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NFL Draft notebook
Scott’s got a shot: Howland High graduate Tyler Scott, who earned second team All-Big Ten honors from the media last season, is among the Valley natives with a chance to earn a free agent contract following this weekend’s draft. NFLDraftScout.com ranks Scott as the 41st defensive end in the draft. One of the site’s analysts, Dane Brugler, likes Scott’s intelligence and maturity. “He plays like a veteran,” said Brugler, a Warren JFK High graduate. “He’s not the most impressive athletically, but he’s a smart kid and I like his awareness. He’s got a knack for elevating at the line of scrimmage and knocking down passes. Does he have the requisite NFL ability? He’d probably have to make a living on special teams. But when you turn on the tape, there’s a lot of things to like about him.”
Other Valley prospects: Several other Valley seniors should be in the mix, either as late-round draft picks or priority free agents. That list includes Michigan RB Fitzgerald Toussaint (Liberty), Bowling Green DB Cameron Truss (LaBrae) and Kent State S Luke Wollet (Poland). “Theoretically, when you look at the draft, it could be more than seven rounds but not getting drafted is not the worst thing,” Brugler said. “You can look at a team’s depth chart and if you’re a linebacker and a team has a need at linebacker, you might have a better shot than if you got drafted. The NFL is littered with undrafted guys. You’ve got to make the most of it.”
Penguin prospects: Youngstown State had three players sign as undrafted free agents last fall: OG Lamar Mady (Raiders), RB Jamaine Cook (Browns) and TE Will Shaw (Steelers/Eagles). Mady spent two games on the practice squad and spent the rest of the season on the active roster, while Cook spent the final 10 weeks on the practice squad. YSU has four candidates from this year’s team: C Chris Elkins, OT Kyle Bryant, QB Kurt Hess and P Nick Liste (Niles). Brugler scouted Bryant (6-6, 317) at the East-West Shrine Game and, like most scouts, was impressed by his size. “He’s not going to be the fastest on the field,” Brugler said. “One red flag was he only did 16 reps on the bench press at his pro day, so if you’re not athletic, you better be strong and he didn’t show that. But when you’re built like that, you’re gonna get a chance.”
Making the jump: Brugler thinks three FCS players have a chance to be drafted in the first 100 picks: Eastern Illinois QB Jimmy Garoppolo, Towson RB Terrance West and North Dakota State OT Billy Turner. “I think the jump from the FCS to the NFL is not what it used to be,” said Brugler, who attended the FCS championship game in January. “FCS guys get overlooked at the national level but there’s definitely talent in the FCS.”