College Players The Eagles Are Interested In

[PhillyPhreak54]

Courtesy of ge99:

When scouts wearing fleeces from the Philadelphia Eagles and Miami Dolphins came around during Austin's junior year to evaluate him, "I was pretty excited about that,'' said Austin, who grew up as a Raiders fan. "I was hoping it was going to happen.

In reference to Monmouth WR Miles Austin (6'3 219).

[Rome]

Courtesy of ge99:

When scouts wearing fleeces from the Philadelphia Eagles and Miami Dolphins came around during Austin's junior year to evaluate him, "I was pretty excited about that,'' said Austin, who grew up as a Raiders fan. "I was hoping it was going to happen.

In reference to Monmouth WR Miles Austin (6'3 219).

See?  Top flight competition.

[PhillyPhreak54]

So they should only devote time to D1A schools?

[PhillyPhanInDC]

More on this Austin kid:

Austin: Chrebet with size     

Saturday, January 28, 2006

By PETE CALDERA
STAFF WRITER

 

Once a player like Miles Austin is parading around at the NFL combine, it hardly matters where he spent his undergraduate years.

The vital statistics -- height, weight, speed, strength, hands, quickness, football instincts -- matter most to coaches who can't waste valuable draft picks.


Suddenly, a player from a little-known school could make a lot of noise in Indianapolis.

"I know I can play on that [NFL] level,'' said Austin, 21, a wide receiver out of Garfield and Division I-AA Monmouth University – not exactly one of New Jersey's football hotbeds. "Hopefully, they like what they see.''

Austin's name is burned inside Monmouth's record book, but none of that will matter from Feb. 23-27 during the horse-auction atmosphere at the RCA Dome.

"Miles has the size numbers the NFL guys are looking for,'' said Mark Fabish, Monmouth's offensive coordinator.

At 6 feet 3 and 225 pounds, Austin will look like a pro as he stands among the top prospects from the nation's biggest football factories.

But what about when the whistle blows? "He's a tough kid,'' Fabish said. "I'd be surprised if there's another receiver [at the combine] that has the size and strength that he has.''

Among the excitable crowd of draftnicks, Austin already is a known commodity. Type Austin's name into an Internet search engine, along with "NFL draft,'' and you'll see.

At Scott Wright's NFL Draft Countdown -- which bills itself as the world's most popular draft site -- Austin is ranked 30th among 42 receivers invited to the combine.

Over at football.com, Austin is rated 21st among the site's top 25 receivers.

In the capsule commentary at NFL Draft Countdown, Austin is projected to be a seventh-round selection, or at least a free agent who will get a shot at someone's NFL camp this summer.

"He's excited,'' Fabish said. "All he wants is an opportunity.''

If he makes it to the pros, Austin would follow the path of fellow Garfield High alums Wayne Chrebet (who just retired from the Jets) and Luis Castillo, a first-round draft pick of the San Diego Chargers in 2005.

In becoming the first Monmouth player invited to the NFL combine, "obviously it gives us some national recognition,'' Fabish said.

But a player such as Austin doesn't wind up at a school like Monmouth without a unique set of circumstances. Austin came late to football, but Monmouth coaches showed an early interest.

"When we recruited him, he was somewhat raw,'' Fabish said of Austin, who was more involved in basketball and track until his junior year at Garfield.

By the end of his sophomore year in college, "We were saying, 'Wow, this kid's pretty good.' He became more of a polished player,'' Fabish said.

By the time Rutgers came calling, Monmouth had won Austin's loyalty. There would be no transfer.

Originally, "That's where I wanted to go,'' Austin said of Rutgers. But Monmouth "stuck with me from the beginning.''

When scouts wearing fleeces from the Philadelphia Eagles and Miami Dolphins came around during Austin's junior year to evaluate him, "I was pretty excited about that,'' said Austin, who grew up as a Raiders fan. "I was hoping it was going to happen.''

Suddenly, thoughts of an NFL career seemed real.

Since then, the Jets, Giants and representatives from every NFL team have seen Austin at Monmouth.

These days, Austin works out at Joe DeFranco's training center in Hawthorne, training six days a week in preparation for the combine and a career that seemed but a dream four years ago.

From NFL DraftBlitz:

3. WR Miles Austin, 6-3 219, Monmouth (Division II):

MU's all-time leading receiver with 122 receptions and recently recorded his 10th-career 100-yard receiving game. Last year (2004) as a junior he was named to Don Hansen's Football Gazette NCAA Mid-Major second-team All-American team and led Monmouth receivers in all categories, hauling in 47 passes for 859 yards and nine touchdowns. He also led his team in scoring with 66 points and all-purpose yardage with 965 total. He is like a man playing among boys and will certainly be given a chance to play in the NFL. This year (2005) he already has 601 receiving yards and 5 TDs.

[PhillyPhreak54]

From ge99 via AuburnScout.com:

Ben Obomanu WR Auburn:

He adds that getting placed on the Senior Bowl roster has helped him in his quest for the NFL because a number of pro teams have spent a good bit of time getting to know him this week. "The Eagles, the Dolphins, the taterskins, the Saints, there are a lot of different teams I have talked to," he says. "A lot of people are just going to do interviews any way just to see what kind of person you are and compare you to other people so it has been fun just to have the chance to do some interviews

[PhillyPhreak54]

Eagles | Team interested in Mix
Fri, 24 Feb 2006 13:33:29 -0800

During his NFL Combine interview, Auburn WR Anthony Mix said the Philadelphia Eagles were interested in him at the Senior Bowl.

He's 6'4 235

[PhillyPhanInDC]

I was reading about Mix earlier. Seems most scouts have  him being a TE at the next level. He also has some charachter issues and a bit of a problem staying in playing shape.

NFLDraftCountdown says:

Strengths:
Has amazing size and a large frame which he knows how to use...Outstanding natural athlete...Very good speed for a guy of his dimensions...Is a big target who can move the chains and be a possession receiver...Does a good job of getting open...Got better each year of his career...Still has some upside and potential.

Weaknesses:
Might need to make a position change and will need to either bulk up to play tight end or slim down to play wide receiver...Will drop too many balls...Needs to become more physical and a much better blocker...Is not a deep or vertical threat...Needs to work harder...Struggles to stay in shape...An underachiever.

Notes:
Played wide receiver in college but may project to tight end or H-Back as a pro...Has some intriguing physical tools and a great combination of size / speed but needs to be motivated...Will likely get looks as a developmental prospect.

[shorebird]

What about Santoinio Holmes, the WR from Ohio State, he's small, but fast as hell.

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

Hello, and welcome to last month, Shorebird!

[bobbyinlondon]

According to KFFL, according to Marcus Vick, Pat Shurmur interviewed him. I can't print the link becauses KFFL is blocked here where I work--because it's got a lot of gambling stuff on there, and those are "hot words". However, it WAS on another Eagles site I was just trawling through.

[PhillyPhreak54]

Eagles | Team meets with Mills
Sat, 25 Feb 2006 15:50:59 -0800

During his NFL Combine interview, Tulsa TE Garrett Mills said he met with the Philadelphia Eagles at the Combine.

Eagles | Team meets with Pope
Sat, 25 Feb 2006 14:41:42 -0800

During his NFL Combine interview, Georgia TE Leonard Pope said he has met with the Philadelphia Eagles at the Combine

[PhillyPhreak54]

Eagles | Team talks with Jolly
Sat, 25 Feb 2006 12:09:09 -0800

During his NFL Combine interview, Texas A&M DL Johnny Jolly said he has talked with the Philadelphia Eagles

Eagles | Team interviews J. King
Sat, 25 Feb 2006 11:31:05 -0800

During his NFL Combine interview, Virginia Tech TE Jeff King said he was interviewed by the Philadelphia Eagles.

Eagles | Team interested in J. Lewis
Sat, 25 Feb 2006 11:27:05 -0800

During his NFL Combine interview, Virginia Tech DT Jonathan Lewis said he was drawing interest from and met with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Eagles | Team interviews M. Vick
Sat, 25 Feb 2006 08:19:35 -0800

During his NFL Combine interview, Virginia Tech QB Marcus Vick said he interviewed with the quarterbacks coach from the Philadelphia Eagles

[MURP]

pretty clear TE is a priority. 

[General_Failure]

Reid will be the first coach to have pass-oriented 4 TE offense.

[PhillyPhreak54]

Yeah, they know they need a solid #2 Te. King and Pope are big bodies who are good blockers.

Mills is listed as a TE but he'll be an h-back/FB in the NFL.