MAC Talent [All in one place]

[Dr Z]

Only four MAC players were drafted this weekend. Weak year.

Miami's Quinten Rollins to GB

Buffalo's Kristjan Sokoloji to Sea

CMU's Leterrius Walton to Pitt

NIU's Da'Ron Brown to KC

The Hawks plan to move Kristjan from defense to offense (center).

Sixth-round choice Kristjan Sokoli was a defensive tackle at Buffalo, but last week Seahawks offensive-line coach Tom Cable worked him out to be a center. Cable was encouraged enough to not only draft him but put him at center in Friday’s rookie minicamp. Max Unger had played there for a half-dozen years until his trade to New Orleans for tight end Jimmy Graham — the guy whom the Seahawks kept reminding all weekend was essentially their traded first-round pick.

[Dr Z]

MAC's Khalil Mack Poised for Stardom (click here for entire story).

....Mack noticed Texans backup tight end Ryan Griffin lining up across from him. I played against this guy in college, Mack thought to himself. If he's out here, I know I can play this game at a high level. Mack easily tossed Griffin aside on a couple more runs to remind the former UConn star that little had changed now that they were competing on football's biggest stage.

In fact, the longer Mack played in that 30-14 Week 2 loss, the more he felt as though he was making a statement with every play. The Raiders may not have been winning, but the rookie was telling the world something about a player who had been selected fifth overall in the 2014 draft. "I learned early on that it's hard to win games in this league," Mack said. "You have to pay attention to detail. You have to always have the right technique. And you really do have to play every down like it's your last."...

...Mack had followed a similar routine in college, when he helped the Bulls grow from a program that won two games during his freshman season to one that finished second in the MAC during his senior year. A similar challenge now awaits him in Oakland.

[Dr Z]

Darrius Heyward-Bey hints to why one of the MAC's bigger recent talents has sputtered in the NFL thus far. To go from completely stopped, to "unstoppable" is a pretty large leap?!? But football in shorts (OTAs) can get pretty boring this time of year, so to pull that quote is probably pretty unfair to DA.

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Chris AdamskiVerified account‏@C_AdamskiTrib

DHB: "You gotta learn what’s called ‘route speed.’ You can’t go 4.2

every route...Once Dri gets that down, he’s gonna be pretty unstoppable"

[LZIp]

Does DHB have room to give anyone career advice? Talk about a bust.

[zippy5]

If anyone knows what it's like to be unstoppable it's DHB

[Dr Z]

The MAC consistently provides some untraditional routes to an NFL roster.

Kristjan Sokol's journey from Albania, to the MAC (UB), now to the NFL (SEA). (Rolling Stone Article).

Sokoli is the first Albanian-born player to ever make the National Football League, and only the 13th player to ever be drafted from the University at Buffalo. And from the moment the Seahawks picked him in the sixth round and he got on the phone with offensive line coach Tom Cable, he went from being a college defensive tackle to an NFL center, a position he has never played before.

Another (LT Walton CMU) position converted MAC player tying to crack a roster.

Walton is a converted offensive lineman who is still very rough around the edges in terms of technique along the defensive line. Watching his film shows an extremely athletic lineman who relies on instinct and athleticism over technique and responsibility.

[Dr Z]

MNF should feature another talent from the MAC tonight.

Seahawks rookie Thomas Rawls overcame obstacles on way to NFL (click on link for entire story)

The instant he heard Thomas Rawls had signed with the Seahawks, two words came to the mind of Gino Guidugli, his position coach at Central Michigan: perfect match. Rawls revived his career at Central Michigan after three years at Michigan. He also acquired a nickname from teammates based on his resemblance to a certain NFL running back — ‘’Beast Mode.”It sounds almost too convenient of a story now that Rawls is in position to replace the real Beast Mode, Marshawn Lynch, should Lynch’s troublesome hamstring prevent him from playing Monday night against the Detroit Lions at CenturyLink Field

[LZIp]

Darrius Heyward-Bey hints to why one of the MAC's bigger recent talents has sputtered in the NFL thus far. To go from completely stopped, to "unstoppable" is a pretty large leap?!? But football in shorts (OTAs) can get pretty boring this time of year, so to pull that quote is probably pretty unfair to DA.

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Follow

Chris AdamskiVerified account‏@C_AdamskiTrib

DHB: "You gotta learn what’s called ‘route speed.’ You can’t go 4.2

every route...Once Dri gets that down, he’s gonna be pretty unstoppable"

Dri is going to have to work on his route speed somewhere else. Released by the Steelers.

[Dr Z]

Dri is going to have to work on his route speed somewhere else.

Dri in NY

The New York Jets hosted 12 free-agent tryouts on Tuesday, and it's not hard to figure out the theme -- special teams. They worked out seven placekickers, one punter and four kick returners, including Dri Archer and Trindon Holliday. Archer is the most intriguing name.

[johnnyzip84]

MAC's Khalil Mack Poised for Stardom (click here for entire story).

....Mack noticed Texans backup tight end Ryan Griffin lining up across from him. I played against this guy in college, Mack thought to himself. If he's out here, I know I can play this game at a high level. Mack easily tossed Griffin aside on a couple more runs to remind the former UConn star that little had changed now that they were competing on football's biggest stage.

In fact, the longer Mack played in that 30-14 Week 2 loss, the more he felt as though he was making a statement with every play. The Raiders may not have been winning, but the rookie was telling the world something about a player who had been selected fifth overall in the 2014 draft. "I learned early on that it's hard to win games in this league," Mack said. "You have to pay attention to detail. You have to always have the right technique. And you really do have to play every down like it's your last."...

...Mack had followed a similar routine in college, when he helped the Bulls grow from a program that won two games during his freshman season to one that finished second in the MAC during his senior year. A similar challenge now awaits him in Oakland.

Not a bad day's work yesterday.

[Dr Z]

Quentin ends up going number sixty-two to GB.

Rollins (5-11, 195) was the Mid-American Conference Defensive Player of the Year in his lone season on the gridiron, which is certainly a good start as he tries to transition to the NFL game. The question now is how much the Packers can reasonably expect in his first pro season with so little football foundation.

Turns out, they can expect a LOT.

Best passer rating allowed by any rookie CB to play 200+ snaps: Quentin Rollins: 58.4. Defensive Rookie of the year Marcus Peters 2nd best at 67.7.

[MDZip]

That's a pretty amazing story - let's see Reitz, Gates, Rollins, maybe the NFL should just start scouting MAC basketball teams.

[Dr Z]

That's a pretty amazing story

Lot's of amazing stories about the MAC and the NFL, here is another.

One of the toughest guys I ever watched the Zips play. April was the toughest girl.

__________

Edited January 22, 2016 by Dr Z

[LZIp]

Bruce Feldman Verified account ‏@BruceFeldmanCFB

AM RT: The rich just got richer. Meet new #Alabama WR grad transfer Gehrig Dieter. He's got a heckuva story.

 

 

No Babers, no Johnson, no Lewis, no Greene, and now no Dieter. The East is ripe for the taking.

[Balsy]

On 2/14/2016 at 11:05 AM, LZIp said:

Bruce Feldman Verified account ‏@BruceFeldmanCFB

AM RT: The rich just got richer. Meet new #Alabama WR grad transfer Gehrig Dieter. He's got a heckuva story.

 

 

No Babers, no Johnson, no Lewis, no Greene, and now no Dieter. The East is ripe for the taking.

 

I'm calling my shot:  Zips make it to the MAC Championship this season.  Go Zips!

[ZachTheZip]

http://sportsday.dallasnews.com/dallas-cowboys/cowboys/2016/02/24/gosselin-height-issue-two-macs-best-invited-combine-congratulations-nfl-played

[Dr Z]

While I hate to see any talent leave the MAC, this may say a little about the strength of the league.

 

The move to Auburn will present a lot of potential intrigue for fans of the Mid-American Conference, as Gehrig Dieter, the Bowling Green receiver that paired with Roger Lewis to lead the Falcons offense the last two seasons, transferred to Alabama as a graduate student shortly after the season concluded. This means a potential Iron Bowl matchup for the two players, if the cards play themselves right.

[Dr Z]

List and more at Hustle belt, including who is still out there (Cody Grice and more).

 

Were you able to recognize all the NFL/fringe talent when you watched MAC games last year? I'm a little surprised Roger Lewis didn't get drafted. 

 

Drafted

(Minnesota Vikings) OL- Willie Beavers, Western Michigan

(Tennessee Titans) WR- Tajae Sharpe, Massachusetts Minutemen

(San Diego Chargers) LB- Jatavis Brown, Akron

(Dallas Cowboys) DB- Kavon Frazier, Central Michigan

(Dallas Cowboys) RB- Darius Jackson, Eastern Michigan

(Chicago Bears) WR- Daniel Braverman, Western Michigan

 

Undrafted Free Agents

(Tennessee Titans) OL- Rmadan Ahmeti, Central Michigan

(Buffalo Bills) DE- Bryson Albright, Miami

(Minnesota Vikings) OL- Nick Beamish, Central Michigan

(Miami Dolphins) OL- Ruben Carter, Toledo

(Dallas Cowboys) DT- Rodney Coe, Akron

(Detroit Lions) DE- Clay Dawson, Eastern Michigan

(Tampa Bay Buccaneers) Phillips Ely, Toledo

(Oakland Raiders) DE- Perez Ford, Northern Illinois

(Indianapolis Colts) QB- Blake Frohnapfel, Massachusetts

(Washington) RB- Travis Greene, Bowling Green

(Cincinnati Bengals) DB- Eilar Hardy, Bowling Green

(Tennessee Titans) OL- Alex Huettel, Bowling Green

(Green Bay Packers) DB- Randal Jette, Massachusetts

(Baltimore Ravens) DL- Robert Kitching III, Massachusetts

(Chicago Bears) OL- John Kling, Buffalo

(New York Giants) WR- Roger Lewis, Bowling Green

(New Orleans Saints) WR- Tommylee Lewis, Northern Illinois

(Buffalo Bills) QB- Joe Licata, Buffalo

(Cincinnati Bengals) QB- Matt Johnson, Bowling Green

(New York Giants) TE- Desroy Maxwell, Northern Illinois

(New York Giants) LB- Kessan Messiah, Massachusetts

(Houston Texans) DE- Jarrell McKinney, Western Michigan

(San Diego Chargers) OL- Mike McQueen, Ohio

(Minnesota Vikings) WR- Marken Michel, Massachusetts

(Dallas Cowboys) S- Rolan Milligan, Toledo

(Pittsburgh Steelers) CB- Cheatham Norrils, Toledo

(Cincinnati Bengals)- OL- Lucas Powell, Ohio

(New York Giants) OL- Jacob Richard, Ball State

(Cincinnati Bengals) WR- Alonzo Russell, Toledo

(Kansas City Chiefs) DL- Nate Terhune, Kent State

(San Diego Chargers) TE- Matt Weiser, Buffalo

(Detroit Lions) CB- Ian Wells, Ohio 

(Arizona Cardinals) DB- Ronald Zamort, Western Michigan

[LZIp]

I figured Darryl Monroe and/or Grice would get a camp invite. Maybe the position change for Grice did him in. the FB position is basically dead. Another guy I am surprised with is Jovon Johnson from OU not getting anything.

[skip-zip]

I love Cody, but he's pretty much Jatavis x10 in terms of just not having a place where he fits in the NFL.

[K92]

I thought that Zach Paul might get an invite.

[zipsoutsider]

5 hours ago, K92 said:

I thought that Zach Paul might get an invite.

He might. Specialists get called in at odd times, quite often. I would be surprised if he doesn't get a shot.

[Dr Z]

13 hours ago, K92 said:

I thought that Zach Paul might get an invite.

 

 

[Dr Z]

Which players will be invaluable to their MAC teams this year?

[MDZip]

On ‎9‎/‎6‎/‎2013 at 11:58 AM, johnnyzip84 said:

One player who might have made this list is CMU RB Zurlon Tipton who unfortunately broke his ankle against Michigan and is out for the year (although there is talk of him getting a 6th year).

And now he's dead - accidentally shot himself while moving a duffel bag with a gun in it. :-(