The first of the college all-star games is coming up this Saturday. The East-West Shrine Game will be played at 4 PM EST tomorrow. The coach for the West Team? None other than our ex-coach, Wade Phillips. On the other side of the ball, coaching the East, is another guy with Cowboys connections, Dan Reeves.
One of SB Nation's NFL sites, Big Cat Country (covering the Jaguars), has writers attending the practices this week for the game. They have various reports on practices, but this was funny.
First of all, Wade Phillips ran special teams practice for about a half hour on Tuesday afternoon, which was rather obnoxious. You could see most of the NFL scouts, etc. with an annoyed look on their face, especially because the West's kicker, Dan Bailey of Oklahoma State, kept booting the kickoff out of the endzone.
Oh that Wade!
Anyway, they also emailed me and told me they saw Dallas Cowboys scouts talking to two guys after practice on Tuesday. Hawaii running back Alex Green and Utah safety Justin Taplin-Ross. They also notice the New England Patriots scouts talking to the same two guys.
More below...
Here's a quick blurb on Green, but maybe some of you guys have watched him play and can give us more.
Another offensive player worth keeping an eye on is Hawaii running back Alex Green. His size (6’2″, 230 lbs) is hard to ignore and he is quietly having a huge year for the Warriors, averaging 8.8 yards per carry. He reminds me of Jaguars fullback Greg Jones, who played running back during his days at Florida State. He won’t be drafted as high as Jones, but has a chance to carve out a similar NFL career if he continues to develop.
Maybe a big-back to replace the possibly soon-to-be-departed Marion Barber?
Here's an interview with safety Taplin-Ross.
Scott Porter: What will you be doing between now and draft time to best prepare yourself for your dream of making it to the NFL?
Justin Taplin-Ross: I will be playing in the Shrine Bowl All-Star game. I just had my appendix removed so I will be just getting over that right before the game. I am working on my size. I want to play around 220 or 225. I want to work on getting my speed up and focus on keeping my strength and put myself in the best situation I can to get a shot at an NFL roster.
Lord knows we need safety help.
Okay draftniks, enlighten us. Any other players at the game you guys particularly like?