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INDIANAPOLIS – No longer Hoosiers or Irish or Boilermakers, the players from Indiana, Notre Dame and Purdue who declared for the draft all walked into the NFL scouting combine wearing gray sweat shirts and black shorts.
In total, nine Hoosier college players were invited to participate in the combine: four from Purdue, three from Notre Dame and a pair of linemen from Indiana.
Despite coming from very different programs, all spoke with the same excitement of making the move to the next level.
Coming from Notre Dame, tight end Anthony Fasano, receiver Maurice Stovall and offensive lineman Dan Stevenson have already had a little taste of what it’s like to play in the pros, having played under former New England Patriots offensive coordinator Charlie Weis.
“I couldn’t come from a better college system,” Fasano said. “Coach Weis brought a very pro style offense and approach to the game. The transition into that last year helped me and I think it’s going to continue to help me in the transition to the next level.”
Stovall shared those feelings. The receiver said he felt Weis’ system “put me in positions to make plays and showcase my talents and abilities by learning his new system.”
Weis was also able to give players some guidance as to what to expect at the combine.
Weis offered Fasano, who decided to renounce his final season of eligibility and declare for the draft, guidance in making that decision. ”He’s been a great resource of mine throughout the whole process,” Fasano said. “We tried to stay away from it and concentrate on the season, but it was something that had to be discussed. I think we handled it the right way.”
And having thrived under Weis, Stovall said he could think of a team for which he would be a particularly good fit: the Patriots.
“I think because of the type of offense I was in with Coach Weis, I basically have the whole entire Patriots offense down and their system, their practice schedule,” the receiver said. “I definitely would feel more comfortable with the Patriots than any other team as far as knowing their offense more quickly, because Coach Weis brought their offense down. I’m very familiar with their terms and their schemes.”
Purdue tight end Charles Davis also feels the experience he’s had playing in “pro” conditions can help him at the next level.
Although, the Purdue system is little like the pro patterned Irish system, Davis did get the chance to play with now-Chicago Bears quarterback Kyle Orton.
“(Kyle’s) a great competitor,” Davis said. “It was a good experience for me and helped prepare me (for the next level).”
Davis admits he and his teammates will have to work a little harder at the next level because Purdue’s style of play “doesn’t really transfer over.”
However, there’s a likely chance that most of the players will get a shot. Purdue defensive back and South Side graduate Bernard Pollard is projected to be a third- or fourth-round pick.
Pollard and Stovall are expected to be the first of the college players from Indiana universities chosen.
Other players from in-state schools invited to the combine included Indiana’s Isaac Sowells and Victor Adeyanju and Purdue’s Ray Edwards and Rob Ninkovich.
Source: FortWayne.com
In total, nine Hoosier college players were invited to participate in the combine: four from Purdue, three from Notre Dame and a pair of linemen from Indiana.
Despite coming from very different programs, all spoke with the same excitement of making the move to the next level.
Coming from Notre Dame, tight end Anthony Fasano, receiver Maurice Stovall and offensive lineman Dan Stevenson have already had a little taste of what it’s like to play in the pros, having played under former New England Patriots offensive coordinator Charlie Weis.
“I couldn’t come from a better college system,” Fasano said. “Coach Weis brought a very pro style offense and approach to the game. The transition into that last year helped me and I think it’s going to continue to help me in the transition to the next level.”
Stovall shared those feelings. The receiver said he felt Weis’ system “put me in positions to make plays and showcase my talents and abilities by learning his new system.”
Weis was also able to give players some guidance as to what to expect at the combine.
Weis offered Fasano, who decided to renounce his final season of eligibility and declare for the draft, guidance in making that decision. ”He’s been a great resource of mine throughout the whole process,” Fasano said. “We tried to stay away from it and concentrate on the season, but it was something that had to be discussed. I think we handled it the right way.”
And having thrived under Weis, Stovall said he could think of a team for which he would be a particularly good fit: the Patriots.
“I think because of the type of offense I was in with Coach Weis, I basically have the whole entire Patriots offense down and their system, their practice schedule,” the receiver said. “I definitely would feel more comfortable with the Patriots than any other team as far as knowing their offense more quickly, because Coach Weis brought their offense down. I’m very familiar with their terms and their schemes.”
Purdue tight end Charles Davis also feels the experience he’s had playing in “pro” conditions can help him at the next level.
Although, the Purdue system is little like the pro patterned Irish system, Davis did get the chance to play with now-Chicago Bears quarterback Kyle Orton.
“(Kyle’s) a great competitor,” Davis said. “It was a good experience for me and helped prepare me (for the next level).”
Davis admits he and his teammates will have to work a little harder at the next level because Purdue’s style of play “doesn’t really transfer over.”
However, there’s a likely chance that most of the players will get a shot. Purdue defensive back and South Side graduate Bernard Pollard is projected to be a third- or fourth-round pick.
Pollard and Stovall are expected to be the first of the college players from Indiana universities chosen.
Other players from in-state schools invited to the combine included Indiana’s Isaac Sowells and Victor Adeyanju and Purdue’s Ray Edwards and Rob Ninkovich.
Source: FortWayne.com