and, after much consideration, decided the NFL was his best career option.

"The plan is still to return [to school] and earn my degree," Gaither said Thursday night. "But after going over all the academic stuff as it affected me right now, and where I stood, this is the best thing."

It is not yet known when Gaither will audition for NFL scouts. But when he does work out, he is likely to draw a pretty healthy crowd. And if Gaither performs well in front of scouts, he could earn a spot in the first three rounds of the supplemental draft. To this point, Oliver, a solid cornerback who lacks top-end speed, has been viewed by most talent evaluators as the prime prospect in the supplemental pool.

Any team that chooses a player in the supplemental draft must forfeit its corresponding pick in the regular-phase draft in April 2008.

Blessed with great size (6-feet-9, 350 pounds according to the Maryland roster), Gaither has surprisingly quick feet and is regarded as an outstanding pass protector, a blocker who might project as a left tackle at the professional level. In 2005, Gaither did not surrender a sack in his 11 starts.

"He's expressed a desire to get his degree, but I think the opportunity to make a living and the chance to be successful at the next level was deciding factor," Maryland head coach Ralph Friedgen told the Baltimore Sun. "We wish him the best of luck and hope he achieves success in the NFL and in life."

Len Pasquarelli is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com

Husker waiting for the NFL to call
Patrick one of two set for the NFL Supplemental Draft
By BRIAN ROSENTHAL / Lincoln Journal Star, NE
Tuesday, Jun 19, 2007

Chris Patrick

Chris Patrick won’t be holding a jersey or wearing a cap for the cameras. ESPN won’t be providing hours worth of ticker updates.

In fact, this draft of college football players will likely take no more than 10 minutes.

It’s the NFL Supplemental Draft on July 13, and Patrick, the former Nebraska offensive lineman, is one of two players on the board. The other is Georgia cornerback Paul Oliver.

No sizzle. No glamour. Just a chance for Patrick to continue his football career.

It’s definitely a different way, but I’m hoping for the best and working hard, said Patrick, in Lincoln on Monday to test for some 20 NFL scouts.

Patrick, a native of Ithaca, Mich., announced in March he was bypassing his senior season at Nebraska and entering the supplemental draft. He’d missed the Jan. 15 deadline for underclassmen to declare for the regular NFL Draft in April.

It’s unique, Patrick said. If you get into it, I think you get some more attention from scouts, because not very many people go through the process.

Only 34 players have been chosen in the supplemental draft since it was instituted by the NFL in 1977. No Nebraska player has yet been taken; Turner Gill, Mike Rozier and Mark Schellen were chosen in a supplemental phase in 1984, but for the United States Football League.

Why did Patrick choose this unusual path?

There were some things going on with my family, and with the way things ended up, I think it was the best route for me, said Patrick, who started 14 of 16 games at left tackle last season for the Huskers.

Many players who opt for the NFL Supplemental Draft have encountered academic or off-the-field problems. Oliver, for instance, was declared academically ineligible for next season. Patrick, though, has said he was in good standing at Nebraska, and that his decision was for personal reasons.

Last year, seven players entered the supplemental draft, including troubled Iowa State defensive end Jason Berryman and two Texas players, fullback Ahmard Hall and defensive tackle Marco Martin. Only one of the seven was drafted Virginia linebacker Ahmad Brooks in the third round by Cincinnati.

In 2005, USC defensive tackle Manuel Wright was chosen in the fifth round. Eight others were eligible but not selected.

Patrick has been training with TEST Sports Clubs in New Jersey, the same place former Husker Daniel Bullocks trained. Patrick has been working individually with Billy Ard, the former New York Giants offensive lineman, according to Brian Martin, owner of TEST Sports Clubs.

He’s a great fit for any team, Martin said of Patrick. With the supplemental draft, it depends on the teams needs at this point.

Martin said he’s never worked with a player training for the supplemental draft. He acknowledged the risk involved for NFL teams; those that choose a player in this draft forfeit a pick in next April’s NFL Draft.

That means it’s unlikely a team will choose either Patrick or Oliver in the first round. However, first-round supplemental picks aren’t unprecedented; eight have been selected since 1977, including Bernie Kosar by Cleveland in 1985 and Steve Walsh by Dallas in 1989.

Patrick, listed at 6-foot-4½ and 305 pounds, said he wasn’t allowed to share results of Monday’s testing, per an agreement with his agent, Joel Linta.

Among Patrick’s activities were offensive line drills and a written personality test. (Patrick, by the way, prefers dogs over cats).

Hopefully, I impressed some people today,? Patrick said. I’m not going to be big on numbers, but I think when people watch film, they’ll be impressed. I just want to get a good opportunity. I just hope for the best and pray.

Everybody always thinks it’s about measurables, but it’s not. A lot of it is hard work and technique.

Patrick said he’s been talking with New England, Atlanta and Kansas City.

He’d prefer the Patriots.

I’m kind of a sleeper guy, and New England’s kind of known for getting sleepers and late-round draft picks and having them do well and getting some success, Patrick said. Maybe they see something in me they like. I’d love to go there.

Reach Brian Rosenthal at 473-7436 or brosenthal@journalstar.com.

How it works* The NFL Supplemental Draft is July 13.

* Any team that selects a player forfeits that same-round selection in next year’s NFL Draft. For example, if the Patriots chose NU’s Chris Patrick in the third round of the Supplemental Draft, they give up their third-round pick in next April’s draft.

* The draft is done via e-mail and lasts seven rounds, or as long as players are available. Each round lasts just a short time period, long enough for teams to respond. If two teams want the same player in the same round, the team with the higher pick in the most recent NFL Draft gets the player.

* Players who go undrafted are eligible to sign as free agents.

* Nebraska’s Chris Patrick and Georgia’s Paul Oliver are the only players, thus far, in this year’s Supplemental Draft.

Brian Rosenthal

Gargiulo hitting stride in CFL

Click here to see the video

Scout Camp Combine
Madison, NJ

Scout Camp Group Warm-Up

TEST Sports Clubs Founder & C.E.O.  Brian Martin was named New Jersey Regional Director of Scout Camp Pro Football Regional Combines.  Skip Fuller was named Assistant Regional Director.

Since 1989, Scout Camp Pro Football Regional Combines has provided every team in the NFL, NFL Europe, CFL and Arena Football League with accurate, professional and verified data and video on the most talented football players available.

Scout Camp Pro Football Regional Combines are the only combines authorized to collect verified data distributed to and used by every NFL, NFL Europe, CFL, AFL and af2 team.

Scout Camp Staff

NFL draft-eligible college seniors, pro football veterans and qualified free-agent football players seeking contracts in the NFL, NFL Europe, CFL, AFL and af2 may apply to attend one of several nationwide Scout Camp locations where they are timed, filmed and evaluated.

Players who have joined the NFL through participating in Scout Camp Combines including WR’s Joe Horn & Wayne Chrebet, as well as 3 X Super Bowl Champion Kicker Adam Vinitieri.

Recently, Scout Camp held a combine on the campus of Farleigh Dickinson University, where over 250 players, were evaluated by TEST Performance staff, from all over the nation had to undergo body measurements, physical tests and position drills to prove that they were at the top of their game, and able to compete at a higher level.

Scout Camp Faculty Day

Other TEST Staff members who were present at the New Jersey combine location were TEST Partner & C.O.O.- Kevin Dunn, Keith Dunn, Carl Walker , Melina Shah, Tad Kornegay, Cornell Key, NaQuinton Gainous, Anthony Gargiulo, Chris Swenson, Shea Kelly, Matt Goetz, Mike Kuhn, Sean & Rob McMackin, and Brittany Gildea.

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Gargiulo signs in CFL
Tuesday, May 15, 2007 - 01:14PM

Anthony Gargiulo

(Calgary) – Today, the Calgary Stampeder Football Club is pleased to announce the signing of Defensive Lineman Chris White, Anthony Gargiulo and Linebacker Justin Phillips.

After a very successful 2007 CFL Canadian Draft, the Stampeders have signed Linebacker Justin Phillips. Phillips was drafted by the Stampeders in the 1st round (5th overall) at the beginning of May. In 2006, Phillips was named an OUA first-team All-Star and given a spot on the CIS Second Team All-Canadian roster. In his first two seasons with the Golden Hawks Phillips showed a tremendous amount of success and was selected to the OUA 2nd Team All-Star in 2004.

“We are excited to get our first round draft pick under contract,” said General Manager Jim Barker. “We expect him to compete for a roster spot.”

Also in 2006, Phillips recorded 21 tackles (15 solo) and 7.5 sacks in 7 games. Before joining the college level he was named Rookie of the Year for his High School football team and also received best linebacker, best defensive player and two MVP awards.

White played his college football at Cal Poly. In his last season he earned first-team All-Great West Football Conference honors for the second straight year, was named to Football Gazette All-American second team, Associated Press All-American third team and College Sporting News Fabulous Fifty All-American. He was the fourth Mustang in as many years to earn American Football Coaches Association All-American honors. In 2006 he played in 11 games recording 30 tackles (16 solo), 10.5 tackles for a loss (50 yards), 5 quarterback sacks (35 yards), one pass defended and nine quarterback hurries.

“Chris was a highly productive college player at Cal Poly,” said General Manager Jim Barker. “He is another defensive lineman tailor made for the CFL game with great speed and quickness.”

In 2005 White started 13 games, finishing second in the Great West Football Conference and 15th in the nation in sacks. He averaged 0.81 per game and was named a first-team All-Great West Football Conference selection. He recorded 42 total tackles (23 solo), 15 tackles for a loss, 10.5 quarterback sacks (77 yards), five quarterback hurries, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. He also competed in track and field placing second in the Big West finals in shot put (56-1.75) and 20th in NCAA West Regional.

In 2005 Gargiulo played in 10 games recording 58 tackles (30 solo), 21 tackles for a loss (75 yards), eight quarterback sacks (46 yards), one pass breakup, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble.

“He was an outstanding player at Dartmouth and impressed our coaches with his athleticism,” said General Manager Jim Baker. “He will compete for one of our defensive end positions.”

In 2004 he was voted to the All-Ivy League and All-New England first teams in 2004 playing in nine games. He would lead the league with 12 sacks (65 yards) and recorded a team-high 14 tackles for loss, despite missing one game due to a medical condition. He received the Dartmouth's Kenneth T. Young Award as the defensive underclassman who contributed the most to the team and the Gordon P. Bennett Award as the outstanding lineman.

Cowboys Agree with OLB Alex Obomese
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
By Roy Philpott
TheRanchReport.com

The Dallas Cowboys came to terms with this outside linebacker this week.

The Dallas Cowboys have come to terms with free agent defensive end Alex Obomese (6-3, 245), TheRanchReport.com has learned.

A defensive end in the 4-3 scheme at UTEP, Obomese figures to try out with the Cowboys as an outside linebacker in the 3-4.

SCOUTING REPORT: Alex Obomese
BIO: Two-year starter awarded All-Conference honors as a junior after career numbers of 57/10.5/6.5. Senior totals included 55/3.5/3.

POSITIVE: Undersized college defensive end who will get consideration as a rush linebacker in the NFL. Plays with good balance, fluid moving about the field and rarely off his feet. Quickly changes direction and makes plays from every angle. Flashes speed off the edge or out to the sidelines.

Alex trained all winter at TEST Sports with tremendous improvements in speed and strength as well as working on linebacker drills with former New England Patriot Joe McHale. Best of luck to Alex with his pro career... Your hard work will pay off!

Porter, Roberson Sign NFL Free Agent Contracts

Joe Porter

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Joe Porter (Franklin, N.J.) and Derrick Roberson (Oakland Park, Fla.) have signed NFL free agent contracts. Porter inked a free agent contract with the New Orleans Saints while Roberson signed with the Houston Texans. The two defensive backs join five other Scarlet Knights from last season's 11-2 squad that finished ranked 12th in both polls who were drafted or have signed NFL free agent contracts.

Porter, who holds the 200-meter Indoor school record and became the 2005 Big East Outdoor Track Champion, played in 43 career games for the Scarlet Knights and recorded 93 tackles, 11 passes defensed, seven forced fumbles, five interceptions and 4.5 tackles for losses during his four career.

Roberson appeared in 42 career games and totaled 123 tackles, two interceptions, 22 passes defensed, 6.5 tackles for loss and three fumble recoveries over his four-year career. Roberson started eight games in 2006 after missing four games with a leg injury.

2007 Rutgers NFL Draftees & Free Agents

Brian Leonard (RB) – Second Round Draft Selection – St. Louis Rams
Cameron Stephenson (OG) – Fifth Round Draft Selection – Pittsburgh Steelers
Clark Harris (TE) – Seventh Round Draft Selection – Green Bay Packers
Ramel Meekins (DT) – Free Agent Contract – Indianapolis Colts
Joe Porter (CB) – Free Agent Contract – New Orleans Saints
Derrick Roberson (CB)– Free Agent Contract – Houston Texans
Darnell Stapleton (C) – Free Agent Contract – Pittsburgh Steelers

Roberson continues his quest for the NFL
Bobby Deren

Derrick Roberson took center stage at TEST Sports Clubs in Martinsville, NJ last week. In front of a handful of NFL scouts, Roberson continued his quest to extend his playing career. If his off-the-charts combine stats are an indication, his dreams might become a reality..

Onlookers were wowed when the former Scarlet Knight registered the longest broad jump of any participant at 11'3". It was the longest jump of his career, but not necessarily a surprise.

"No one really knew, but prior to Pro Scout Day I was bothered by a hamstring injury. So I stayed humble, kept on training and waited for the opportunity to show what I had," said Roberson.

Roberson registered a 42.5 inch vertical jump.

Between the two pro days, Roberson proved that he belongs.

At the Rutgers Pro Scout Day, Roberson dropped his 40 time down almost a full tenth to 4.34. He continued to widen eyes by adding six inches to his vertical jump. His runs last week were no different. He kept his 40 where it was and added another half inch to his vertical jump.

"I think the combines really helped me," Roberson said. "Working out with the guys helped a lot too. We are all competitive, so we make each other better. Working out with the best makes you become the best."

Roberson's performance on Pro Scout Day drew immediate interest from some NFL teams.

"The New Orleans Saints pulled me to the side and had me doing kickoff returns and catching punts. They even had me do more DB drills," said Roberson. "I also have a workout scheduled with the New York Giants. They wrote me a later saying they were interested."

Roberson is hoping his second and even more impressive performance can strengthen his chances of catching on with a professional team.

"I just have to keep training and keep doing what I do best, that's play football," he acknowledged.

Training for these combines with fellow defensive backs Manny Collins and Joe Porter is representative of Roberson's final season at Rutgers.

"As defensive backs, we were worried about each other and we were always helping each other out. We had no big heads. We corrected each other's mistakes," Roberson said.

Roberson looked back on the season and cited the Louisville game as his fondest memory. Then, after a bit more reflection, he elaborated.

"It wasn't just the Louisville game, it was the process. The whole process," said Roberson. "The whole chopping process of going through the season. Just being able to be in the meeting room. Being able to play with guys like Joey, Manny, the twins, Ron and Courtney. The chemistry was great. Everybody had each other's back."

His former teammates backed him with support once again as he continued his quest for the NFL at TEST Sports Clubs last week. Each time Roberson lined up for a run or jump, all eyes turned his way. His rigorous training routine coupled with his natural talents earned him a college scholarship, and now Roberson is hopeful that the same combination will take him to the next level.

Rutgers Stars Participate in Pro Day

Four Rutgers stars participated in a pro day at Test Sports Clubs in Martinsville (NJ) today. The group included Manny Collins, Derrick Roberson, Terry Bynes and Joe Porter. Click on the link below for photos from the event:

Photo Album

Junior Day a Hit in Jersey
Mike Farrell
Recruiting Analyst

Piscataway, N.J. - The fifth annual Rivals.com New Jersey Junior Day was held at the Hale Center at Rutgers University this past Sunday and lured a record number of prospects. As expected, five-star stud Will Hill highlighted a group loaded with 2008 and 2009 talent from numerous states.

Hill checked in at a solid 6 foot-3 and 203 pounds with plenty of room to grow. The St. Peter's star said he'd play cornerback or safety in college and is far from narrowing down his list. However, Rutgers fans have to be happy that Hill listed the Scarlet Knights first on his questionnaire ahead of Florida, Southern Cal, Ohio State and Michigan.

The wide receiver position was well represented at the event led by rising star DeJuan Miller from nearby Metuchen. Miller is quickly nearing double-digit offers and lists Oklahoma, Rutgers, Penn State, Michigan, Oklahoma State and Boston College as his top six. Miller measured in at 6-foot-6 and 207 pounds.

Brooklyn (N.Y.) Lincoln has produced standouts Nyan Boateng and Lansford Watson in each of the last two recruiting years but current junior Khalif Staten could end up being the best of the group. Staten, who measured in at 6-foot-3 and 219 pounds, has an early offer from Purdue.

Wideout Lynell Payne from Cherokee High School in Jersey was also physically impressive, measuring in at 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds.

Staten already has a Purdue offer.

But the theme of the day seemed to be impressive looking defenders led by defensive linemen Masengo Kabongo, Jarel Lowery, and linebackers J.B. Fitzgerald and Eric Legrand. Kabongo, who made the trip from Connecticut, checked in at 6-foot-3 and 279 solid pounds while Lowery was 6-foot-5 and 294 pounds. Both linemen hold offers from Maryland early in the process and Lowery lists the Terps as his leader.

Fitzgerald looks like a prototypical outside linebacker at 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds. After Hill, Fitzgerald boasts the most offers from anyone at the event with 13 and lists Michigan, Georgia Tech and Rutgers at the top of his list. LeGrand looks like he could bulk up to play along the defensive line and at 6-foot-3 and 263 solid pounds, LeGrand is a good looking prospect at linebacker. He boasts offers from Rutgers, Maryland and Virginia.

Fellow defenders Christopher Pantale and Marquis Spann also look the part. Pantale could be out growing the linebacker position quickly at 6-foot-7 and 233 pounds while Spann has excellent safety size at 6-foot-0 and 209 pounds.

Two big men stood out on the offensive line and it's understandable why each has early interest. Tyler Sands and R.J. Dill from Pennsylvania each boast D1A offers. Sands checked in at 6-foot-6 and 286 pounds while Dill measured 6-foot-8 and 284 pounds.

Fitzgerald has a great frame for an outside linebacker.

Two of the smaller prospects receiving interest are both adding size and strength. Teaneck, N.J. running back Rashad White who recently committed to Rutgers, stood in at 5-foot-11 and weighed 164 pounds. Pennsylvania athlete Chris Smith who has a West Virginia offer measured 5-foot-11 and 175 pounds. Smith was a standout at the Ohio vs. USA Kirk Herbstreit Classic last year.

And not to be forgotten, Inwood (W.V.) Musselman kicker Corey Smith, who recently committed to Alabama, looked more like a safety or linebacker at 6-foot-1 and 208 pounds.

There were many underclassmen standouts to keep an eye on as well. Defensive linemen Andre Civil and Malcolm Bush both stood 6-foot-6 and checked in over 235 pounds despite their 2009 status and offensive linemen Mark Brazinski and Neil Moloney also looked the part. Running backs Nyshier Oliver and Lyndel Edwards will also be two to watch for 2009.

The event had more than 150 prospects from seven different states. Special thanks for Brian Martin from TEST for sponsoring the event and providing many great speakers like ex-NY Giants Perry Williams and Billy Ard.

Mike Farrell is the National Recruiting Analyst for Rivals.com and can be reached at mike@rivals.com

Leonard shows his stuff at Pro Day
Friday, March 09, 2007
BY MIKE GARAFOLO
Star-Ledger Staff

The beads of sweat dripped off Brian Leonard's nose and onto his Rutgers sweatshirt, creating dark gray droplets on the light gray cotton.

It didn't look like Leonard had taken it easy yesterday during the Scarlet Knights' Pro Day -- an event in which all of the school's draft-eligible players work out for NFL scouts. But he did, opting to participate in only running back drills instead of the full gamut of runs and jumps after an impressive performance at last month's NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.

"They worked me while I was out there, though," an out-of-breath Leonard said.

Fourteen of Leonard's teammates from this past season also worked out for the scouts yesterday. One player from Monmouth -- quarterback Brian Boland -- and two Scarlet Knights who went undrafted and unsigned last year -- running back Clarence Pittman and linebacker Terry Byrnes -- also ran, jumped and lifted for the 26 teams and more than 50 scouts in attendance.

Like Leonard, offensive lineman Cameron Stephenson was supposed to be on a limited workout schedule. His stock has been on the rise since late last season and he also performed well in Indy, so there was little need for him to display his skills.

But Stephenson couldn't help himself while watching his fellow linemen lift weights. So he jumped under the 225-pound bar and bench- pressed it 33 times -- only 1 1/2 fewer reps than his Combine performance.

"Peer pressure got me," Stephenson said. "But I feel like I had two chances to do something. With (the players who weren't invited to the Combine), it was like they had one shot."

Tight end Clark Harris had a second chance as well. Unlike Leonard and Stephenson, he wasn't pleased with his performance at the Combine -- especially in running drills that were affected by a broken bone in his foot that hasn't fully healed. At the Combine, Harris ran 40s that were timed around 4.79 seconds. Yesterday, his two attempts were timed at 4.81 and 4.70 seconds.

"My foot's not 100 percent yet, but I could have done better," Harris said. "There was probably less pressure on me today because there were more people here I knew and could talk to."

A few of those players, who are hoping to be signed as undrafted free agents, showed their athleticism yesterday.

Cornerback Joe Porter ran a blazing 4.28 40 -- the fastest time he has ever run and the result of nearly a month of salads and intense workouts at TEST Sports Clubs in Martinsville.

"I've been nervous the last two weeks," Porter said. "It felt like my heart was jumping out of my chest when I woke up."

Speaking of jumping, defensive back Derek Roberson(who also trains at TEST Sports)  recorded a 42 1/2-inch vertical leap. No wonder he was smiling right before his attempt.

"A lot of people look at my height and just assume I can't jump or something," said the 5-10 Roberson, who also ran a 4.34 40. "So I don't think they expected that from me.

"I think I opened a couple of eyes today."

Leonard has already proven that in four seasons at Rutgers. For the former fullback, the past couple months have been about proving he can run with the running backs. He did just that with a pair of 40-yard dashes that were timed around 4.50.

"I think a lot of guys thought I was going to come in and run 4.7 or 4.6," Leonard said. "I think I opened some scouts' eyes."

And he has slimmed down from 238 to 224 pounds.

"My pants don't fit anymore," he said with a laugh.

That won't be a problem if he's drafted on the first day as a running back. He'll be able to buy plenty of new, tighter-fitting clothes.

"In a smart move, he's showing he can be a tailback," Rutgers coach Greg Schiano said. "He can be an every-down back or a single back. Whoever drafts him, whatever they choose for him to be, I think Brian can do it."

Mike Garafolo may be reached at
mgarafolo@starledger.com

FEATURE ARTICLE!!!
Top RU Recruit is Talking Tough
The Record
Monday, January 29, 2007
By: ADITI KINKHABWALA, STAFF WRITER

Anthony Davis

Anthony Davis wasn't born yet, but he knows, in 1986, Billy Ard won a Super Bowl with the Giants.

Davis knows Ard logged 11 years as an NFL player, and he's spent enough time watching Ard's old tape to know the one-time offensive guard "was real nasty."

Still, as the 6-foot-5 Piscataway High School senior readies to become the nastiest guard Rutgers has ever seen -- or at least nasty enough to start this fall -- there is one thing he's sure he has on Ard.

"I'm a little more athletic than him," Davis said.

"Yeah, but he's not as good-looking," Ard shot right back.

It's been three weeks since Davis went on national television and said he'd accept a scholarship to Rutgers, becoming New Jersey's first-ever No. 1 prospect to commit to the state university. Now, after promising himself an absurd amount of hype, and after a high school career in which he admitted he rarely went past half-speed, Davis has enlisted Ard to push him ready -- and keep him straight.

"Everyone's always told him how great he is. I'm not going to sit there and stroke him," Ard said. "If he doesn't start at the start of the season, that's his fault."

Back when Ard's job was protecting Phil Simms, he was part of a fearsome line seemingly mis-monikered "The Suburbanites." They were fast and they had quick, strong hands and above all else, they were Bill Parcells-tough. Ard went on to Green Bay for three years before coming home in 1991 to Watchung.

Ray Handley immediately drafted him into filling in for Fred Hoaglin, the Giants' O-line coach, who'd had an angioplasty, and in just three weeks, Ard decided he loved teaching. But he couldn't stay on when the sure-to-be-fired Handley asked him to.

"If the ship was sailing," he said, "my destiny probably would've been different."

Instead, Ard went back to the financial advising he'd done every off-season -- he's now a vice-president of investments at UBS -- and three years ago, he started helping pro prospects at TEST Sports Club in Martinsville. Which is where he met Davis last summer during a high school showcase, and where Rutgers' biggest recruit ever decided logging some time with Ard might be smart.

"I'm trying to start as a freshman and the spot that's open [at Rutgers] is guard," said Davis, a tackle through high school. "[Ard] has a lot of knowledge and he's a cool guy. And he's still got enough juice to show me how to do things."

Just a couple of sessions into the eight-week, Monday night program TEST is running for some 30 high schoolers, the pair clearly has forged a perfect dynamic.

The plan is to focus on technique, and while Davis said Ard already has told him that if the Rutgers coaches' style is different come August camp, he's to follow what they teach, Ard is confident much of what Davis is learning now will hold up.

"Coming off the ball is coming off the ball," Ard said.

Davis likes to joke that "that's slower for guards," but he admitted Ard's given him an appreciation for the footwork required to effectively move and pull, something a left tackle does less of.

"You watch his film, he never stopped moving his feet," Davis said. "He was real tough."

And more toughness is ultimately what Ard said he'd like to get out of Davis. He readily calls him a physical freak, "so big and so massive and so athletic." He said there's little question Davis will one day "be tremendous," and as hard as it is for a freshman to start on a college line, he said Davis, "if he works like he can, should be very hard to beat out" for the graduating Cam Stephenson's spot.

There is the question of that work, though.

"In high school, if he came off the ball with any sort of intensity, there'd be a warrant for his arrest," Ard said. "He probably played to the level of the guy over him and you know that that guy was petrified."

Davis keeps hearing from Ard that when Rutgers' camp starts, there's no chance All-American defensive tackle Eric Foster will get big-eyed at him.
He said the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, where he played this month against what many called the best high school defensive line ever, was "definitely a battle," and he swore he's not sauntering onto campus expecting to be the team's new star.

At 335 pounds, Davis said his goal for camp sign-in is 315. He promised he won't lose any of his confidence -- "You work hard so you have confidence"
-- but he also said he likes Ard's reminders that "what's fine for a normal freshman won't be for Anthony."

"He's a real intelligent kid -- the light bulb's on," Ard said. "Once he knows what he really has, it should be ridiculous how he dominates. He's going to want it."

And until then, he'll have Ard convincing him he does.

Dipping Beneath The Radar
www.scarletnation.com

This week's Premier Showcase Summer Reunion was more than just an opportunity for the proven stars to shine once again. The event run by TEST Football Academy provided a chance for some of the lesser known stars of tomorrow to test themselves among the elite. Quite a few prospects took the field at Ridge High School and evidenced why college coaches should take a closer look at this assembly of talent.

Highly touted recruits such as Rutgers bound Logan Ryan, future Temple Owl Jerry Watters and Virginia commit Justin Renfrow put on stellar performances once more. However, they were joined by some other names who are just starting to pop up on the recruiting circuit.

Scotch Plains High School was represented well by cornerbacks Kenny Azard and Anthony Taylor. Both are under the radar kids from the class of 2009 and should get more looks through their senior seasons. Taylor did a particularly good job defending some of the top receivers on the day.

Rahjon Jones has a frame that will draw recruiters to Barringer like flies in the fall.

Barringer's Rahjon Jones is a player who is under the radar to recruiting sites, but apparently not to recruiters. The 6-foot-3, 282 pound defensive tackle says that he has picked up offers from West Virginia, USF and Temple since we last spoke to him. He is a raw, but physically imposing athlete who colleges will undoubtedly be watching as the season progresses.

Westside defensive end Brandon Lighter and Union defensive end Keith Wallace each made their return to the Premier Showcase. Both players went on to show significant improvement since their first trip up to the showcase this past February.

Notre Dame linebacker Christian Reed did a decent job of keeping up with Rutgers bound Paul Carrezola during the one-on-one portion of the event. Reed, who has fared well at past events and looks good on tape, is a bit of a tweener, teetering on the fence between linebacker and defensive end. Nevertheless, he played with a very high motor as he shadowed Carrezola, who has been unstoppable in 7-on-7 action this summer.

Defensive lineman Jamari Miller made the short trip up from Plainfield and made his presence felt in the trenches. He is also a bit raw but could develop into a steady college player.

The Showcase also had its share of underclassmen who were able to turn a few heads. Camden Catholic's Terrence Casper proved again why he should start reeling in offers in September. The 6-foot-6 Casper gobbled up nearly every pass that came his way.

Yet, Casper wasn't the only young receiver to gain notice. Union's Eljah Lee and North Brunswick's Glenn Edwards also took it to the defensive backs. Both were very speedy receivers who ran nice routes, which included quick bursts off of the cut.

Camden's Syteek Farrington also hauled in quite a few footballs while Roman Catholic's Eric Fraga showed promise at the wide receiver position despite only being a sophomore. Fraga is part of the class of 2011 and is already getting a start on catching the eye of college coaches.

Following this past February's Premier Showcase, many of the participants saw their recruitment begin to take flight. The collection of talent at this Monday's event is likely to experience the same effect.

Stars come out for Premier Showcase Summer Reunion
July 14, 2008
Bobby Deren
ScarletNation.com

Ridge High School was the setting for the Premier Showcase Summer Reunion, a follow-up event to February's prestigious Premier Showcase event. TEST Sports Clubs in conjunction with Rivals.com helped bring some of the area's top talent to the Basking Ridge school this evening to work with an all-star cast of instructors. Here's a glimpse into the action.

Former and current professional NFL stars were on hand to oversee each positional session. Among the group was former New York Giant star Odessa Turner, who worked with the wide receivers while current Green Bay Packer and former Scarlet Knight Joe Porter was on the opposite end coaching the defensive backs. Ex-Washington Redskins defensive end Aki Jones worked with the defensive lineman, while former NY Giant star Billy Ard worked with the offensive linemen. The quarterbacks were led by Giant alum Scott Brunner, and the running backs were led by former Tampa Bay Buc Ian Scott. Rounding out the crew were TEST Sports Clubs CEO Brian Martin and Performance Director Skip Fuller.

Logan Ryan

Mark Giubilato, who recently committed to Temple, was among the evening's top quarterbacks. The St. Joe's of Philadelphia signal caller is built like a linebacker, is very mobile, and has a decent arm. Also standing out were a pair of undersized yet effective quarterbacks in seniorsGabe Hernandez and Michael Romanella. Hernandez will most likely be given the keys to the St. Joe's of Montvale offense this year, while Romanella will continue where he left off for Bound Brook - putting up big numbers.

The top receivers tended to come in twos, as two schools produced four of the event's most intriguing athletes. Camden Catholic was represented by a pair of impressive receivers in the form of junior Terrence Casper and senior Jerry Watters, a Temple commitment.

Casperagain proved to be a huge target with very soft hands while Watters displayed some very good speed. North Brunswick provided some fireworks in the form of junior Glenn Edwards and senior Andrew Opoku.

Edwards managed to give Rutgers-bound corner Logan Ryan a run for his money, while Opoku grew more consistent as the night wore on.

Future Scarlet Knight Logan Ryan got plenty of opportunities to defend both of them as he showed why the scarlet nation should be excited about the future of the cornerback position. Ryan displayed an excellent combination of quickness, physicality and closing speed.

Tight end Paul Carrezola was another Rutgers recruit who also did not go unnoticed. Carrezola ran excellent routes while his hands seemed more like flypaper every time the football came his way.

The future also looks bright at Don Bosco thanks to junior linemen Brandon Sacco and James Kittredge, as well as junior wide receiver Jimmy Clark. Sacco and Kittredge will figure prominently on the D1A map while Clark should be a solid D1AA pick-up.

Down in the trenches, senior Joe Bonadies did a little more than hold his own. Bonadies managed to keep Rutgers commit Michael Larrow at arm's length during a portion of the one-on-ones.

However, stopping Larrow more than a couple of times is not a very feasible task. Larrow showed up looking as though he could already play in the ranks of Division 1. He also went on to display all the physical abilities that should make him a force in the Big East for years to come.

Mike Cole also participated in the night's action on the offensive side of the ball and proved once more that he will truly help whichever college picks him up. Barringer's Rahjon Jones was another name that kept coming up in the midst of the linemen drills. With offers from West Virginia, USF and Temple, Jones has excellent size for a defensive tackle and handled himself very well. Another lineman who made an impact was Virginia-bound Justin Renfrow, who left his regular tight end position and worked out on the defensive line.

It was an excellent array of talent that took to the field on this mid- July evening at Ridge High School. For the second time this year, the Premier Showcase provided a glimpse of tomorrow's collegiate stars and enabled them to test their skills against other players they will surely see in the future.