CIS underclassman chases NFL spot

[Green Husky Fan]

An interesting article on the Globe and Mail Website.

As an aside, I'm sure most of you will appreciate the ignorant comment posted on that site by some ignoramus.

CIS underclassman chases NFL spot

DAVID NAYLOR
From Thursday's Globe and Mail
April 1, 2009 at 11:32 PM EDT

Though he is yet to play professionally and has just two years of university football under his belt, Vaughn Martin already owns a unique distinction in Canadian sports.

He is the country's first university underclassman to declare himself eligible for the NFL draft.

That alone adds intrigue the story of Vaughn, a 22-year-old, 330-pound defensive lineman who has NFL scouts bombarding the University of Western Ontario with requests for background information and game film, and whose name is popping up all over the Internet on NFL draft discussion boards.

Scouts from roughly 20 NFL teams have already come to see Martin at workouts held in Windsor and London, Ont. His schedule beginning next week includes visits to the Carolina Panthers, San Diego Chargers, and St. Louis Rams, followed-up by trips to see the Miami Dolphins and Cleveland Browns, with many more possible before the NFL draft on April 25-26.

"The NFL teams looking at him have been very interested," Western head coach Greg Marshall said. "And there's a lot of interest. I've talked to at least [20 teams]. I'm getting calls everyday."

The notion of a Canadian Interuniversity Sport sophomore declaring himself for the NFL draft sounds preposterous, given that only about a dozen players from Canadian schools have reached the NFL over the past 25 years, mostly playing minimal roles.

But Martin's story comes with a few twists and turns.

Living in Jamaica until he was nine, he didn't begin playing football until his second year of high school in London when a coach recruited him after he dropped by practice to meet a friend. He began playing at 5 foot 11, 180 pounds and was a running back and linebacker. He quickly grew to 6 foot 4 and more than 300 pounds by the end of high school.

"He is one of those genetic athletes, a rare find when I first saw him [at South Secondary School]," said Ron Dias, Canada's top college football talent scout. "As I look back over the years, since 1985, I would say he's one of the top-10 potential great football players I've had the opportunity to scout. His biggest problem was inconsistency. He's got to be consistently challenged to rise. But he's a great, great kid."

With Dias's help, Vaughn was offered a scholarship to Michigan State University. But academic issues prevented him from attending and he instead spent two seasons playing in the Central Ontario Football League and enrolling at prep schools in the U.S. in an effort to get his grades up.

It was at Milford Academy in New Berlin, N.Y., where the seed was planted that Martin would one day play in the NFL.

"There were guys who were four- or five-star [high-school] players and I was the same size and had the same athleticism and, most of the time, I was better," Martin said. "Then one of the coaches said to me, 'You could play in the NFL.' That put it in the back of my mind and when I started working harder it became more of a reality."

After enrolling at Western in the fall of 2007, Martin began to approach football with a new determination, quickly becoming a dominant player at the CIS level, especially last season.

But with no experience playing against top-level U.S. competition, Martin will have to earn his ticket to the NFL on raw physical skills and his superb agility. Martin graded above average in every physical category compared to players at his position who were measured at the NFL combine in February, ranking right among the top prospects for this year's draft.

"Athletically, if I can catch someone's attention, they'll like what they see. But they'll think I'm a bit of a project," Martin said.

"I'd rather start that sooner than later. I have to go there mentally tough and be in the best shape of my life."

[thejumpoff]

One comment that spun my wheels......

If Martin could not get into Michigan State because of his grades.....I wonder how he got into Western? To me Martin sounds a little high on himself. The other comments, take it with a grain of salt. He was good but not the dominant player. I have said before, at best a free agent signing. Many teams interview players before the draft. One team I read will interview as many as 100 players before draft day. It is good to see teams are interested, but nothing to get crazy about.

[lanced]

This may seem nit-picky to some but from the ones I have talked to, professional evaluators consider it a big issue. It keeps cropping up, in this article and in most pieces I've read on Vaughn. That is the motivation or consistency angle. At the NFL level you have to be highly self motivated to stick. They won't look to motivate you because it's easier to replace than motivate. Even the supremely geneticly gifted-uber talented feaks ie.Shaun Rogers, getted rooted out if not self-motivated. DT is however considered the 2nd most difficult position to fill.

[CISFan]

what may not be known to many is that Vaughn had committed to Laurier originally. He would have needed to be out of school for two years to be accepted as a mature student as he would not qualify under regular admission, but he had attended a prep school in the US within that two years. Vaughn wanted WLU coaches to pretend they didnt know about it and he wouldnt include it on his admission application. The head coach said "we dont do that here. I am not willing to jeopardize my position in this program" and with that Vaughn was done with WLU. He ended up at Western but I dont know their admission policies so I cannot comment. However he wasnt eligible at Michigan State or Laurier.

[gold]

these school issues would all be relevant if he were applying to harvard law.

however, i find it sad that so many on this site cannot be happy for a kid who came from a modest upbringing and has found this great opportunity.

to jumpoff...as for a team interviewing 100 players...that's great. The article states numerous teams are flying Vaughn in for visits. Only players they are looking at drafting would be flown in for further interviews, meetings with coaches, management, etc. And no team will be bringing in 100 players, sure they may interview many more over the phone or at pro days but you have to make the cut to be be brought in to meet management, etc. I think it's great for the kid, and i've met him after home games, he's a great kid. Is he arrogant, no, he just believes in his own ability.

[thejumpoff]

Originally Posted by gold

these school issues would all be relevant if he were applying to harvard law.

however, i find it sad that so many on this site cannot be happy for a kid who came from a modest upbringing and has found this great opportunity.

to jumpoff...as for a team interviewing 100 players...that's great. The article states numerous teams are flying Vaughn in for visits. Only players they are looking at drafting would be flown in for further interviews, meetings with coaches, management, etc. And no team will be bringing in 100 players, sure they may interview many more over the phone or at pro days but you have to make the cut to be be brought in to meet management, etc. I think it's great for the kid, and i've met him after home games, he's a great kid. Is he arrogant, no, he just believes in his own ability.

I am not hating on Vaughn, however there are NFL team that will visit many players even fly them in, It does not cost much for an NFL team to give a prospect a plane ticket. On April 25-26, we will all see if he gets drafted at all. I compare this to the job interview process. Many companies (not now due to the economy) will wine and dine many prospects before selecting their guy.

As for his comments, I know the difference between a confident kid and an cocky one....and ducking a drug test doesn't get bonus points for character.

[thejumpoff]

Originally Posted by CISFan

what may not be known to many is that Vaughn had committed to Laurier originally. He would have needed to be out of school for two years to be accepted as a mature student as he would not qualify under regular admission, but he had attended a prep school in the US within that two years. Vaughn wanted WLU coaches to pretend they didnt know about it and he wouldnt include it on his admission application. The head coach said "we dont do that here. I am not willing to jeopardize my position in this program" and with that Vaughn was done with WLU. He ended up at Western but I dont know their admission policies so I cannot comment. However he wasnt eligible at Michigan State or Laurier.

You bring up a good point, what is his academic record? I suspect it is questionable.