Dallas Cowboys looking for keepers at Senior Bowl
By RICK HERRIN
rickherrin@star-telegram.com
Dallas Cowboys scouting director Tom Ciskowski and his staff found a surprising gem at last year’s Senior Bowl.
The Cowboys got an up-close look at Georgia Tech running back Tashard Choice, who was drafted in the fourth round. While he didn’t play a position of need, the Cowboys went with what they felt was the best player available.
The selection of Choice proved vital because of injuries to Marion Barber and first-round pick Felix Jones. With the Cowboys’ past draft history, a future standout could be playing in tonight’s Senior Bowl at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala.
The Senior Bowl has produced Cowboys All-Pro linebacker DeMarcus Ware, 2007 Pro Bowl kicker Nick Folk and Choice over the past four years. Offensive tackle Flozell Adams (1998) and center Andre Gurode (2002) also played in the game.
The Cowboys do not have a first-round pick in the April NFL Draft. However, they will have nine overall selections.
A look at five positions the Cowboys could target in the draft and Senior Bowl prospects at each spot:
Strong safety
William Moore, Missouri (6-1, 230) — Big hitter who makes plays in coverage.
Patrick Chung, Oregon (6-0, 210) — Great run stopper who is highly productive.
Louis Delmas, Western Michigan (5-11, 196) — Physical, but lacks great quickness and his level of competition could be a concern.
Linebacker
ILB Darry Beckwith, LSU (6-1, 232) — Butkus Award finalist built for weakside with solid sideline-to-sideline pursuit.
OLB Clint Sintim, Virginia (6-3, 254) — Was at Virginia with Cowboys tight ends coach John Garrett.
ILB Rey Maualuga, USC (6-2, 260) — Disruptive player who is explosive, but can be overaggressive.
Wide receiver
Juaquin Iglesias, Oklahoma (6-0, 204) — Stock rising after a standout performance at workouts.
Brian Robiskie, Ohio State (6-3, 199) — Son of Atlanta Falcons receivers coach Terry Robiskie had 19 touchdowns past two years.
Derrick Williams, Penn State (6-0, 194) — Fast and very elusive, was the No. 1 player in the country coming out of high school.
Defensive line
DT B.J. Raji, Boston College (6-1, 323) — Think a bigger version of Pro Bowler Jay Ratliff. He regularly whipped linemen in one-on-one drills.
DE Robert Ayers, Tennessee (6-3, 270) — Has potential but didn’t start until his senior year and had only nine career sacks.
DT Fili Moala, USC (6-5, 295) — Perfect fit for end in 3-4 alignment; a cousin of Baltimore lineman Haloti Ngata.
Quarterback
Rhett Bomar, Sam Houston State (6-2, 224) — Back on the radar with a big arm and outstanding athletic ability. If his stock rises, he could move into the second round.
Graham Harrell, Texas Tech (6-2, 217) — Doesn’t have the arm strength or athletic ability of Bomar. Likely a middle-round prospect.
Nathan Brown, Central Arkansas (6-0, 217) — It was hard to stand out in Mobile alongside Bomar and Harrell.
rickherrin@star-telegram.com
Dallas Cowboys scouting director Tom Ciskowski and his staff found a surprising gem at last year’s Senior Bowl.
The Cowboys got an up-close look at Georgia Tech running back Tashard Choice, who was drafted in the fourth round. While he didn’t play a position of need, the Cowboys went with what they felt was the best player available.
The selection of Choice proved vital because of injuries to Marion Barber and first-round pick Felix Jones. With the Cowboys’ past draft history, a future standout could be playing in tonight’s Senior Bowl at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala.
The Senior Bowl has produced Cowboys All-Pro linebacker DeMarcus Ware, 2007 Pro Bowl kicker Nick Folk and Choice over the past four years. Offensive tackle Flozell Adams (1998) and center Andre Gurode (2002) also played in the game.
The Cowboys do not have a first-round pick in the April NFL Draft. However, they will have nine overall selections.
A look at five positions the Cowboys could target in the draft and Senior Bowl prospects at each spot:
Strong safety
William Moore, Missouri (6-1, 230) — Big hitter who makes plays in coverage.
Patrick Chung, Oregon (6-0, 210) — Great run stopper who is highly productive.
Louis Delmas, Western Michigan (5-11, 196) — Physical, but lacks great quickness and his level of competition could be a concern.
Linebacker
ILB Darry Beckwith, LSU (6-1, 232) — Butkus Award finalist built for weakside with solid sideline-to-sideline pursuit.
OLB Clint Sintim, Virginia (6-3, 254) — Was at Virginia with Cowboys tight ends coach John Garrett.
ILB Rey Maualuga, USC (6-2, 260) — Disruptive player who is explosive, but can be overaggressive.
Wide receiver
Juaquin Iglesias, Oklahoma (6-0, 204) — Stock rising after a standout performance at workouts.
Brian Robiskie, Ohio State (6-3, 199) — Son of Atlanta Falcons receivers coach Terry Robiskie had 19 touchdowns past two years.
Derrick Williams, Penn State (6-0, 194) — Fast and very elusive, was the No. 1 player in the country coming out of high school.
Defensive line
DT B.J. Raji, Boston College (6-1, 323) — Think a bigger version of Pro Bowler Jay Ratliff. He regularly whipped linemen in one-on-one drills.
DE Robert Ayers, Tennessee (6-3, 270) — Has potential but didn’t start until his senior year and had only nine career sacks.
DT Fili Moala, USC (6-5, 295) — Perfect fit for end in 3-4 alignment; a cousin of Baltimore lineman Haloti Ngata.
Quarterback
Rhett Bomar, Sam Houston State (6-2, 224) — Back on the radar with a big arm and outstanding athletic ability. If his stock rises, he could move into the second round.
Graham Harrell, Texas Tech (6-2, 217) — Doesn’t have the arm strength or athletic ability of Bomar. Likely a middle-round prospect.
Nathan Brown, Central Arkansas (6-0, 217) — It was hard to stand out in Mobile alongside Bomar and Harrell.
posted by The Gryphon at 4:32 PM
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