**Covering TX vs. The Nation Practices: Game 2/2 10 EST CSTV (1 Viewer)

I'm heading to El Paso this week to cover the practices of the newest draft all star game, Texas Vs. The Nation.

John Murphy from the Shrine Game Selection Committee and the game's Director of Player Development is helping put together a brand new all star game for some of the players with top talent that might have been overlooked by other games. John is trying to improve the all star game landscape - this game includes Buddy Ryan as head coach of "the Nation". It will also honor the scouting community behind the scenes with a "scout of the year" award and presentations directly geared to the scout's life. Brian Stokes is playing: a fullback from Appalachian State, who served two tours of duty in Iraq as a U.S. Marine prior to his arrival at ASU and received a Purple Heart for injuries sustained in combat.

Remember: John Murphy was the part of the reason we have even heard of Marques Colston. He brought Colston in to San Antonio last year when Maurice Stovall got bumped up to the Senior Bowl. He is one of the guys overseeing this game. Just because you haven't heard of these guys doesn't mean that should feel free to ignore them.

Gary Russell (Minn) and Ramonce Taylor (Texas) are two VERY talented RBs who have been derailed. They have a chance to get back on the right foot this week. Marcus Thomas is a top notch DT from Florida who got dismissed from the team - he has a chance to start to redeem himself.

Rosters

Home Page

From what you describe, it sounds like the Bengals would have great interest in some of the players in this game.

pizzatyme said:

From what you describe, it sounds like the Bengals would have great interest in some of the players in this game.

Click to expand...

You go get 'em Bloom! We'll be covering this completely on THE AUDIBLE!

Two guys who have NFL bodies(not sure about speed) that I saw on one of the early all-star games. Looking at them as crazy deep sleepers.

Jeff Smith QB Georgetown (6'5ish)

Justise Hairston RB Cental Conn (6-0 220ish)

coolnerd said:

Two guys who have NFL bodies(not sure about speed) that I saw on one of the early all-star games. Looking at them as crazy deep sleepers. Jeff Smith QB Georgetown (6'5ish)Justise Hairston RB Cental Conn (6-0 220ish)

Click to expand...

noted. thanks for the input.

I'm interested to hear what you think of R. Taylor as he is one of my sleepers that i think will have a very good combine if he is invited.

He has sleeper written all over him

Justin Vincent anyone? Bloom, ask Murphy about his prospects and why he didn't match his freshmen production! :gobayoubengals: Thanks.

Any tidbits on Mike Walker WR (UCF) would be appreciated Bloom........Been reading some nice stuff on this kid..........

FYI - the site of the game will have streaming video highlights of practices all week... something that no other all star game has.

Sigmund Bloom said:

coolnerd said:

Two guys who have NFL bodies(not sure about speed) that I saw on one of the early all-star games. Looking at them as crazy deep sleepers.

Jeff Smith QB Georgetown (6'5ish)

Justise Hairston RB Cental Conn (6-0 220ish)

Click to expand...

noted. thanks for the input.

Click to expand...

I don't know anything about the Hoya QB, but I've been playing catchup on Hairston for a few weeks. Remember I had two small school RBs (Whitlock and Race) ranked pretty high and mentioned a good source said Hairston was just as good? I saw both and Hairston in the Hula Bowl and scoured around for practice opinions. They are split. But from what I saw on the field Hairston looked the most NFL ready, Race the least and Whitlock very hard to project-- certainly explosive. Anyway, I'm just scrolling the rosters and is really appropriate. GB the organizers of this one. I want to be there more than I wanted to be at the Senior Bow. You need to review your Hunter S. Thompson and report back to us in true gonzo style.

Other than Hairston the names that really interest me...

Mike Walker as just mentioned. Man was unstoppable when healthy and more productive than Brandon Marshall at the start of last season.

Ryan Moore has freakish talent and who knows what's up with him.

Tyler Ecker is a decent TE in a very weak class.

Erik Robertson from Cal is way under the radar. Man can block.

Thed Watson is the most interesting lineman. He was USFs best pro prospect and what a fun game this is. I loved Watson when scouting out Hall at USF last year. He was a great looking lineman

I've read great stuff about Taurean Charles, but who ever watches Bethune's football team. He may be a standout to keep an eye on.

Of course, there's Marcus Thomas and some prime suspects at RB.

Hairston if you don't know the story left Rutgers because of Rice and Leonard and his belief that he had NFL game. Well, his numbers were just sick and I really thought I saw... hard to describe. Vermiel recently said when scouting a bunch of kids if someone doesn't jump out at you, no one is there. Hairston jumps out.

Sigmund Bloom said:

FYI - the site of the game will have streaming video highlights of practices all week... something that no other all star game has.

Click to expand...

Those are security cameras used as evidence if necessary.

I liked Hairston when he was at Rutgers. He had a great freshman season. Good size, good speed. Backfield just got too crowded (no shame in not being able to beat out Brian Leonard and Ray Rice for playing time). Handled it with class, and didn't complain or cause a problem when his playing time diminished.

I'm also interested in seeing some of the smaller school players who have been mentioned as sleepers... such as Rascati and Dawson.

Guys I'm intrigued by as sleepers/deep sleepers.

- QB Josh Swogger (Transferred to I-AA IIRC)

- RB Quinton Smith

- DE/LB Keyunta Dawson

- RB Clifton Dawson

- DE Xzavie Jackson

- LB Taurean Charles

- DB Larry Anam (Just for homer reasons)

- S Patrick Ghee

DawnBTVS said:

Guys I'm intrigued by as sleepers/deep sleepers.- QB Josh Swogger (Transferred to I-AA IIRC)

Click to expand...

Yep. Former starter at Wazzu. Lost job to Brink and transferred.

DawnBTVS said:

- S Patrick Ghee

Click to expand...

He's a good one.

Chaos Commish said:

Sigmund Bloom said:

coolnerd said:

Two guys who have NFL bodies(not sure about speed) that I saw on one of the early all-star games. Looking at them as crazy deep sleepers. Jeff Smith QB Georgetown (6'5ish)Justise Hairston RB Cental Conn (6-0 220ish)

Click to expand...

noted. thanks for the input.

Click to expand...

I don't know anything about the Hoya QB, but I've been playing catchup on Hairston for a few weeks. Remember I had two small school RBs (Whitlock and Race) ranked pretty high and mentioned a good source said Hairston was just as good? I saw both and Hairston in the Hula Bowl and scoured around for practice opinions. They are split. But from what I saw on the field Hairston looked the most NFL ready, Race the least and Whitlock very hard to project-- certainly explosive.

Click to expand...

The QB is actually from Georgetown KY, not the one that used to be really good @ basketball.

And I just saw Louis Leonard is there. He's just another enormously talented but disappointing Fresno State Bulldog. Leonard could easily have a 10 year NFL career. If he brings his A game, he will dominate.

coolnerd said:

Chaos Commish said:

Sigmund Bloom said:

coolnerd said:

Two guys who have NFL bodies(not sure about speed) that I saw on one of the early all-star games. Looking at them as crazy deep sleepers. Jeff Smith QB Georgetown (6'5ish)Justise Hairston RB Cental Conn (6-0 220ish)

Click to expand...

noted. thanks for the input.

Click to expand...

I don't know anything about the Hoya QB, but I've been playing catchup on Hairston for a few weeks. Remember I had two small school RBs (Whitlock and Race) ranked pretty high and mentioned a good source said Hairston was just as good? I saw both and Hairston in the Hula Bowl and scoured around for practice opinions. They are split. But from what I saw on the field Hairston looked the most NFL ready, Race the least and Whitlock very hard to project-- certainly explosive.

Click to expand...

The QB is actually from Georgetown KY, not the one that used to be really good @ basketball.

Click to expand...

Thanks for proving my statement correct. I know nothing about him. I know nothing about over half of these rosters. Speaking of the QBs though. I doubt Swogger has a prayer, but I thought I saw some impressive high level talent in Sam Hollenbach more than once last year. Even game announcers were talking about it with very guarded comments, but he's got some potential.

Getting ready to head out

[marty robbins]

Out in the west texas town of El Paso...

[/marty robbins]

Sigmund Bloom said:

Getting ready to head out [marty robbins]Out in the west texas town of El Paso...[/marty robbins]

Click to expand...

I fell in love with a Mexican girl....Great song!Drive safe my brother, I hear the weather won't be the best (surprise, surprise).

arrived in el paso.

please feel free to post any guys you want me to pay special attention to.

I just noticed Vincent Marshall is on the roster as a special teamer. He'll probably be the fastest player on the field. Skilled WR too. I'm kind of curious if scouts have him pegged as no more than a PR/KR, or if they will overlook his height and consider him as a WR.

Don Quixote said:

I just noticed Vincent Marshall is on the roster as a special teamer. He'll probably be the fastest player on the field. Skilled WR too. I'm kind of curious if scouts have him pegged as no more than a PR/KR, or if they will overlook his height and consider him as a WR.

Click to expand...

Check out the Kevin Kolb interview when it goes up. I asked him about Marshall.