FB: Presidents' Athletic Conference

[Sir Battlescars]

Just saw that the Cincinnati Bengals invited Domonique Hayden from Thomas More to attend what they call a "local" Pre-draft tryout. What they mean by local is a player who played at a college and/or high school in or around Cincinnati.

http://www.bengals.com/news/article-1/Bengals-to-host-25-local-players-to-annual-pre-draft-workouts/c6ed72d9-8120-4852-9969-1191c078d62b

[Mr. Ypsi]

Just saw that the Cincinnati Bengals invited Domonique Hayden from Thomas More to attend what they call a "local" Pre-draft tryout. What they mean by local is a player who played at a college and/or high school in or around Cincinnati.

http://www.bengals.com/news/article-1/Bengals-to-host-25-local-players-to-annual-pre-draft-workouts/c6ed72d9-8120-4852-9969-1191c078d62b

Several NFL teams do something similar, but I rarely see any of them sticking on the roster.  I can't help wondering if the motive isn't really more PR than legitimate try-outs.

That said, good luck to Mr. Hayden - I always love it when a D3 player makes it to the big time.

[jknezek]

Just saw that the Cincinnati Bengals invited Domonique Hayden from Thomas More to attend what they call a "local" Pre-draft tryout. What they mean by local is a player who played at a college and/or high school in or around Cincinnati.

http://www.bengals.com/news/article-1/Bengals-to-host-25-local-players-to-annual-pre-draft-workouts/c6ed72d9-8120-4852-9969-1191c078d62b

Several NFL teams do something similar, but I rarely see any of them sticking on the roster.  I can't help wondering if the motive isn't really more PR than legitimate try-outs.

That said, good luck to Mr. Hayden - I always love it when a D3 player makes it to the big time.

I think they are legitimate, it's just so hard to make an NFL roster. Counting practice squads it is less than 65 players per team. 32 teams, is 2080 players, of which more than 85% are not going to turn over outside of players already in the league or in the league in the last year or so (teams average around 8 rookies per year). Therefore that leaves a total of around 312 open positions for new applicants in any year. Given the draft takes 7 rounds you are looking at 256 draftees (counting supplemental picks) which will be given a preferential eye over an unsigned college free agent, you are down to about 56 openings. There are approximately 250 D1 FBS/FCS schools that probably average 20 seniors a piece. So every year 5000 or so players just from that grouping hit the market with most having at least a dream of taking one of those drafted or undrafted spots. While it is certainly common for late draft picks to get beat out by undrafted free agents (teams average just over 2 undrafted free agents per year), it doesn't really change the math too much. It's more common for late draft picks just not to make the team, the same as undrafted free agents.

By the time you get down to one of these open tryouts, you better be some kind of a freak athlete or have a patron saint, because the uphill climb is just unbelievable.

Average rookies per team and undrafted free agents per team came from this rather dated article:

http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2013/09/02/patriots-younger-with-most-rookies-any-nfl-team/OyOJLUqCVKP5hVTddXMzBM/story.html

[Mr. Ypsi]

jk, I'm certain they are legitimate (and once in a very blue moon, a team really does unearth an unnoticed gem), but the odds are SO long that I'd bet PR considerations are the primary reason for 'local' Pro days.

[SaintsFAN]

The RB class for this draft is very, very deep.  I wish it wasn't for Hayden's sake..

[jknezek]

jk, I'm certain they are legitimate (and once in a very blue moon, a team really does unearth an unnoticed gem), but the odds are SO long that I'd bet PR considerations are the primary reason for 'local' Pro days.

I just can't imagine they get much PR from it. Other than people invited and a few notices like this one, does the general public even know it takes place? You never see it, or even "regional combines" mentioned in local newspapers...

[ADL70]

CWRU's response to disappointing last season, week of full contact practice and game in Italy.

http://studyabroad.case.edu/_customtags/ct_FileRetrieve.cfm?File_ID=0E0077754F74007675057072051F04010D0F1B7B7608776B7403060771060707760E760100730B05

[ADL70]

Per a tweet from coach Slesh CWRU is expecting 35 new Spartans in August.

I have identified about 15, but an announcement of names may be sometime off, as CWRU is in the process of hiring an SID.

[SaintsFAN]

Not sure about the number of recruits coming to Crestview Hills this August, but I did hear about an OL transfer from Urbana University coming to play for Thomas More.

Zach Baller, a 6'6'' 295 lb OT will report in August and play for the Saints.  He will have 4 years to compete for Thomas More.

http://sports.urbana.edu/men/football/roster/zachballer.html

[DagarmanSpartan]

Coach D announces his latest recruiting class.

A lot of linemen on both sides.

Sadly, only one QB.

36 new players in all.

http://athletics.case.edu/sports/fball/2015-16/releases/2015050516xa1m

[ADL70]

it appears that there will be a webcast of Saturday's game in Italy:

http://americanfootballworldwide.com/featured/cwru-spartans-set-to-depart-for-italy-game-vs-milano-rhinos-to-be-webcast/

I believe kick-off is 1:30 EDT.  Only 24 players on the trip?

[SpartanMom_2016]

it appears that there will be a webcast of Saturday's game in Italy:

http://americanfootballworldwide.com/featured/cwru-spartans-set-to-depart-for-italy-game-vs-milano-rhinos-to-be-webcast/

I believe kick-off is 1:30 EDT.  Only 24 players on the trip?

The trip was not paid for by the university. 

[ADL70]

That was the impression I had.

[DagarmanSpartan]

If the university isn't paying for it, then who is?

[SpartanMom_2016]

If the university isn't paying for it, then who is?

The kids were responsible for paying.  I assume most of them had substantial help from their families.