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Volume 72, Issue 112,
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Sports UH players hope to dazzle NFL scouts Kolb hopes to improve upon previous workouts by MARK SUAREZ
The road to the NFL for former UH football players will make its way Friday to the Yeoman Field House. UH strength and conditioning coach Larry Jackson is in charge of the event, which begins at 9 a.m. Jackson said the procedures of the past that allowed non-UH athletes to work out for NFL coaches and scouts would not be implemented this year. "The Pro Day that we have for the University of Houston is supposed to be the Cougars' day, our players' day," Jackson said. "For me, when we start bringing in other people from other places to run during our Pro Day that kind of takes the emphasis off our players. I think our players have the right to have their own special day where they are showcased to the NFL." Eleven seniors from the 2006 Conference USA championship team that include quarterback and C-USA Offensive Player of the Year Kevin Kolb, running back Jackie Battle, wide receiver Vincent Marshall, linebacker Wade Koehl and nose tackle Marquay Love among others will participate along with former UH players. Similar to the 2007 NFL Scouting Combine held Feb. 21—27 in Indianapolis, the players will be physically measured followed by workouts that include the vertical jump, bench press and various speed drills. Longtime NFL quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator Jerry Rhome has worked with Kolb since the end of the 2006 season and is confident the UH leader in passing yards (12,964), completions (964) and touchdowns responsible for (106) has that special "it" factor necessary to make an impact at the next level. "What's happening right now in the NFL is these quarterbacks are controlling the game with not only their physical ability but their mentality," Rhome said. "You saw Peyton (Manning) take (the Indianapolis Colts) to the Super Bowl. He is the quarterback of today and that's what Kevin has in him, that ability to handle a football team." For Kolb, UH Pro Day will be another opportunity to show NFL offensive coaches and scouts he does have an NFL arm. Although he does not plan on running as he did at the combine, Kolb is excited to be working out with his teammates. "We're probably just going to throw and not run or anything else," Kolb said. "The thing I'm most excited about is getting back up here with my teammates and putting on a show together. "We're all going to be out here competing and trying to be flawless and perfect for these scouts." After taking only eight snaps in live action at the Senior Bowl in January and receiving mixed reviews for his best time in the 40-yard dash (4.78 seconds) at the NFL Combine, Kolb said Pro Day is not the final time he is set to workout prior the 2007 NFL draft, which will be held April 28-29. "It's not the last stage because they're going to do their own personal workouts after this," Kolb said. "Hopefully this one will go as smooth as my other ones have and all of our stocks will rise after this." Fans are welcome to attend UH Pro Day as observers only. Send comments to dcsports@mail.uh.edu |
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