NFL status looms
Ken Woods
Issue date: 4/22/09 Section: Sports
Leathernecks football players Taylor Rowan and Jason Williams are hopeful about the upcoming National Football League draft and held a press conference on Tuesday, April 21 to discuss their chances.
Head coach Don Patterson sat with the two players to address both prospects' outlook on playing in the NFL. Rowan's path to the draft has been one of missed opportunities so far.
"I went to the Western pro day and tested in the bench press and 40 (yard dash) like everyone else, but the weather was bad and I didn't get to kick," Rowan said. "I went to the Northwestern and Illinois pro day and didn't get a chance to kick in either one of those, unfortunately, as well. I just want a chance to show what I can do more than anything."
Rowan and senior Travis Cherry attended a kicking and long snapping camp in Las Vegas April 4-9 in which they both performed for scouts. However, Rowan became ill on the trip and could only kick on one day of the camp.
"I spent one day in the hospital with IVs," Rowan said. "I had a stomach virus, so it's been one thing after another over the past months that I wasn't kicking."
On the contrary, Williams' path has been one of increasing opportunities. Williams performed at the same pro days as Rowan, which led to higher interest by NFL scouts.
"I've had 12 NFL visits so far and after the Northwestern pro day, things really started to pick up. It was constant travels and this week has been kind of crazy because there is a lot of tests I have to make up because I wasn't in school obviously."
Although his draft stock has risen, it has not always been a smooth ride. Williams was not allowed into the combine and made a vow both mentally and physically to show NFL personnel why he should have been invited.
"My personal slogan for all my pro days - I had a black t-shirt with white letters that read 'numbers don't lie,'" Williams said. "That's pretty much the whole mindset I had when I found out that I wasn't going to the combine. Everybody measures you by your numbers so I said 'Okay, when you see my numbers you are going to realize why you should have invited me'. I have a lot of attributes that I feel a lot of other linebackers don't have."
Head coach Don Patterson sat with the two players to address both prospects' outlook on playing in the NFL. Rowan's path to the draft has been one of missed opportunities so far.
"I went to the Western pro day and tested in the bench press and 40 (yard dash) like everyone else, but the weather was bad and I didn't get to kick," Rowan said. "I went to the Northwestern and Illinois pro day and didn't get a chance to kick in either one of those, unfortunately, as well. I just want a chance to show what I can do more than anything."
Rowan and senior Travis Cherry attended a kicking and long snapping camp in Las Vegas April 4-9 in which they both performed for scouts. However, Rowan became ill on the trip and could only kick on one day of the camp.
"I spent one day in the hospital with IVs," Rowan said. "I had a stomach virus, so it's been one thing after another over the past months that I wasn't kicking."
On the contrary, Williams' path has been one of increasing opportunities. Williams performed at the same pro days as Rowan, which led to higher interest by NFL scouts.
"I've had 12 NFL visits so far and after the Northwestern pro day, things really started to pick up. It was constant travels and this week has been kind of crazy because there is a lot of tests I have to make up because I wasn't in school obviously."
Although his draft stock has risen, it has not always been a smooth ride. Williams was not allowed into the combine and made a vow both mentally and physically to show NFL personnel why he should have been invited.
"My personal slogan for all my pro days - I had a black t-shirt with white letters that read 'numbers don't lie,'" Williams said. "That's pretty much the whole mindset I had when I found out that I wasn't going to the combine. Everybody measures you by your numbers so I said 'Okay, when you see my numbers you are going to realize why you should have invited me'. I have a lot of attributes that I feel a lot of other linebackers don't have."
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