Texas vs. Nation All-Star Game Practices

I know that few may care about the game, but as far as practices go, there are many 3rd tier (5th-7th round) players playing in this game, as well as a few top middle-round talents that could go as high as the third.

Names you may have heard include Arthur Moats, Marcus Easley, Johnathan Crompton, or Tim Hiller, among others. This is the list of players at the Texas vs. Nation all-star game. I'd encourage you guys to research and see how these guys are doing.

Quick note: Hillsdale's Jared Veldheer so far has lit up the practices and is probably the biggest riser among all the prospects there.

NATION ROSTER

QB Tim Hiller, Western Michigan
QB Rusty Smith, Florida Atlantic
QB Jonathan Crompton, Tennessee

RB Toney Baker, N.C. State
RB Dominique Lindsay, East Carolina
RB Alfonso Smith, Kentucky
RB Curtis Steele, Memphis

FB Cory Jackson, Maryland
FB Chris Zardas, Massachusetts

WR Marcus Easley, Connecticut
WR Donald Jones, Youngstown State
WR Scott Long, Louisville
WR Juamorris Stewart, Southern U.
WR Preston Parker, North Alabama/Florida State
WR Kyle Williams, Arizona State
WR Brett Hamlin, Buffalo U.

TE Dedrick Epps, Miami U.
TE James Dray, Stanford

OL Eddie Adamski, Northern Illinois
OL Joe Hawley, UNLV
OL Dennis Landolt, Penn State
OL Vladimir Richard, Tennessee
OL Zipp Duncan, Kentucky
OL Will Barker, Virginia
OL Thomas Welch, Vanderbilt
OL Tyler Eastman, Maine
OL Edwin “Jared” Veldheer, Hillsdale (MI)
OL Kyle Jolly Kyle, North Carolina
OL Derek Hardman, Eastern Kentucky

DT Jay Ross, East Carolina
DT Travis Ivey, Maryland
DT Tommie Duhart, Valdosta State/Pittsburgh
DT Andre Neblett, Temple

DE George Johnson, Rutgers
DE Jammie Kirlew, Indiana
DE Austen Lane, Murray State
DE E.J. Wilson, North Carolina
DE Alex Daniels, Cincinnati

LB Simoni Lawrence, Minnesota
LB Nathan Triplett, Minnesota
LB Josh Hull, Penn State
LB Travis Goethel, Arizona State
LB Adrian Tracy, William & Mary
LB Arthur Moats, James Madison
LB Blaze Soares (LS), Hawaii

CB Sam Shields, Miami U.
CB Phillip Adams, South Carolina State
CB Marcell Young, Jackson State/Mississippi State
CB Marshay Green, Mississippi
CB A.J. Wallace, Penn State

S Kendrick Lewis, Mississippi
S Aaron Webster, Cincinnati
S Nick Polk, Indiana
S Robert Vaughn, Connecticut
S Shann Schillinger, Montana

K Aaron Pettrey, Ohio State
P Brent Bowden, Virginia Tech


TEXAS ROSTER

QB Thaddeus Lewis, Duke
QB Ryan Perrilloux, Jacksonville State/LSU
QB Levi Brown, Troy

RB A.J. Cooley, Shorter College/Georgia Tech
RB Roy Upchurch, Alabama
RB Keithon Flemming, West Texas A&M
RB Deji Karim, Southern Illinois

FB Dennis Morris, Louisiana Tech
FB Jamie McCoy, Texas A&M

WR David Gettis, Baylor
WR Kevin Jurovich, San Jose State
WR Jared Perry, Missouri
WR Zuriel “Jeff” Moturi, UTEP
WR Chastin West, Fresno State
WR Kelton Tindal, Newberry (SC)
WR Stephen Williams, Toledo

TE Gerald Harris, Mississippi
TE Clay Harbor, Missouri State

OL Nick Howell, USC
OL Andrew Lewis, Oklahoma State
OL Kevin Matthews, Texas A&M
OL Marlon Winn, Texas Tech
OL Casey Knips, South Dakota State
OL Michael Aguayo, UTEP
OL J’Marcus Webb, West Texas A&M
OL Chris Campbell, Eastern Illinois
OL Ramon Harewood, Morehouse
OL Erik Cook Erik, New Mexico
OL Nic Richmond, TCU

DT Charles Alexander, LSU
DT Jimmy Saddler-McQueen, Texas A&M-Kingsville
DT DeMarcus Granger, Oklahoma
DT Lorenzo Washington, Alabama

DE Brandon Sharpe, Texas Tech
DE Emmanual Stephens, Mississippi
DE Alex Carrington, Arkansas State

LB Keenan Clayton, Oklahoma
LB Larry Hart, Central Arkansas
LB Justin Cole, San Jose State
LB Phillip Dillard, Nebraska
LB Albert McClellan, Marshall
LB Junior Galette, Stillman/Temple
LB Boris Lee Boris, Troy
LB Danny Batten, South Dakota State

CB Marcus Brown, Arkansas State
CB R.J. Stanford, Utah
CB A.J. Jefferson, Fresno State
CB Chris Hawkins, LSU
CB Cornelius Brown, UTEP

S Lucien Antoine, Oklahoma State
S Quentin Scott, Northern Iowa
S Jon Amaya Jon, Nevada
S Jordan Lake Jordan, Baylor
S Da’Mon Cromartie-Smith, UTEP

LS Clint Gresham, TCU
K Josh Arauco, Arkansas State
P Miek Brandtner, Iowa State

So I hope they give Kelton Tindal a chance to return kicks during the game. If we take a CB with punt return skills somewhere in the first 3 rounds, Tindal might be an interesting late round pick. His receiving skills are extremely raw and would take some time to develop, but his reported 4.25 speed makes him a very interesting KR candidate.

Chastin West went to the same HS as my son and was in cub scouts with him several years ago. I havent followed him too closely at Fresno St but remember watching him in high school and thinking that he had potential.

From this roster it looks like Veldheer and Carrington are by far the 2 best prospects and the only 2 that have 3rd round potential. However, you never know. Afterall, the Raiders will be drafting.

Originally posted by OnTheClock:
I know that few may care about the game, but as far as practices go, there are many 3rd tier (5th-7th round) players playing in this game, as well as a few top middle-round talents that could go as high as the third.

Names you may have heard include Arthur Moats, Marcus Easley, Johnathan Crompton, or Tim Hiller, among others. This is the list of players at the Texas vs. Nation all-star game. I'd encourage you guys to research and see how these guys are doing.

Quick note: Hillsdale's Jared Veldheer so far has lit up the practices and is probably the biggest riser among all the prospects there.

NATION ROSTER

QB Tim Hiller, Western Michigan
QB Rusty Smith, Florida Atlantic
QB Jonathan Crompton, Tennessee

RB Toney Baker, N.C. State
RB Dominique Lindsay, East Carolina
RB Alfonso Smith, Kentucky
RB Curtis Steele, Memphis

FB Cory Jackson, Maryland
FB Chris Zardas, Massachusetts

WR Marcus Easley, Connecticut
WR Donald Jones, Youngstown State
WR Scott Long, Louisville
WR Juamorris Stewart, Southern U.
WR Preston Parker, North Alabama/Florida State
WR Kyle Williams, Arizona State
WR Brett Hamlin, Buffalo U.

TE Dedrick Epps, Miami U.
TE James Dray, Stanford

OL Eddie Adamski, Northern Illinois
OL Joe Hawley, UNLV
OL Dennis Landolt, Penn State
OL Vladimir Richard, Tennessee
OL Zipp Duncan, Kentucky
OL Will Barker, Virginia
OL Thomas Welch, Vanderbilt
OL Tyler Eastman, Maine
OL Edwin “Jared” Veldheer, Hillsdale (MI)
OL Kyle Jolly Kyle, North Carolina
OL Derek Hardman, Eastern Kentucky

DT Jay Ross, East Carolina
DT Travis Ivey, Maryland
DT Tommie Duhart, Valdosta State/Pittsburgh
DT Andre Neblett, Temple

DE George Johnson, Rutgers
DE Jammie Kirlew, Indiana
DE Austen Lane, Murray State
DE E.J. Wilson, North Carolina
DE Alex Daniels, Cincinnati

LB Simoni Lawrence, Minnesota
LB Nathan Triplett, Minnesota
LB Josh Hull, Penn State
LB Travis Goethel, Arizona State
LB Adrian Tracy, William & Mary
LB Arthur Moats, James Madison
LB Blaze Soares (LS), Hawaii

CB Sam Shields, Miami U.
CB Phillip Adams, South Carolina State
CB Marcell Young, Jackson State/Mississippi State
CB Marshay Green, Mississippi
CB A.J. Wallace, Penn State

S Kendrick Lewis, Mississippi
S Aaron Webster, Cincinnati
S Nick Polk, Indiana
S Robert Vaughn, Connecticut
S Shann Schillinger, Montana

K Aaron Pettrey, Ohio State
P Brent Bowden, Virginia Tech


TEXAS ROSTER

QB Thaddeus Lewis, Duke
QB Ryan Perrilloux, Jacksonville State/LSU
QB Levi Brown, Troy

RB A.J. Cooley, Shorter College/Georgia Tech
RB Roy Upchurch, Alabama
RB Keithon Flemming, West Texas A&M
RB Deji Karim, Southern Illinois

FB Dennis Morris, Louisiana Tech
FB Jamie McCoy, Texas A&M

WR David Gettis, Baylor
WR Kevin Jurovich, San Jose State
WR Jared Perry, Missouri
WR Zuriel “Jeff” Moturi, UTEP
WR Chastin West, Fresno State
WR Kelton Tindal, Newberry (SC)
WR Stephen Williams, Toledo

TE Gerald Harris, Mississippi
TE Clay Harbor, Missouri State

OL Nick Howell, USC
OL Andrew Lewis, Oklahoma State
OL Kevin Matthews, Texas A&M
OL Marlon Winn, Texas Tech
OL Casey Knips, South Dakota State
OL Michael Aguayo, UTEP
OL J’Marcus Webb, West Texas A&M
OL Chris Campbell, Eastern Illinois
OL Ramon Harewood, Morehouse
OL Erik Cook Erik, New Mexico
OL Nic Richmond, TCU

DT Charles Alexander, LSU
DT Jimmy Saddler-McQueen, Texas A&M-Kingsville
DT DeMarcus Granger, Oklahoma
DT Lorenzo Washington, Alabama

DE Brandon Sharpe, Texas Tech
DE Emmanual Stephens, Mississippi
DE Alex Carrington, Arkansas State

LB Keenan Clayton, Oklahoma
LB Larry Hart, Central Arkansas
LB Justin Cole, San Jose State
LB Phillip Dillard, Nebraska
LB Albert McClellan, Marshall
LB Junior Galette, Stillman/Temple
LB Boris Lee Boris, Troy
LB Danny Batten, South Dakota State

CB Marcus Brown, Arkansas State
CB R.J. Stanford, Utah
CB A.J. Jefferson, Fresno State
CB Chris Hawkins, LSU
CB Cornelius Brown, UTEP

S Lucien Antoine, Oklahoma State
S Quentin Scott, Northern Iowa
S Jon Amaya Jon, Nevada
S Jordan Lake Jordan, Baylor
S Da’Mon Cromartie-Smith, UTEP

LS Clint Gresham, TCU
K Josh Arauco, Arkansas State
P Miek Brandtner, Iowa State

These are the guys I would like to see us take some late round fliers on. There some good sleeper prospects in this game.

Originally posted by OnTheClock:
I know that few may care about the game, but as far as practices go, there are many 3rd tier (5th-7th round) players playing in this game, as well as a few top middle-round talents that could go as high as the third.

Names you may have heard include Arthur Moats, Marcus Easley, Johnathan Crompton, or Tim Hiller, among others. This is the list of players at the Texas vs. Nation all-star game. I'd encourage you guys to research and see how these guys are doing.

Quick note: Hillsdale's Jared Veldheer so far has lit up the practices and is probably the biggest riser among all the prospects there.

NATION ROSTER


WR Marcus Easley, Connecticut




OL Derek Hardman, Eastern Kentucky


DE Alex Daniels, Cincinnati

FTW

Originally posted by Ninerjohn:
From this roster it looks like Veldheer and Carrington are by far the 2 best prospects and the only 2 that have 3rd round potential. However, you never know. Afterall, the Raiders will be drafting.

Don't forget about Austen Lane and Marcus Easley. As far as "potential" in the sense of projected placing, each of them could go that high. In the sense of talent, I believe both possess that level of talent.

Originally posted by OnTheClock:

Originally posted by Ninerjohn:
From this roster it looks like Veldheer and Carrington are by far the 2 best prospects and the only 2 that have 3rd round potential. However, you never know. Afterall, the Raiders will be drafting.

Don't forget about Austen Lane and Marcus Easley. As far as "potential" in the sense of projected placing, each of them could go that high. In the sense of talent, I believe both possess that level of talent.

Yes, I suppose its entirely possible although I dont seem them going that high. I think they fall in as 4-5 rd guys. They cerainly can improve their stock with big weeks.

Originally posted by Ninerjohn:

Originally posted by OnTheClock:

Originally posted by Ninerjohn:
From this roster it looks like Veldheer and Carrington are by far the 2 best prospects and the only 2 that have 3rd round potential. However, you never know. Afterall, the Raiders will be drafting.

Don't forget about Austen Lane and Marcus Easley. As far as "potential" in the sense of projected placing, each of them could go that high. In the sense of talent, I believe both possess that level of talent.

Yes, I suppose its entirely possible although I dont seem them going that high. I think they fall in as 4-5 rd guys. They cerainly can improve their stock with big weeks.

Easley's projection is definitely pretty volatile right now -- his combine/pro-day may have the biggest impact. But as for Lane, I think he's already caught enough attention to go in the late 2nd to 3rd rounds.

He wasn't just a physical freak who did nothing, he was a productive physical freak.

6-6 267 and runs a 4.6; put up 11 sacks, 19.5 TFL, 3 FF, and an INT returned for a TD.

I look at a comparable player from last year in Richmond's Lawrence Sidbury, who measured in at 6-2 266 4.57. He put up 11.5 sacks, 20 TFL and 3 FF as well. Virtually identical numbers. A guy as imposing a figure as Austen Lane, it'll be hard for him to fall outside the 3rd barring any sort of injury.

But definitely, Easley could make it to the 4th, 5th, maybe even 6th if some team is lucky. He wasn't given the opportunity to shine until this year. Much like Mike Wallace, he got that chance, and absolutely exploded, averaging close to 100 yards/game and average about a TD every game. He finished with around 900 yards, 8 TDs. Tons and tons of potential there for Marcus. I really like the kid.

Hey OTC - here's an update on one of your favorite sleepers from Draftguys.com

Deji Kareem (Southern Illinois) was my favorite running back to watch on the Texas squad. He is very compact, and he knows how to run with good forward lean and a low center of gravity. He has plenty of power when running between the tackles, and will punish oncoming defenders. I like his instincts, and burst when he gets to the second level. He has good hands, and reminds me of a more explosive (with better instincts) Frank Summers.

Originally posted by m_brockalexander:
Hey OTC - here's an update on one of your favorite sleepers from Draftguys.com

Deji Kareem (Southern Illinois) was my favorite running back to watch on the Texas squad. He is very compact, and he knows how to run with good forward lean and a low center of gravity. He has plenty of power when running between the tackles, and will punish oncoming defenders. I like his instincts, and burst when he gets to the second level. He has good hands, and reminds me of a more explosive (with better instincts) Frank Summers.

Brock, I greatly appreciate the word on Karim. I absolutely love this kid's promise as well. Deji can flat out fly and as I've stated several times, I firmly believe he's an Ahmad Bradshaw clone in the making. He's not just some little compact back who's strictly a 3rd-down/KR guy. He's a guy with starter potential who can be a heck of a blocker for his size, he can blaze the turf, AND he has phenomenal KR/PR ability.

All of these things put together, I have to believe there's a good chance Deji gets drafted, and if not, some team should get a heck of a steal in a guy who at the very least should start doing some nice things for a team, especially if he lands in the right place.

Again, any more updates you guys hear, feel free to post up -- that's what this thread is for. I'm certainly happy to hear Karim is doing well -- He's my favorite back in this game.

Originally posted by OnTheClock:

Originally posted by m_brockalexander:
Hey OTC - here's an update on one of your favorite sleepers from Draftguys.com

Deji Kareem (Southern Illinois) was my favorite running back to watch on the Texas squad. He is very compact, and he knows how to run with good forward lean and a low center of gravity. He has plenty of power when running between the tackles, and will punish oncoming defenders. I like his instincts, and burst when he gets to the second level. He has good hands, and reminds me of a more explosive (with better instincts) Frank Summers.

Brock, I greatly appreciate the word on Karim. I absolutely love this kid's promise as well. Deji can flat out fly and as I've stated several times, I firmly believe he's an Ahmad Bradshaw clone in the making. He's not just some little compact back who's strictly a 3rd-down/KR guy. He's a guy with starter potential who can be a heck of a blocker for his size, he can blaze the turf, AND he has phenomenal KR/PR ability.

All of these things put together, I have to believe there's a good chance Deji gets drafted, and if not, some team should get a heck of a steal in a guy who at the very least should start doing some nice things for a team, especially if he lands in the right place.

Again, any more updates you guys hear, feel free to post up -- that's what this thread is for. I'm certainly happy to hear Karim is doing well -- He's my favorite back in this game.

No problem! Knew this would make you happy

Originally posted by m_brockalexander:

Originally posted by OnTheClock:

Originally posted by m_brockalexander:
Hey OTC - here's an update on one of your favorite sleepers from Draftguys.com

Deji Kareem (Southern Illinois) was my favorite running back to watch on the Texas squad. He is very compact, and he knows how to run with good forward lean and a low center of gravity. He has plenty of power when running between the tackles, and will punish oncoming defenders. I like his instincts, and burst when he gets to the second level. He has good hands, and reminds me of a more explosive (with better instincts) Frank Summers.

Brock, I greatly appreciate the word on Karim. I absolutely love this kid's promise as well. Deji can flat out fly and as I've stated several times, I firmly believe he's an Ahmad Bradshaw clone in the making. He's not just some little compact back who's strictly a 3rd-down/KR guy. He's a guy with starter potential who can be a heck of a blocker for his size, he can blaze the turf, AND he has phenomenal KR/PR ability.

All of these things put together, I have to believe there's a good chance Deji gets drafted, and if not, some team should get a heck of a steal in a guy who at the very least should start doing some nice things for a team, especially if he lands in the right place.

Again, any more updates you guys hear, feel free to post up -- that's what this thread is for. I'm certainly happy to hear Karim is doing well -- He's my favorite back in this game.

No problem! Knew this would make you happy

Yep.

For anyone else who's wondering, "Who's this Deji Karim kid?" Here's a little info:

5-9 210 pounds, should run between the 4.36-4.46 range. Rushed for 1694 yards and 18 TDs this year, also catching 17 passes for 212 yards and 1 TD. (That's 12.5 yards per catch, if you're wondering. The kid just makes plays when you give him the ball).

Also he ran back 14 kickoffs for 433 yards with 1 TD. (31 yards per return avg. -- that's VERY good).

I'm holding out hope that we somehow land him -- although I don't know if we'd utilize him. At the same time, I'm keeping those hopes repressed as it seems unlikely Scot has a guy like this anywhere on his priority list.

Another guy to keep eye on is Stillman's DE/OLB Junior Galette (6'2", 245 transfer from Temple). He's cat-quick off the edge and is a tenacious pass rusher. He's coming off a leg fracture and probably isn't 100% for the Texas vs. Nation game, but he's fun to watch and should put on a show at the combine in terms of OLB numbers.

A.J. Wallace, Sam Shields, and my boy Blaze Soares who's been a mentor for my brother-n-law through high school.