Spring Break
The NFL draft, UConn style
Mike Mauro
Issue date: 2/20/09 Section: Sports
Pro football's annual meat market is set to begin this weekend with the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. It's the time of year when draft talk begins to heat up, right before the start of free agency, when NFL prospects show off their bodies and characters in a grueling and important job interview with millions of dollars at stake.
UConn will have four prospects heading to the Combine, all of whom can expect to hear their names called within the first four rounds of the draft. The nation's leading rusher from last season, Donald Brown, and teammates Will Beatty, Darius Butler and Cody Brown will all be in Indianapolis.
Donald Brown's production and amazing balance are impossible to overlook, but what scouts want to see is his straightaway speed, which some question. If Brown posts a 40-yard dash time in the 4.4-second range, he will vault into the very early portion of round two. If he is somewhere in the 4.5-second range, he can probably expect to hear his name called later in the second round or early third. Anything above that, and he may begin to slide. Either way, Brown should hit a home run in the interview process with his humble, genuine demeanor.
Beatty is a hot name entering the festivities in Indianapolis. He is seen as a potential stud at left tackle because of his tremendously quick feet, and he was part of the line that helped spring Brown to so many rushing yards. The biggest question is whether Beatty can hold up at the point of attack since he last weighed in at less than 300 pounds at the Senior Bowl.
If Beatty can show up at or above the 300-mark, put up a good number on the bench press and interview well, there are some scouts who think he can vault all the way into the bottom of round one. A more likely scenario, though, is that he'll be drafted somewhere in the second round.
Butler is another guy scouts will love because of his raw ability, which he is expected to show when he works out in Indianapolis. Some scouts question his willingness to support the run, but if you watched any UConn games over the last few years, Butler is not afraid to fly up and make a tackle. His size is a concern, in terms of both height and weight, but if he runs the 40-yard dash in under 4.4 seconds, there will be a lot of buzz surrounding him. He could hear his name early in the second with a good workout, or mid-third with an average showing.
UConn will have four prospects heading to the Combine, all of whom can expect to hear their names called within the first four rounds of the draft. The nation's leading rusher from last season, Donald Brown, and teammates Will Beatty, Darius Butler and Cody Brown will all be in Indianapolis.
Donald Brown's production and amazing balance are impossible to overlook, but what scouts want to see is his straightaway speed, which some question. If Brown posts a 40-yard dash time in the 4.4-second range, he will vault into the very early portion of round two. If he is somewhere in the 4.5-second range, he can probably expect to hear his name called later in the second round or early third. Anything above that, and he may begin to slide. Either way, Brown should hit a home run in the interview process with his humble, genuine demeanor.
Beatty is a hot name entering the festivities in Indianapolis. He is seen as a potential stud at left tackle because of his tremendously quick feet, and he was part of the line that helped spring Brown to so many rushing yards. The biggest question is whether Beatty can hold up at the point of attack since he last weighed in at less than 300 pounds at the Senior Bowl.
If Beatty can show up at or above the 300-mark, put up a good number on the bench press and interview well, there are some scouts who think he can vault all the way into the bottom of round one. A more likely scenario, though, is that he'll be drafted somewhere in the second round.
Butler is another guy scouts will love because of his raw ability, which he is expected to show when he works out in Indianapolis. Some scouts question his willingness to support the run, but if you watched any UConn games over the last few years, Butler is not afraid to fly up and make a tackle. His size is a concern, in terms of both height and weight, but if he runs the 40-yard dash in under 4.4 seconds, there will be a lot of buzz surrounding him. He could hear his name early in the second with a good workout, or mid-third with an average showing.
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