FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Raider 68]

According to Chicago Breaking Sports, Wenger "impressed the scouts" by running  4.58 in the 40 while weighing in at 233 lbs at NW's pro day.

There is also some video on youtube of his workout.

Here's the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uMe70Jl3yM

Stats from the NW pro day (compared to the big time LBs that were at the 2011 NFL Combine):

Height                5'10"
Weight               233 lbs
Vertical               34.5" (would have ranked 9th among LBs at NFL combine)
Broad Jump        10'5" (would have tied for 2nd)
Bench (225lbs)   23 reps (tied for 9th)
40 yd dash         4.56, 4.58 (4.56 would tie for 3rd, 4.58 would be 4th)
Shuttle               4.14 (5th)
3 Cone               6.79 (3rd)


Damn impressive measurables put up by Matt.

One thing that jumps out from the video is that he apparently also worked out as a FB, as they had him catching passes out of the backfield. If I'm not mistaken, I believe he was a very good RB in high school at Dakota.

Also, one would have to wonder if some team may try to slot him in at SS since he is a little on the small side to play LB.

robertgoulet,

Great post, hope Matt gets a real shot at the NFL! +k

[BoBo]

According to Chicago Breaking Sports, Wenger "impressed the scouts" by running  4.58 in the 40 while weighing in at 233 lbs at NW's pro day.

There is also some video on youtube of his workout.

Here's the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uMe70Jl3yM

Stats from the NW pro day (compared to the big time LBs that were at the 2011 NFL Combine):

Height                5'10"
Weight               233 lbs
Vertical               34.5" (would have ranked 9th among LBs at NFL combine)
Broad Jump        10'5" (would have tied for 2nd)
Bench (225lbs)   23 reps (tied for 9th)
40 yd dash         4.56, 4.58 (4.56 would tie for 3rd, 4.58 would be 4th)
Shuttle               4.14 (5th)
3 Cone               6.79 (3rd)


Damn impressive measurables put up by Matt.

One thing that jumps out from the video is that he apparently also worked out as a FB, as they had him catching passes out of the backfield. If I'm not mistaken, I believe he was a very good RB in high school at Dakota.

Also, one would have to wonder if some team may try to slot him in at SS since he is a little on the small side to play LB.

robertgoulet,

Great post, hope Matt gets a real shot at the NFL! +k

Some really good numbers...however, I think you're right about that height - 5"10" isn't going to make it as a LB or FB in the NFL, IMO.  He'll have to find a little more speed to make it in the D' backfield, too, I'm affraid. He sure had a nose for the ball in the one game I saw him play!!   

[robertgoulet]

According to Chicago Breaking Sports, Wenger "impressed the scouts" by running  4.58 in the 40 while weighing in at 233 lbs at NW's pro day.

There is also some video on youtube of his workout.

Here's the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uMe70Jl3yM

Stats from the NW pro day (compared to the big time LBs that were at the 2011 NFL Combine):

Height                5'10"
Weight               233 lbs
Vertical               34.5" (would have ranked 9th among LBs at NFL combine)
Broad Jump        10'5" (would have tied for 2nd)
Bench (225lbs)   23 reps (tied for 9th)
40 yd dash         4.56, 4.58 (4.56 would tie for 3rd, 4.58 would be 4th)
Shuttle               4.14 (5th)
3 Cone               6.79 (3rd)


Damn impressive measurables put up by Matt.

One thing that jumps out from the video is that he apparently also worked out as a FB, as they had him catching passes out of the backfield. If I'm not mistaken, I believe he was a very good RB in high school at Dakota.

Also, one would have to wonder if some team may try to slot him in at SS since he is a little on the small side to play LB.

robertgoulet,

Great post, hope Matt gets a real shot at the NFL! +k

Some really good numbers...however, I think you're right about that height - 5"10" isn't going to make it as a LB or FB in the NFL, IMO.  He'll have to find a little more speed to make it in the D' backfield, too, I'm affraid. He sure had a nose for the ball in the one game I saw him play!!   

Yes, a few friends and I had a debate on whether he was tall enough. The number of LBs under 6'0" in the NFL are few (I think we came up with a list of 8-10 that any of us could remember). That being said, obviously I hope he does get a shot to stick on a roster.

Any updates on the UWW players pro-days? I seem to recall one of their safeties was a heck of a player and had good size for the position.

[badgerwarhawk]

Good showing by Wenger.  Good luck to him.  I hope he gets an opportunity. 

[Mr. Flynn]

According to Chicago Breaking Sports, Wenger "impressed the scouts" by running  4.58 in the 40 while weighing in at 233 lbs at NW's pro day.

There is also some video on youtube of his workout.

Here's the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uMe70Jl3yM

Stats from the NW pro day (compared to the big time LBs that were at the 2011 NFL Combine):

Height                5'10"
Weight               233 lbs
Vertical               34.5" (would have ranked 9th among LBs at NFL combine)
Broad Jump        10'5" (would have tied for 2nd)
Bench (225lbs)   23 reps (tied for 9th)
40 yd dash         4.56, 4.58 (4.56 would tie for 3rd, 4.58 would be 4th)
Shuttle               4.14 (5th)
3 Cone               6.79 (3rd)


Damn impressive measurables put up by Matt.

One thing that jumps out from the video is that he apparently also worked out as a FB, as they had him catching passes out of the backfield. If I'm not mistaken, I believe he was a very good RB in high school at Dakota.

Also, one would have to wonder if some team may try to slot him in at SS since he is a little on the small side to play LB.

robertgoulet,

Great post, hope Matt gets a real shot at the NFL! +k

Some really good numbers...however, I think you're right about that height - 5"10" isn't going to make it as a LB or FB in the NFL, IMO.  He'll have to find a little more speed to make it in the D' backfield, too, I'm affraid. He sure had a nose for the ball in the one game I saw him play!!   

I think its safe to assume that if a player is listed at 6' in the nfl his actual height is more in the range of 5-10 or 5-11.  One scout says he was reminded of Zach Thomas after watching Wenger work out.  Zach thomas was listed at 5'11" but I've found multiple sources that have claimed that 5'11" was very generous.  London Fletcher is listed at 5'10" but I'm willing to bet he is more in the 5'9" range. 

Another fact about Wenger that nobody has mentioned is that he was a 3-time state champion wrestler in high school as well, there are still alot of old school coaches in the nfl that would put alot of value in that.

[Titan Q]

IWU QB recruit...

http://www.tristate-media.com/drr/sports/local_sports/article_215cc8c2-562d-11e0-b906-001cc4c03286.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3O93VOLY_Y&feature=related

[ncc_fan]

Not much going on here in CCIW-land, so here's an interesting blurb about Kai Ruggeri, a NCC backup QB who graduated in 2006.  

http://northcentralcollege.edu/now/kai-ruggeri-%E2%80%9906-europe

[oldnuthin]

Well, I found out today that they are at the face to face interview part of the process, at Milikin. They have had 2 coaches in, and there are more to come, just not sure how many more. They are letting the players meet with the candidates and ask questions, which I find interesting. Spring ball starts Monday. so I hope they figure it out pretty quick here.

[matblake]

Not much going on here in CCIW-land, so here's an interesting blurb about Kai Ruggeri, a NCC backup QB who graduated in 2006.  

http://northcentralcollege.edu/now/kai-ruggeri-%E2%80%9906-europe

Wow, I'm feeling pretty lazy right about now!   

[AndOne]

Not sure, but I don't think there has been any previous mention of this North Central pickup/transfer from U of IL.

North Central picks up a little lot of speed:

http://www.kcchronicle.com/2011/02/23/van-dril-batavia-grad-kabba-returns-to-football-roots-at-ncc/apilpag/

I believe a concept has been developed for the 2011 season that would incorporate seeing the young man lining up as a DB despite the fact that he was a nearly 1000 yard rusher in high school in addition to his winning the state 400 meter track championship.

[FormerCard]

One scouting sites opinion for Wenger...not bad.

http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/profilexnews.php?pyid=115210&draftyear=2011&genpos=ILB

[RFMichigan]

Not sure, but I don't think there has been any previous mention of this North Central pickup/transfer from U of IL.

North Central picks up a little lot of speed:

http://www.kcchronicle.com/2011/02/23/van-dril-batavia-grad-kabba-returns-to-football-roots-at-ncc/apilpag/

I believe a concept has been developed for the 2011 season that would incorporate seeing the young man lining up as a DB despite the fact that he was a nearly 1000 yard rusher in high school in addition to his winning the state 400 meter track championship.

Kabba played football and ran track with my nephew at Batavia and had originally planned on attending - I want to say St. Ambrose - to play football in college. However, when he we went out and ran his crazy 400 at the state meet at the end of his senior year, the Illinois track coach offered him on the spot, and Bai couldn't turn it down.

My nephew always thought that football would eventually be in the cards for "JR".

[oldnuthin]

An update on the coaching search


http://www.herald-review.com/sports/college/article_abfc36de-64c4-11e0-929d-001cc4c002e0.html

[robertgoulet]

Not sure, but I don't think there has been any previous mention of this North Central pickup/transfer from U of IL.

North Central picks up a little lot of speed:

http://www.kcchronicle.com/2011/02/23/van-dril-batavia-grad-kabba-returns-to-football-roots-at-ncc/apilpag/

I believe a concept has been developed for the 2011 season that would incorporate seeing the young man lining up as a DB despite the fact that he was a nearly 1000 yard rusher in high school in addition to his winning the state 400 meter track championship.

Kabba played football and ran track with my nephew at Batavia and had originally planned on attending - I want to say St. Ambrose - to play football in college. However, when he we went out and ran his crazy 400 at the state meet at the end of his senior year, the Illinois track coach offered him on the spot, and Bai couldn't turn it down.

My nephew always thought that football would eventually be in the cards for "JR".

Look like he picked the right school. NCC has won back-to-back national titles in men's indoor track. By the end of his career he can be a national champion in track and a CCIW champion in football!

[robertgoulet]

One scouting sites opinion for Wenger...not bad.

http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/profilexnews.php?pyid=115210&draftyear=2011&genpos=ILB

Saw this a couple weeks ago. I've been waiting for the big 2011 NFL draft prospect bibles to come out (Mel Kiper has one, as does Pro Football Weekly) to see if Matt gets any love.

Hopefully he can sneak into the 2nd half of the draft.