[NU Sports] Playing on Sundays

[Jonathan Hodges]

Wootton is a sure-fire draft pick, and he's looked much better the past few
weeks after being hampered with recovering from that knee injury for the
first half of the season.


Outside of that, I doubt any other NU players will go in the draft.  There
are some potential free agents/draft invitees at least who could carve out a
spot on a roster somewhere:

- McManis is a solid CB and should get a look from someone.

- Phillips is a really physical player and may get an invite to a camp
somewhere; the key for him would be making a place on special teams.

- Kafka is obviously a lot better passer than most give him credit for and
was rather accurate this year (65.7% completion rate, dropped a bit from
earlier in the year when he was over 70%).  He honestly isn't fast enough to
provide a legitimate "Wildcat" running threat at the next level.  I do think
he deserves a look by someone though, if only because he showed how well he
could do with just over a year of starting experience under his belt.

- Brewer also has a shot since he has the athleticism, someone may give him
a look in camp.


Unfortunately, that's all that I think will even have a shot at the next
level.  Hahn has been banged up a lot in his career and isn't the monster
NFL teams are looking for in the middle.  Smith has been solid, too, but
likely doesn't have the speed to play free safety in the NFL.  Markshausen
is a great story, but I don't think any NFL teams will give him a look (he
runs great routes but he hasn't beat many defenders 1-on-1 like Brewer did
multiple times against Wisconsin).

Much like last year, it's very interesting how NU has continued being
successful without multiple all-conference type performers or multiple
sure-fire NFL guys.  IMHO, it's what makes football a great sport - it takes
a complete team effort from all the guys who see the field during the course
of the game.

Jonathan


On Mon, Nov 23, 2009 at 9:56 AM, <NEONRye at aol.com> wrote:

> While we hunker down for Thanksgiving and the hiatus until Bowl Selection
> Sunday (12/6), I started thinking about our graduating Seniors, and which
> of
>  them have good shots, "middle shots" or outside shots at the NFL next
> Fall.  As I look at the Roster, here's what I came up with--and I look
>  forward
> to hearing from some of our Listers who have far more knowledge in this
> area than I do:
>
> Sure Shots:
>
> Corey Wooten (Has slipped due to injury, but still a future stud.)
>
> Sherrick McManis (Turned our season around with Interception vs. Purdue;
> just a great, clutch player, whom I enjoy watching every week.)
>
> Middle Shots:
>
> Mike Kafka (His stock has to have grown; he's big and strong, durable, and
> can run, and now we know he can pass; could be back-up or "Wildcat" QB)
>
> Brad Phillips (Big and Strong, too, and a playmaker; might even put him in
> first category, but not sure about his speed rating)
>
> Long Shots:
>
> Andrew Brewer (His size, speed and athleticism might get him a look;
> certainly has come on in November to play a much larger role as our deep
>  threat.)
>
> Zeke Markshausen (His sure hands and precision route running could make him
>  an interesting "slot" receiver--ala one of my all-time favorites, Wayne
> Chrebet,  although he is not nearly as strong as Chrebet; not sure if he
> has
> the speed to  separate at a higher level, but the boy can play; and now we
> know he's a solid  "option" passer.)
>
> Adam Hahn (Wavered on whether to include him, but he has been a rock down
> the stretch this year, and seems to be a very smart player, rarely out of
> position, so could he develop as a back-up DT, who knows?  He's listed at
> 6-4, 290, so probably just big enough.)
>
> Brendan Smith (Probably not big enough or fast enough, but smart and
> tough.)
>
> Paul Levinson
>
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>



-- 
Jonathan W. Hodges
1237 Emerson St Apt 2
Evanston, IL  60201-3577
(847) 736-2449
jonathanwhodges at gmail.com