BWahlberg said:The 2011 Griz football team COULD have the most pro-prospects in it's senior class this year than any other Griz team in recent history. The Griz have 22 seniors going into this season and I got to thinking that this single team very possibly could be one of the more talented that we've seen in a while, in terms of single talent and pro potential.
Players with legit chances:
Trumaine Johnson - Tru has the size/speed/skill for the next level and out of everyone on the team he has the very best shot to be in the pros, IMO. Tru is a very good cover-corner but I'd wonder depending on his 40 time if he'll be considered a safety at the next level instead.
Jon Opperud - Montana in the past has a reputation for producing late-round prospects that usually turn into free-agent pickups, some have made it work in the NFL while others haven't. Oppy has long been heralded as the best lineman on the team, as long as his knees don't slow him too much he could be a late-round pickup or a free-agent signing, much like Levi Horn a few years back.
Charles Burton - Chuck seemed to "get it" about halfway through last year and now with more experience at tackle and being presumably in even better shape, he's got the right size and athletic ability to become a steal for a team that can bring him along. I see him in the same shoes as Oppy come this time next year.
Steve Sabin - A longer shot for sure, Steve is transitioning to center this year, so far he's looked pretty good. His season last year at guard was up and down, not sure if he's quick/agile enough for the next level but if this Oline has good success this year he could get some looks.
* For all three of these guys on the Oline also keep in mind their two main coaches, Beers and Gragg both have EXTENSIVE pro contacts. This group of Sabin/Burton/Opperud should/could get even more buzz than Dow/Quinn/Russum did back in 2008, assuming a successful season.
Jabin Sambrano / Antwon Moutra / CJ Atkins - The depth of the WR corps and the lack of an experienced QB will hurt these guys overall numbers which most likley will not get these guys a ton of consideration. However, all three have 4.4 speed and could post good numbers this season. If I recall correctly back in 2006 with a passing game that wasn't incredibly dynamic both Ryan Bagley and Eric Allen went on to Arena for a little bit. This group of three could post better numbers and has more speed, which is the big thing in the pros. It's a long-shot for all three presumably, but with a solid 2011 and a real good pro-day, who knows? Sambrano with his quickness and track experience as well as being a returner could be the best prospect of the group, along the lines of Mariani's path to the NFL.
Dan Moore - I have no clue what kind of season Dan will have in terms of numbers, hopefully a decent one being his last year on the team and the only power-back this team has still carrying the ball. Dan's strength and size would presumably be incredibly appealing in the pros as a fullback that could also handle special teams. After 2009 Stephen Pfahler was ranked pretty high with a few teams because of his overall strength and ability to be a good blocking TE and special teamer - Moore on his pro-day could have the potential to really wow some scouts by showing off his strength and how deceptively fast he is.
Tyrone Duncan - A long shot, Alan Saenz was a dominant DT for the Griz and I don't recall him getting much of a look at the next level. Duncan is a big dude and if he puts together a beast of a season... maybe...
Bryan Waldhauser - Waldo is too small to be a DT at the next level however the 2nd team all-conference DT from last year could be a guy that gets consideration much like Kroy Biermann to swtich to an OLB in a 3-4 scheme. Bryan is 6-4, 250 while Kroy is 6-3, 260. Bryan led the team in sacks last year, if he continues his success and puts together a season with more accolades he could be viewed as a good free-agent prospect that would start as a special teams contributor and worked on to transition to be a pass-rushing OLB much like Kroy (or Clay Matthews).
Brody McKnight - If Brody can showcase better accuracy in the 40-50 range he could have a decent chance to get a summer-camp invite and compete against an incumbent kicker like Carps did in the summer of 2008.
Kavario Middleton - Kavario needs to have a real good season, but if he does it could mean a chance to prove himself as a free-agent pickup. If Willie Walden, Ja'Ton Simpson, Dan Beaudin, and Stephen Pfahler all got camp-invites Kavario should see the same. He's maybe one of the better pass-catching TEs we've seen in a while and a little bigger/stronger than some of the recent TEs we've seen. He went into the Pac-10 with a ton of hype and could prove the nay-sayers wrong with a good 2011. With the system I've seen so far Kavario is going to have the chance to be hauling in 40-50 passes this season and could get into double-digits on TDs. The QBs defer to the TE a lot right now, and this system is using the athleticism of KM as well as Hardy and Haas to exploit the middle of the field. He'll have his past history and reputation to shake off, that could hurt his prospects, but a good season will help make that less of an issue.
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Beyond those guys I do see a good season ahead for McSurdy and Shaw, however I don't recall the FCS being a very predominant source for linebackers in the pros. McSurdy maybe, but he'd have to have a Shotwell/Gocong/Sherrit type of season. It'd be interesting to see if JC Sherrit gets drafted or signed, that could be a good sign of things to come as the FCS-west does produce a lot of good defenders, but Durt will probably have to have 120+ tackles and be a Buchanan finalist or winner to get similar looks. Also Badger if he has a Schillenger-esque type of season at free safety could also be a long-shot, as well as Mike McCord who could get looks to be a practice-team guy and follow the path of Colt Anderson, Roots as well but he would have to have a crazy breakout final season.
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Granted this is all sugary-hype of each one of these guys playing their best seasons, but it's the way I see it. I think this team is top-heavy with individual talent that could put a lot of Griz players in NFL summer camps competing to be in the pros for the 2012 season, but it's all dependent on these individual guys coming together as a team and putting together a better season than last year for both the entire team and for themselves personally.
Gosh....
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While it's tough to say how it will shake out for these men, currently having 7 Griz in camps and being the only FCS school with 2 players drafted. My prediction back in last April at the end of fall camp appears to be on point.... I don't recall any other Griz team having so many prospects in a single graduating class.
