BTI Sports Advisors - www.btisports.com » NFL Draft

Chargers Grab Antoine Cason in 1st Round

btisports — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 22:51:20 +0000

“We got a guy that we think is going to be a terrific football player,” Chargers General Manager A.J. Smith said. “Solid character, work ethic, production over the years. Fantastic. (There were) a lot of quality, good football players and we got ourselves one.”

Browns Trade Up, Get Beau Bell in 4th

btisports — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 21:56:03 +0000

“This guy is kind of a hammer type hitter,” Browns General Manager Phil Savage said. “If you saw some of his highlights, he knows how to finish. He brings some explosion at the end of plays. We feel like he’s a powerful tackler.”

Seahawks Select Owen Schmitt with #163

btisports — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 21:07:10 +0000

“He’s a good fullback and we don’t have anybody else like him on the roster,” Seahawks offensive coordinator Gil Haskell said. “He’s got good hands, blocks and he can run.”

Panthers Jump on Hayden in 6th

btisports — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 21:01:05 +0000

Nick Hayden played in 44 games with 39 starts at Wisconsin. He recorded 132 tackles, 10 sacks, six quarterback pressures, six fumble recoveries, six passes defensed and two blocked two kicks in his career.

One of the Big Ten’s strongest players, Hayden took advantage of that power to excel in his role as a stay at home type of run stuffer along the defensive line. A three-year starter for the Badgers, he has that long arm reach and aggressive nature to consistently defeat blocks to make plays working down the line.

Browns Add Darnell Terrell

btisports — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 20:22:41 +0000

Former University of Missouri cornerback Darnell Terrell signed a free agent contract with the Cleveland Browns following the 2008 NFL Draft.

Terrell appeared in 49 games during his college career, starting 34 contests…Posted 169 tackles (107 solos) with 4.5 stops for losses of 25 yards and a pressure…Recovered four fumbles, caused four others and blocked a field goal that he recovered for a touchdown…Returned four interceptions for 28 yards (7.0 avg)

Thorpe honoree Cason conquers difficult odds

btisports — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 16:44:00 +0000

By John Rohde, NewsOK.com Staff Writer

In order to win this year’s Jim Thorpe Award, Antoine Cason had to clear three significant hurdles. But it appeared the Arizona cornerback would be too small, too crippled and — oddly enough — too talented to be tabbed as the nation’s top collegiate defensive back.

Cason formally received his award Tuesday night during an awards ceremony at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, beating out fellow finalists James Silva of Boston College and LSU’s Craig Steltz for the honor.

Click here to view Antoine’s acceptance speech.

“The race, frankly, was very tight,” Jim Thorpe Association president Lynne Draper said.

Cason nearly didn’t enter the race at all.

When Cason arrived as a freshman at Los Alamitos High School in Long Beach, Calif., he stood 5-foot-5.

“I’d like to say I was 5-6, but it was 5-5,” Cason said. “During Pop Warner football, pee-wee football, I was always told I was too small, wasn’t good enough, wasn’t big enough, wasn’t strong enough. It did kind of wear on me.”

Thankfully, a growth spurt came at age 16. But it left Cason crippled with Osgood-Schlatter Disease, which causes swelling, pain and tenderness just below the knee.

“It hindered me. I couldn’t work out for eight months,” said Cason, who grew five inches that year. “I couldn’t even get out of a chair without help. It was bad. My coaches were pressing me, told me I was babying it, things like that. I told them I just couldn’t do it. It just hurt too much.”

Doctors told Cason the affliction would eventually go away with time. A determined Cason didn’t even miss a season, and there have been no lingering effects of the disease.

Cason’s third hurdle came with a decision after his junior season with the Wildcats.

He already had established himself as one of the nation’s premier cornerbacks and had been a Thorpe semifinalist.

The first-team All-Pacific 10 Conference pick and former freshman All-American gave serious consideration to entering the NFL Draft rather than returning for his senior season.

Cason is the only Thorpe winner never to have played in a bowl or had a winning season, a shortcoming that understandably could have led to an early departure to the pros.

In the end, Antoine Cason stayed true to his school.

“It was tough, and that was definitely when I needed my family the most,” Cason said.

Cason didn’t have to look far for advice.

His father, Wendell, played collegiately at Oregon and later with the Atlanta Falcons (1985-87). Cousins Kenyon Rambo played with the New York Jets and Avieon Cason with the Dallas Cowboys.

The affable Cason has long been a popular interview request for media in Arizona. But an overall record of 17-29 at the UA took its toll.

“It was difficult. I’m a competitive guy, and I really hate losing,” Cason said. “I tried my hardest to try to lead the team to a winning season. I tried to do all I can do. Unfortunately, it didn’t happen. But I kept my spirits high, kept my team first and played hard. I was tired of losing. I didn’t want to be known as a loser.”

Cason said he would not have regretted returning to school had he not won the Thorpe.

“Antoine’s been through a lot in his life,” Wendell Cason said. “Everybody overlooked him. He was getting discouraged. It was a hard struggle. He had to prove a lot of people wrong.”

Schmitt making noise in Mobile

btisports — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 00:46:11 +0000

By Chris Low, ESPN.com

MOBILE, Ala. — Owen Schmitt has yet to mangle any face masks during this week’s Senior Bowl practice, although there still is time for him to add to his famed collection. Legend has it that he broke 10 face masks during his West Virginia career, a testament to the way the bruising, 6-foot-1, 247-pound fullback plays the game.

“He’s got a hard head and won’t quit coming at you,” Penn State linebacker Dan Connor said admiringly. “I like his style. He’s old-school. He’s tough and rugged. Going against him … it’s like 1972 football.”

Schmitt, playing on the North team, is widely considered one of the two top fullbacks in the NFL draft, along with Arkansas’ Peyton Hillis, who is playing on the South team.

It didn’t take Schmitt very long this week to introduce himself to his teammates, specifically the defensive guys. On Monday, after hauling in a short pass out of the backfield, Schmitt planted California safety Thomas DeCoud in the turf, then dragged him for about 5 yards.

“I’ve got to get those little guys back,” Schmitt said, wearing a wry smile. “I keep getting blasted behind the back over here [during team periods], so I have to get them back a little bit.”

Schmitt’s toughest critic this week has been himself. He wasn’t pleased with the way he started off blocking. “I’m not moving the guy. I’m kind of fitting up and staying stationary,” he said.

Of course, he also kept losing his helmet, showing off his trademark Mohawk haircut. Connor joked that the helmet coming off was the result of Schmitt hitting guys so hard.

“You don’t have to look around when he hits somebody,” Connor said. “You know who it is by the way it sounds.”

At one point, Schmitt’s helmet popped off while he was blocking Michigan linebacker Shawn Crable. In vintage fashion, Schmitt never even thought about stopping.

“The whistle didn’t blow yet, so you keep going,” Schmitt said, shrugging.

Used some as a tight end in his last season at West Virginia, Schmitt has the versatility to play a number of positions in the NFL. He showed off his speed in the Mountaineers’ 48-28 rout of Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl with a career-long 57-yard touchdown run.

He had runs of 50 yards or longer in the Mountaineers’ two previous bowl games but was chased down each time. Not against the Sooners, though.

“It was a little monkey lifted off my back,” Schmitt said. “I was actually looking up at the JumboTron to see if there was anybody behind me. I wasn’t going to look behind me.”

Mississippi State coach Sylvester Croom, who coached running backs in the NFL, faced Schmitt each of the past two seasons and thinks he can play in any system.

“He’s exactly what you’re looking for, a big guy who can block, can run, can catch the football and be your short-yardage guy,” Croom said. “You can do so many things with him. That’s what makes him so valuable.”

Tom Rathman, who also knows a little something about playing fullback in the NFL, has had a close-up view of Schmitt this week. Rathman won two Super Bowls with the San Francisco 49ers while clearing the way for Roger Craig and now is the running backs coach of the Oakland Raiders. The Raiders’ staff is coaching the North team this week.

“Everything you look for in a fullback, he has,” Rathman said. “It’s about him taking it to the next level, getting better in everything he does, whether it be the pass game or the run game. He’s got to get better as a blocker. But he has the tools to take that next step. It’s a matter of how fast he progresses.”

The comparisons between Rathman and Schmitt are obvious, but Rathman stopped short of calling them mirror images of each other.

“Nah, I was a lot better looking than he is,” Rathman quipped.

At the Senior Bowl weigh-in, Schmitt was 10 pounds lighter than his senior playing weight. He said he was an “overweight” 257 pounds this past season and needed to trim down.

Schmitt gets a chuckle out of being asked whether he would be willing to play H-back or even special teams in the NFL.

“I’ll play water boy if they want to draft me,” he said. “I don’t care. I’d punt if they really wanted me to. I just want to impress some people and show them what I can do.”

It’s that kind of “I’ve got something to prove” mentality that has driven Schmitt, who became one of the Mountaineers’ permanent team captains.

After playing his first season at Division III Wisconsin-River Falls, he started his West Virginia career as a walk-on. He went from scout team to full-time starter in 2005 and made 21 career starts — 10 at tailback, seven at fullback and four at tight end.

“It’s been an experience, a fun journey, a lot of ups and lot of downs,” Schmitt said. “But I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I’m glad I took the road I did. You’ve got to prove yourself, and everyone here is still proving themselves.

That never stops in the NFL. You’ve got to prove yourself every day in the NFL. And if you don’t, you’re not going to be there for very long.”

Colts Nab Quinn Pitcock in 3rd Round

btisports — Tue, 01 May 2007 12:56:50 +0000

“(Defensive line coach) John Teerlinck described him as a, ‘Big-Old-Ax-Handle-Guy,’’’ Colts President Bill Polian said said. “He’s a terrific run player. He’s a high-motor, go-go-go, chase-all-over-the-field guy… a guy who will stand in and slug it out with you…”

Harris a Steal in 7th Round

btisports — Tue, 01 May 2007 04:28:29 +0000

by Mike Spofford, Packers.com
posted 04/29/2007

Clark Harris is willing to handle just about any role a tight end can.

The Packers’ 11th and final selection in the 2007 NFL Draft, a seventh-round pick at 243rd overall out of Rutgers, Harris became one of his team’s primary pass-catchers as a sophomore when injuries hit the wide receiver position. He caught 53 balls for 725 yards and five touchdowns in 2004.

“I like him,” said General Manager Ted Thompson. “He’s a good pass-catcher, he’s got pretty good route-running ability. He’s a big fellow… I was surprised he was still there.”

He also took over as the Rutgers’ long snapper when an injury knocked the incumbent out of the lineup.

Then he became more of a blocker as a junior and senior, when Rutgers reverted to a more ground-oriented attack behind standouts Ray Rice and Brian Leonard. And Harris continued to handle the long-snapping duties as his collegiate career concluded.

So to ask him whether he’s concerned his receiving numbers dropped, to 38 and 34 catches his final two years, or whether he’d be willing to become a long-snapper in the NFL, you’ll get nothing but the true team player answer from Harris.

“The running game definitely picked up more my junior year, but then come senior year the main focus was to get Leonard and Rice the ball,” Harris said. “We had a great season, and I told people I’d rather have more wins with less yards than more yards with less wins.”

And the long-snapping?

“I love to snap,” he said. “It’s something I take pride in, and I practice it as much as I would catching the ball or anything else. Hopefully I can come in and be able to do that here.”

He just might be able to, with veteran long-snapper Rob Davis nearing the end of his career. General Manager Ted Thompson said he could see Harris being an emergency long-snapper if something were to happen to Davis, and he’s a potential long-term replacement there provided he can be an NFL-caliber tight end at 6-5 1/2 and 261 pounds.

“I like him,” Thompson said. “He’s a good pass-catcher, he’s got pretty good route-running ability. He’s a big fellow and probably needs to improve his blocking a little bit, but we thought that was a good value pick where we picked him. I was surprised he was still there.”

Pousson Signs Contract with Browns

btisports — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 07:43:15 +0000

McNeese State all-conference and all-Louisiana offensive lineman Brent Pousson has signed a free agent contract with the Cleveland Browns.

A native of Iota and a three year starter for the Cowboys, Pousson said Sunday that Cleveland was the best fit for him.

“It offers the best situation for me to make the team,” he said, noting that Cleveland would try him at right offensive tackle. “This is a great opportunity for me to keep playing.”

He said that he was told by Cleveland officials that he would be the only free agent offensive lineman they would sign.

The 6-4, 305 pounder played this past season as a graduate student and is pursuing a master degree in agriculture-business. He played on two Southland Conference championship teams with the Cowboys and was the team’s top scholar athlete.

He’s the lastest Cowboy to sign a free agent contract with the NFL. Two seasons ago B. J. Sams signed as a free agent with Baltimore and has gone on to become a standout kick returner and wide receiver for the Ravens.

Chargers Add O-Lineman Mike Jones

btisports — Sun, 29 Apr 2007 07:47:21 +0000

At the end of last season, the Bolts had 14 players on their 53-man roster that had originally joined the team as undrafted rookie free agents. The Chargers have proven that undrafted rookie free agents will get their fair shot, and 22 hopefuls were added Monday, including offensive guard Mike Jones from Iowa.

“I love creating competition,” Chargers General Manager A.J. Smith said. “These guys come in here and work their tails off as they try to become professionals. It makes everyone better, and has history has shown, we’ve found quite a few undrafted players make our team and help us win.”

The Chargers chose not to draft any offensive linemen over the weekend but added three guards and a center as free agents. Iowa’s Mike Jones will battle for a roster spot at guard. Jones was a first team all-America selection by scout.com and a first team all-Big Ten choice of league coaches.

Pitcock Hopes to be First DT Taken in Draft

O9 Productions — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 16:30:39 +0000

From Piqua High School to Ohio State University to the NFL, Quinn Pitcock is preparing for another transition.

Now football is more than a game. It’s a business. And the Buckeyes’ star defensive lineman is getting a taste of it at the NFL combine.

“We have to understand it’s now truly a job,” he said. “It’s still a fun game, but you have to realize it’s a job interview at this event and you’re playing against guys who are competing for their family and kids.”

Pitcock’s family wants to know where the mighty Quinn will land at the next, and highest, level.

“You hear them talking about that in the background and you’ve got to realize, ‘Hey, don’t listen to it,’ ” he said. “You won’t know until the day of (the draft), until you’re picked. I just try to ignore all the hoopla.”

Pitcock, who measured at 6-foot-2½ and 299 pounds, has the versatility to play defensive tackle in a 4-3 scheme or defensive end in a 3-4.

“My biggest strength is that I can play any position on the defensive line,” he said. “I’d just have to adjust my weight. I have the ability and physique to get bigger or get smaller and still keep my speed and strength.”

The big fellow enjoys playing tackle, but mention end, and his eyes light up.

“That’s where I feel most comfortable — rushing from the outside,” he said.

Pitcock showed his toughness in 2006 when he rebounded from July shoulder surgery in which a labral tear was sutured. Then his patience was tested during a dream season that ended with a nightmarish loss to Florida in the Bowl Championship Series title game.

“Even before the national championship game, doing the circuit of awards banquets, that’s what really made the season a lot longer,” he said. “I did a lot of traveling on top of practicing. Sometimes it got me down, tired, and it was tough to get up to do everything. It was a long season, something I’m going to have to get adjusted to these coming years.”

Pitcock’s goal is to be the first defensive tackle taken.

“Someone told me (Michigan’s) Alan Branch is highly up there, but we’ll see how that plays out on draft day,” he said.

The Ohio State-Michigan rivalry never ends.

Source: [Dayton Daily News]

Quinn Pitcock – Draft Blog

O9 Productions — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 14:25:47 +0000

Want an inside look at what happens when a top prospect goes through the NFL draft process? Former Ohio State star defensive tackle Quinn Pitcock gives his thoughts on the entire process leading up to Draft Day with an unique behind-the-scenes look.

By Richard Cirminiello

Although he was a former All-America defensive tackle at Ohio State, you may not know Quinn Pitcock. He didn’t contend for the Heisman Trophy, like Troy Smith, or bring a crowd to its feet with his 4.3 jets, like Ted Ginn. He didn’t attract national attention by sleeping in a tent, ala Anthony Gonzalez or have a dad, such as James Laurinaitis, who was a former professional wrestler. No, Pitcock was one of the more anonymous, yet vital, cogs in a program that won 30 since he became a starter in 2004. He’s a powerful, 6-3, 295-pound interior lineman with a contagious work ethic and the quickness and athletic ability of many ends. Why should you care? Because Pitcock will be a first-day draft choice in April and is about to turn the coveted twin killing for NFL prospects, getting invites to the Senior Bowl in Mobile and the Combine in Indianapolis.

From now until the NFL Draft on April 28, Quinn Pitcock will allow everyone to get under his helmet and inside his thoughts as he prepares to fulfill that childhood dream of becoming a professional football player.

Feb. 20, 2007

Quinn Pitcock here, and I am back to give you some insight on my adventures thus far. I have been extremely busy preparing for the Combine every day, as well as doing public appearances around Ohio. Just last week alone, I did five autograph sessions – the Ohio State fans are great, and we always get lots of turnout for the appearances. We Buckeyes really do appreciate the loyalty.

It has been a long weekend too, but it’s time to get re-focused on the Combine and the draft preparation. One of the hardest parts of complete physical preparation is executing on a good nutrition plan. We are always so busy, it’s hard to make the time to buy, cook and eat the right way. For the Combine, though, my agents at BTI Sports hired a personal chef to help me follow my nutritionist’s meal plan and avoid those McDonald’s drive-thrus. Jaclyn’s Personal Chef Services in Columbus has helped me tremendously by preparing meals that fit my meal plan perfectly. I get a week’s worth of cooked food at a time, and I simply re-heat the meals and eat according the plan. It is the ultimate in convenience and has made my life a lot easier.

Next time I write will be after the Combine, and I am hoping to report nothing but good news. If you have any questions, email richardc@collegefootballnews.com, and I will be happy to address them in a future blog. Take care. QP

Feb. 5, 2006

OSU Career:

I couldn’t have written a better story for my career at Ohio State.

I came in during 2002 and was a part of the national championship team. I was redshirted, but that gave me the time to develop my skills. I had limited playing time behind great players like Darrion Scott and Tim Anderson the following year. In 2004, I earned a starting DT job that I kept for the next three years. And during my time, we were lucky enough (and worked hard enough) to be able to compete in another national championship game and two more BCS bowl games.

In 2005, I was struggling through the season with a nagging shoulder injury. As soon as we beat Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl, I went into surgery. This was a hard time for me—not being able to lift hard and going through rehab for six months. I wasn’t fully recovered until July of last year, which gave me a month of hard lifting before the start of this past season. I was surprised how quickly I was able to regain my strength and conditioning. And I think I ended my career a good note, being co-captain of a 12-1 squad.

I have built great relationships with my teammates and coaches over the years, and I wish them all the best of luck in the future.

Agent Selection Process:

Picking an agent is a hectic process that took me back to recruiting in high school for college football. You have to have some kind of strategy or else you will get overwhelmed quickly.

First, I met with agents in the spring at Ohio State’s “agent day”. This was my first cut. I felt if these agents took the time to be certified in Ohio and through Ohio State, then they are serious about representing me. Then I tried to figure out what peripheral services (added value) that each agency has that makes them different. However, as I learned in school, services can be copied, and many agencies had the same old sales pitch about integrity. To me, that was just the beginning.

BTI Sports Advisors stood out for me because of its partner Jim Flanigan, who played in the NFL as a d-lineman for 10 years. Having someone to talk with that has experienced the league and truly knows what teams are looking for is a huge plus. Jim has already taught me techniques that I was oblivious to, and his input will truly increase my playing ability. BTI Sports was a medium-sized firm that my family and I felt was big enough to get the deals done, but small enough for individual attention. In the end, of course, it came down to being comfortable with the firm’s partners, Brad Leshnock, Joe Flanagan, Jim Flanigan and Ron Slavin. My family is happy with the decision, and we look forward to working with BTI for many years to come.

Click here for regular updates: Scout.com

Clark Harris – Draft Diary

O9 Productions — Sat, 24 Feb 2007 16:26:12 +0000

Former Rutgers tight end Clark Harris is taking part in the NFL Combine in Indianapolis. While there, he will file a diary.

It wasn’t bad yesterday. I just did some psychological tests, a little bit of interviews and then the bench press. Other than that, it was pretty much just sitting around and hanging out for a while.

I did most of the psychological tests at the Senior Bowl, but I had to make one up today because the information one of the teams collected got messed up. And I had to take another quick one for the Steelers. They had a list of 75 attributes and I had to check off the ones that I felt best described me: respectful, honest, a leader and attractive. Well, actually I didn’t check that last one.

<> Another one of the tests was just matching patterns up to each other. It was a little more complex than the tests we used to take in elementary school, but it wasn’t that bad.Then, it was time for the bench press yesterday afternoon. I did 21 reps of 225 pounds and a long half of a 22nd one. The official count was 21, though. I had tested a couple of times leading up to the combine and every time I was within 20-23, so 21 was a pretty good number for me. It was near the top of what most of the tight ends did. I just hope I impressed the strength guys with my bench and showed the coaches I have long arms and explosion that is good for blocking.

I haven’t met with all 32 teams yet, but I’m pretty close. I’m in the lower 20s right now and I still have a few meetings left to go. By the time it’s all said and done, I’ll probably have met with about 29 teams. But you know what that means — one of the other three will probably draft me. That’s the way it happens sometimes.

Today, I’m scheduled to do the running and jumping drills for the coaches. I’ve never gotten nervous before games and I haven’t been nervous all week, so I don’t expect to be when I get out there. I hope it stays that way. And as far as my broken toe is concerned, it’s pretty much healed, so I don’t think it’s going to affect my performance. I’m pretty sure I’m going to have a good showing.

Jets sign Mangold to Deal Worth up to Over $10.5 million

btisports — Thu, 27 Jul 2006 19:38:53 +0000

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. — The New York Jets signed first-round pick Nick Mangold, getting all their players signed in time for the start of training camp.

The deal is said to be for 5 years and about $7.5 million, with incentives that can push it to over $10.5 million.

Mangold, a center out of Ohio State, is penciled in to start with fellow rookie D’Brickashaw Ferguson. The No. 4 overall pick agreed to his deal Thursday morning.

The Jets open training camp Friday.