Its an off-day for the East-West Shrine squads so let me take this opportunity to post my Shrine All-Practice Team for the week.
Offense
QB ALEK TORGERSEN/PENN 6’2/215 #15
RB JOE WILLIAMS/UTAH 5/11/202 #28
RB De’VEON SMITH/MICHIGAN 5’11/224 #2
WR AUSTIN CARR/NORTHWESTERN 6’0/201 #80
WR DEANGELO YANCEY/PURDUE 6’1/220 #88
TE ERIC SAUBERT/DRAKE 6’5/247 #85
T SAM TEVI/UTAH 6’5/312 #52
T DAN SKIPPER/ARKANSAS 6’9/317 #70
G ADAM PANKEY/WEST VIRGINIA 6’4/313 #57
G WILL HOLDEN/VANDERBILT 6’7/313 #58
C CHASE ROULLIER/WYOMING 6’3/321 #73
DEFENSE
E DEATRICH WISE/ARKANSAS 6’5/275 #99
E TREY HENDRICKSON/FLA ATLANTIC 6’4/255 #99
T DEANGELO BROWN/LOUISVILLE 6’0/312 #97
T RALPH GREEN/INDIANA 6’3/317 #96
LB PAUL MAGLOIRE/ARIZONA 6’0/225 #41
LB JAMES ONWUALO/NOTRE DAME 6’1/230 #47
LB AUSTIN CALITRO/VILLANOVA 6’1/250 #45
CB FABIAN MOREAU/UCLA 6’0/205 #2
CB TRESTON DeCOUD/OREGON STATE 6’2/203 #14
S XAVIER WOODS/LA TECH 5’11/203 #27
S LEON McQUAY/SOUTHERN CAL 6’1/195 #32
HONORABLE MENTION Because he’s a small school tweener, but an absolute physical specimen & productive player: #81 BILLY BROWN/WR 6’3/254, 10 1/2″HANDS, 33 1/2″ARMS, 80 1/4″WINGSPAN
I did get a few minutes to speak with all-purpose Place Kicker/Punter AUSTIN REHKOW of Idaho Thursday. I asked which position he felt most accomplished in and he said Punter. he pointed out his ability to directional Punt, which I had mentioned here a couple of says ago. But he also feels he is an accurate kicker, albeit not from long range. he expressed being a bit nervous about not having an experience Long Snapper, especially from a timing standpoint. But he did state that SAM TEVI, who won that job, is improving daily. Seems like a bright young man with a positive personality.
Even though he’s a bit light in the pants, I’m coming around to liking CAMERON TOM/OC/SOUTHERN MISS. He’s a good looking athlete who moves very well for an Int OL. He’s not powerful, but uses his longish arms (33 5/8″) to direct defenders away from the ball. Best of all he appears fairly light on his feet and moves very well in all directions.
Just to give you an idea of the athleticism of today’s football player… The East squad had a Punt fielding contest with 5 players from the both the D and O facing off to catch punts, near the end of Thursday’s practice session. No skill position players allowed. Not one ball hit the ground even though some punts required a long run to corral, especially the one caught by DAN SKIPPER. Even stubby NC STATE OC JOE SCELFO (6’0/294) cradled the ball into his chest for a catch.
I would have to say that one of the most pleasant surprises down here this week was East WR DeANGELO YANCEY of Purdue. the Boilermakers were not a winning team during his stay there and multiple coaching changes rocked the program. But most NFL personnel people understand that good players can end up in bad programs. YANCEY is a solid 6’1/220 and though he clearly lacks speed he gets separation and displays reliable hands. He can also shake off some of the smaller DB who don’t get to his legs quickly enough. He has put himself into draftable consideration here if he runs decently at the Combine and/or his Pro Day.
THat’s about it folks. I’ll be tweeting out at tomorrow’s game at the Trop. My twitter handle is ‘pigskinpaul’ for those interested in checking it. Game time is @ 3PM Eastern Time on NFL Network. If you can, please support the Shriners with a donation. They do great things for a whole lot of sick & injured kids; over a million and counting.
For what it’s worth (usually not much) I’ll take the West. That West squad is incredibly bigger and more athletic looking than the East, but then again.. I do not expect much offense and might even play a Vegas parlay that the D & Special Teams units outscore the Offenses.
Cheers
Pigskin
