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Colonials hold final tryouts-attended by 245 players |
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DrFootball |
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May 26, 2010 - 3:20:05 AM |
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Colonials hold final tryouts-attended by 245 players-By Dr. Bill Chachkes-Managing Partner/Executive Editor-Football Reporters Online-Provided on Special to CDS One would not normally think a Saturday in May is "good" football weather. About 700+ people disagreed with that this past weekend, as the Hartford Colonials held their final open tryout of the spring at immaculate High School in Danbury, just a few throws' distance from the Danbury Mall. On arrival, I was shocked at just how many players had made it out for the tryout. I knew they had 244 players down in Virginia two weeks before this, and 183 last week in Berlin Ct., which made for 672 players who tried out for possibly 30 spots, with no promise of being with the team past the end of the summer. I also knew or knew of several players who would attend this combine like event from our recent coverage of various college conferences. They are all players who didn't get drafted last month or signed to free agent contracts with NFL teams. Some had tryouts with NFL teams, like QB Ryan Perrilloux , the LSU transfer from Jacksonville State, fresh off a tryout with the Vikings (Ryan was signed prior to this workout, and will battle former Giants 3rd QB Andre Woodson and Former Pitt QB Bill Stull for the starters job), and former Holy Cross QB Dom Randolph, who also had a tryout with the Giants after last month's NFL draft, and was released. Randolph is still waiting for a call from someone to play football this year. Yale had a few players attending including Tight End A.J Haase, the Bulldogs hero of the last second win over Columbia this past season, and Punter Tom Mante, among the top specialists in the FCS throughout his college playing career. Several Villanova players were also in attendance, like Jon Bugli and Phil Matusz (offensive and defensive lines respectively) and our good friend and former guest on our Saturday morning show on CDS radio, Osayi Osunde, who had several major pass defenses during the one on one drills. While I'd love to see all of these players find work, the reality of the situation is that many won't, at least this time. All will take something out of the experience of having "been" there, and getting prep work from professional football coaches. Osayi, who was there with his workout partner and older brother, a former UConn player, echoed the sentiment that "the economy is tough right now, everyone who is here is looking for a job doing what they love, playing football" I was also impressed with the stories of several other players, a few who we are about to talk about. The first is James Dobson, a wide receiver from Husson University (a D-III school) in Bangor Maine. James, a 6' wide out who led the team in receptions, yardage, and average yards per catch last year, also took part in the University of Maine's pro day March 12th where he ran a 4.65, benched 8 reps at 225, and broad jumped a 9'7". He knows at this level he would most likely be a reserve player and most likely play inside in the slot, but he impressed this scout/writer as well as some of the coaches both viewing as spectators and on the Colonials staff. One out route that James ran placed him on the sideline going to the ground to make the catch right at the sideline, where he looked the ball in and scooped it right into his torso while placing both knees and his shoulder down, a perfect sideline grab which brought encouragement from the players on the sidelines waiting for their turns. I also saw A.J. Haase get a lot of work on both Blocking and Passing drills. Another impressive young man who helped his college team to its share of success in recent years, Haase is hoping for a chance at the professional level. He's also hoping his "career" day against Columbia on Halloween of 2009(5-75, including the winning TD grab mentioned above with 58 ticks left on the clock to snatch the win) is enough of a resume to impress Colonials Head Coach/GM Chris Palmer. |
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