Ryan Chartrand
The big question regarding Kyle Shotwell’s NFL Draft stock was finally answered Monday when Cal Poly’s graduating senior linebacker ran a 40-yard dash in the 4.5-second range.
And he did it by overcoming a nagging hamstring injury in front of NFL scouts from at least four NFC teams and another from the AFC at Cal Poly’s Pro Day at Alex G. Spanos Stadium.
“I came out here today really just hoping that I’d be able to run a 40,” Shotwell said. “I came out here and warmed up, it felt pretty good, so I gave it a go. I’m satisfied with my 40. I’m pretty satisfied with everything else.”
Shotwell said scouts clocked him at everywhere from 4.52 to 4.62 seconds in the 40, but that the majority of times were either 4.55 or 4.56. Pro Days are crucial for players such as Shotwell – one of five Mustangs who ran the 40 Monday – who are trying to build up their stock for the NFL Draft, which runs from April 28 to 29.
One scout from an AFC team politely declined an interview, but two from NFC teams said they were impressed with Shotwell’s performance.
“He ran well today for us,” one of the NFC scouts said. “I know he’s had a tight hamstring, so he only ran one (40), but everybody’s times were all (in) the same area, so he did run well today.”
A scout from another NFC team spoke fondly not only of Shotwell’s workout, but also of his production during a four-year career that included 392 tackles and a Buck Buchanan Award as the top defensive player in Division I-AA this past season.
“I thought he did a great job,” the scout said. “I thought the whole squad did a really good job. They prepared. Kyle did some workouts. He’s athletic. He’s ready to play in the NFL. You look at Jordan Beck and the (Mustangs’) track record, you have to be impressed with the numbers (Shotwell) put up and how he competed at the East-West Shrine Game.”
The East-West Shrine Game was where Shotwell made seven tackles (five solo) and earned the Pat Tillman Award for showing character and work ethic during the week of practice leading up to the game.
Beck, a middle linebacker, and Chris Gocong, a defensive end, won consecutive Buchanan Awards at Cal Poly in 2004 and 2005. They both excelled at the Shrine Game and were then chosen in the third round of the ensuing drafts, Beck by the Atlanta Falcons and Gocong by the Philadelphia Eagles.
“The thing is,” the first NFC scout said, “they’re playing for some good coaches here in (head coach Rich) Ellerson and guys are being coached well. Those guys, Gocong and Beck, were dominant football players at this level. That’s why they got the opportunity at the next level and had the opportunity to make it.”
Unlike Beck and Gocong before him, Shotwell was not invited to February’s annual NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. Shotwell’s 40 time Monday, though, compares favorably with those who did go to the combine this year.
Of the 27 linebackers who ran the 40 in Indianapolis, only five ran times faster than Shotwell did Monday, according to marks listed at FFLiveWire.com.
Although the 6-foot-1 Shotwell’s playing weight during this past season hovered around 235 pounds, he said he could be anywhere from 215 to 240 pounds depending on wherever an NFL team might want him to play.
“I’ll play anywhere,” Shotwell said. “If they want me to play special teams and be the field-goal holder, I’ll do that. It really doesn’t matter. Whatever they want me to be, I could do that. I’m going to have to make my mark on special teams, and I’m prepared to do that. I have a big heart, a big will. I’m going to go out there and try and make every block, every tackle. That’s something that I think I can bring that a lot of guys can’t, is the want-to.”
Shotwell was interviewed by both the Baltimore Ravens and Carolina Panthers during the Shrine week and got an extended look after the Pro Day’s conclusion from an NFC scout.
“There’s been a lot of good interest,” Shotwell said. “It’s encouraging. Hopefully today some of the numbers I put up might raise a couple eyebrows and we’ll see what happens.”
Shotwell said the only stressful aspect of preparing for the Pro Day was “just the unknown,” but that he arrived at a solid mental state a couple days beforehand and felt more comfortable.
“Everyone knows I can play on the field and now they want to see, ‘is he just a product of a system or his he a really good athlete?” Shotwell said. “I think I was able to come out here and show today that I’m a good football player, but I’m also a good athlete. No matter what you put me in, I’m going to go out there and be able to perform. I think I was able to demonstrate my athletic ability today, which was big.”
Here are updates on some of Cal Poly’s other pro prospects:
CB Courtney Brown
Brown opted not to run through drills Monday for three reasons – he was coming off a minor hamstring injury suffered in the week prior, had just turned in an electrifying performance at San Jose State’s Pro Day on March 6 and was still preparing for an individual workout at Hawaii’s Pro Day, which will be held at the Home Depot Center in Carson on Thursday.
The 6-foot-2, 205-pound Brown posted a 4.32-second 40 and 41.5-inch vertical leap March 6 – both the top marks at the San Jose State Pro Day.
“My plan was, I wasn’t going to do all the drills and stuff today,” Brown said. “My plan was to do DB stuff if somebody wanted to come work me out. Last week I had a little setback with my hamstring. I just felt it was better to not do anything today and wait until Thursday.”
The first NFC scout said he was disappointed Brown did not work out because he was unable to see him perform March 6.
According to NFLDraftScout.com, “The most impressive overall workout of the early Pro Day sessions unquestionably belongs to Cal Poly CB Courtney Brown.”
FS Kenny Chicoine
Although his 40 time Monday was not immediately available, Chicoine felt he ran faster than his 4.57 posted at San Jose State.
“We’ll see,” he said. “It was faster than the one in San Jose. As a free safety, I’d like to run faster. I’m not a world-class sprinter. My splits were decent. That’s good. It’s more my lateral movement.”
Chicoine’s three-cone time was 6.8 seconds, an improvement from his mark of seven seconds at San Jose State.
Chicoine leads Cal Poly in career interceptions (20). He said he would consider playing in the CFL, but not beyond that.
“I’m young and my legs are fresh, so whatever way my path strays I’m ready for that if it goes Canada or something like that,” he said. “I’ll stop at Canada. There’s no Arena League or anything else. I’ve got to get my career going one day. It’s good to get out here and keep the dream alive. We’ll see what happens.”
Shotwell pointed to Chicoine’s production as an indicator of why he deserves to play professionally.
“You don’t get 20 interceptions without being a good football player,” Shotwell said. “You can’t do it. I don’t care how fast he ran. You can’t measure his game speed, which is unfortunate.”
The first NFC scout, though, said workout marks are not the determining factor in who gets drafted and who doesn’t.
“It’s not really determined all the time by what you do out here,” he said. “It’s what you do in September and October when the games are played and they say ‘hike.'”
Cal Poly has had standouts in the CFL previously, foremost among them running back Antonio Warren, who led the CFL in rushing touchdowns (13) and was fourth in all-purpose yards (2,179) with the BC Lions in 2005.
DL Chris White
White’s 40 time Monday was widely gauged between 4.9 and 5.0 seconds, which is solid for defensive linemen.
“I did better than when we were in San Jose, so I’m happy,” White said. “I know I’ve done better, but they were still happy with what I did, my overall performance. Not as fast as I wanted, but still fast for 285 (pounds). It was a good day today.”
White, who played nose tackle last season, said he has gained roughly 25 pounds since the end of the season so he could “be a tweener between a three-technique (tackle) or defensive end” and that he would play anywhere on the defensive line.
“I did well enough for them to consider me either one, so I’m right where I want to be right now,” White said.
Often facing double teams, White had 30 tackles as a senior, including 16 solo, 10.5 for loss and five sacks. He was the lone Mustang named to the 2006 American Football Coaches Association I-AA All-America Team.
WR/CB Anthony Randolph
Randolph said he “wasn’t too happy” with his 4.67 time Monday in the 40, but it’s not bad for a player with a 6-4, 228-pound frame.
The only wide receiver at the combine to match that size who ran a 40 (4.4) was Georgia Tech’s Calvin Johnson, likely to be a top-five pick. In fact, there were only five receivers and no corners at the combine who measured in at 6-4 to begin with.
Randolph played both positions throughout his collegiate career, finishing with 78 receptions for 989 yards and 10 touchdowns. He also had 23 tackles and eight pass deflections as a senior.
“It lets them know that I’m more versatile,” Randolph said of his playing both ways in college. “If I do go into the NFL or CFL or Arena, they’ll see that I’m an aggressive, hard-hitting receiver, so it definitely helps. It lets them know that I have more skills than just catching the ball.”
If Randolph opts to play in the Arena Football League, he would not be the first Cal Poly alum to do so. Several ex-Mustangs have played prominent roles in the AFL, including current San Jose SaberCats two-way lineman Dan Loney and former Arizona Rattlers receiver/return specialist Darrell Jones.
SS/CB Randy Samuel
Although his 40 time was not immediately available, Samuel, a sprinter on the men’s track and field team, appeared to run the fastest of any player in the drill.
The 5-foot-10, 175-pound Samuel had 28 tackles, three interceptions and six pass deflections and received All-Great West Football Conference second-team honors as a senior.
K/P Nick Coromelas
Coromelas punted for scouts before the 40-yard dashes began.
A former soccer player, he began the 2006 season as kicker only before taking over punting duties after incumbent starting punter Tim Chicoine suffered a quad injury.
In 2006, Coromelas was 12 for 18 on field goals, 25 for 27 on extra points and booted eight touchbacks. Punting-wise, he averaged 41.5 yards per kick with a long of 70 and landed 17 inside the opponent’s 20-yard line.