UDFAs

DL Louis Trinca-Pasat, Iowa (NFL, CBS)

Louis Trinca-Pasat, DT
School: Iowa
Height/Weight: 6-1 / 290 lbs.

STRENGTHS: Possesses a short, squatty frame with a low center of gravity that helps him win the leverage battle. Strong, active hands to rip free of blocks. Good lateral agility and balance to slip off blocks as backs attempt to run by, latching on to build his gaudy tackle totals. Surprisingly quick given his frame and can disrupt by splitting gaps. Terrific effort in pursuit.

WEAKNESSES: More of a pest than a consistent disruptor. Too frequently loses to size and power at the line of scrimmage, getting knocked back when run at. Short arms give him limited opportunity to grab hold of ballcarriers when he is able to penetrate. Good initial burst to split gaps but is only an average athlete, overall, and isn’t going to run anyone down.

Player Overview

While Carl Davis and junior Drew Ott have received most of the national attention directed toward the Hawkeyes, Trinca-Pasat emerged as Iowa’s more productive defensive lineman in 2014. The stumpy, energetic Trinca-Pasast led his group with eight tackles for loss in 2013 and paced the defensive linemen in 2014 with 65 stops over the 2014 regular season, including 11.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage and 6.5 sacks.

While Trinca-Pasat’s production is impressive, he’ll have to overcome marginal size and explosiveness to produce similar numbers in the NFL. Trinca-Pasat’s quickness, power and relentlessness could, however, earn him a role in a rotation.

from off the net

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thehammer

follow the money, most of these guys are just filling in numbers at camp..team needs 3 left tackles, 3 left guards 3 centers, 4 nickle backs 4 right cb, 4 left cb, 4 qb’s, ect to run drills

But Westbrook got a 20,000 bonus last year…Bayer got 10,000? guess Brown got 15,000-10,000 and Claiborne maybe 5,000-10000 lot of the others won’t get any bonus…

Louis Trinca-Pasat got a $15k SB from the Rams & $10k of his 2015 base salary guaranteed

Brugler blathers bout Brown:

19. MALCOLM BROWN | Texas
10/21/2.1/0 15/112/7.5/1 17/195/11.5/2 16/58/3.6/0 58/386/6.7/3
2011: (10/7)
2012: (8/1)
2013: (13/4)
2014: (13/13)
Total: (44/25) 561/2,332/4.2/23
103/396/3.8/4 61/324/5.3/4 214/904/4.2/9 183/708/3.9/6

BACKGROUND: A five-star running back recruit out of high school, Brown was considered the top prep player at the position and collected dozens of offers, ultimately deciding to stay in-state with the Longhorns. He saw the field right away as a true freshman, starting seven games in 2011 and leading the team with 396 rushing yards, earning Big 12 Newcomer of the Year as the first true freshman to lead Texas in rushing since Cedric Benson. Brown missed five games in 2012 with an injury, but returned strong in 2013, sharing the backfield duties (four starts) and leading the team with 904 rush yards and nine touchdowns, earning Second Team All-Big 12 honors. He started all 13 games as a senior in 2014, rushing for a team-high 708 yards on 183 carries, earning Second Team All-Big 12 honors. Brown earned an invitation to the 2015 East-West Shrine Game.

STRENGTHS: Looks the part with a rock-solid build, forward lean and natural power…lowers his pads to absorb contact with the body strength and balance to shake off single tacklers and play lower than defenders…runs tough with a head of steam, not afraid of contact…follows his blocks and wastes little time once he sees an opening, anticipating well to get north-south quickly…runs tough and determined with consistent play speed, showing spurts of energy…not very shifty, but shows concise plant-and-go quickness to square his pad level to the line of scrimmage…shows reliable hands out of the backfield with natural receiving ability…consistent base strength to hold his ground and sustain in pass protection…protects the ball like a pit bull (only one career fumble) – lowest fumble rate in this draft class (619.0)…goal-oriented type with reliable work ethic and preparation habits.

WEAKNESSES: Limited explosive qualities, lacking sudden footwork and loose hips which limits his change of direction skills…only average speed and won’t run away from anyone at the next level with ordinary acceleration and burst…gets himself in trouble when he hesitates at the line of scrimmage, taking wasted steps in the backfield and allowing defenders to close when he doesn’t trust what he sees…his power and balance don’t necessarily translate to broken tackles…too easily slowed by contact and doesn’t consistently push the pile, slowing himself at times before the contact point…needs to do a better job selling fakes and focusing on details…durability has been a minor issue, dealing with ankle, foot and shoulder injuries in the past.

SUMMARY: Not to be confused with teammate defensive tackle Malcom Brown at Texas, Brown led the Longhorns in rushing three of the last four seasons, but never eclipsed the 1,000-yard rushing mark in a season and didn’t live up the massive hype out of high school. He has the body strength and balance to run through arm tackles in space, but doesn’t show the same power or effectiveness between the tackles and needs to pack more of a punch at the point of attack. Brown isn’t a home run threat and there isn’t much that separates him, but he’s a solid all-around back with the traits to earn draftable grades and survive on third down in the NFL – trustworthy meat and potatoes back with late round potential.

Add another O-linemen to the list. South Florida OT Darrell Williams to Rams as undrafted rookie. Had 29 starts at left tackle.

— Jim Thomas (@jthom1) May 3, 2015

2015 NFL Draft: Liberty Safety Jacob Hagen Scouting Report and Projection

by Bo Martin 5w ago

http://nflmocks.com/2015/03/27/2015-nfl-draft-liberty-safety-jacob-hagen-scouting-report-projection/

It’s not uncommon for draft analysts to overlook FCS players, but in a draft that lacks a wealth of talent at the safety position players like Liberty’s Jacob Hagen warrant a closer look.

Hagen is an absolute ball hawk who finished the 2014 season with 108 tackles, 5.5 tackles for a loss and eight interceptions. He possesses a unique combination of speed and physicality that accompanies his intense passion for the game.

Let’s take a closer look at Hagen’s skill set:

Strengths

On film, Hagen is a dynamic free safety with exceptional range. He relies on sharp instincts that consistently put in position to make a play. Those instincts have helped him become an adept run defender who delivers big hits on runners as well as receivers running intermediate routes.

In pass defense Hagen possesses rare ball awareness, as well as, an incredible ability to catch the ball. Of all the safeties that I’ve studied in 2015, Hagen is easily amongst the most intelligent, he understands his opponents and is excellent at positioning himself in a manner that allows him to make plays on the ball.

Overall, Hagen is a skilled all-around safety who is capable in both man- and zone-coverage. He has great range and constantly around the ball. One last thing to point out is his effectiveness on special teams—this attribute is important for the team’s superstar; I love to see a player willing to contribute in every facet of the game for the betterment of the team.

Weaknesses

To be clear, Hagen isn’t without his flaws. First and foremost, there always remains the fact that Hagen played against a different quality of opponents than as his peers.

On the field, there were moments when Hagen was caught in over pursuit taking him completely out of the play. Moreover, while Hagen possesses 4.5 40-yard dash speed, he still has the propensity to be beaten on deep routes by quicker receivers. There are also times where it seems like Hagen gets tunnel-vision, that being that he focuses on one specific opponent in zone schemes only to end up blowing his assignment. The bottom line is that Hagen likes to gamble, more often than not it pays of for him, but when it doesn’t it’s ugly.

Team Fits

Buffalo Bills

Philadelphia Eagles

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Draft Projection: 5th round

Some will see this as being a little optimistic but the NFL seriously lacks high quality free safeties. Hagen offers a team a hard-working, good character player who can make an impact on both special teams and nickel-packages immediately.

The future is unclear for Hagen, as he’ll have to work extremely hard. However, he has the raw skill set and with the right coaching, he could be a viable starter in this league.

Syracuse LB Cameron Lynch (6-0, 231) joins Rams as rookie free agent. He had 97 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 7 sacks in '14. Team captain.

— Jim Thomas (@jthom1) May 4, 2015

By my count, we can sign 4 more players to reach the roster limit of 90. I am waiting until some of this stuff is more official before I do a depth chart/roster.

A couple of Rams rookie free agents that I forgot to mention earlier. Arkansas-Pine Bluff WR Isiah Ferguson; Northwest Mo. DE Matt Longacre.

— Jim Thomas (@jthom1) May 5, 2015

Longacre had quite a career at Northwest Missouri State, a Div. II power. Holds school career records for sacks (30 1/2) and TFLs (47).

— Jim Thomas (@jthom1) May 5, 2015

Longacre named defensive conference player of the year in MIAA last season. He's 6-3, 270.

— Jim Thomas (@jthom1) May 5, 2015

@jthom1 Very respectable 3 cone and Shuttle. 7.07 and 4.26 respectively. Both faster than #3 overall Dante Fowler.

— ThatAintFalco (@FakeLoneRangers) May 5, 2015

• This reply was modified 9 years, 7 months ago by canadaram.

Fifteen undrafted rookies at Rams minicamp

By Jim Thomas

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/football/professional/fifteen-undrafted-rookies-at-rams-minicamp/article_90312043-99fc-5a7c-beb5-cf889e8fd90f.html

The Rams are expected to have 24 rookies on the practice field Friday at their rookie minicamp, encompassing nine draft picks and 15 undrafted rookies. Add South Alabama cornerback Montell Garner and Bacone linebacker Keshaun Malone to our previous list of rookie free agents.

Garner comes from an athletic family. His father Milton played defensive back for Kansas (1984-87); his mother participated in track at Kansas State.

Malone is the second player from Bacone (in Muskogee, Okla.) to get a shot at a Rams roster spot in successive seasons. Defensive tackle Deantre Harlan, who was in Rams training camp last summer before going on to Winnipeg of the Canadian Football League, also attended Bacone.

Here’s the confirmed list of Rams rookie free agents, which unofficially puts the team’s roster at 88 players _ or two under the offseason limit:

Malcolm Brown RB 5-11, 224 Texas

Logged 2,678 career rushing yards, 27 TDs for Longhorns.

Imoan Claiborne CB 5-10, 193 Northwestern State (La.)

Senior Bowl invite had 3 INTs, 4 fumble recoveries in ’14.

Isiah Ferguson WR 6-5, 218 Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Had 29 catches for 343 yards, 1 TD last fall.

Terrence Franks RB 5-9, 203 Texas State

Rushed for 712 yards, 11 TDs last season.

Montell Garner CB 5-11, 188 South Alabama

Two interceptions, 54 tackles in 2014; 4.61 in 40 at pro day.

Jacob Hagen S 6-2, 205 Liberty

Intercepted 8 passes w/108 tackles, four forced fumbles in ’14.

Jay Hughes S 5-10, 194 Mississippi State

Team captain for Orange Bowl squad picked off 2 passes in ’14.

Zach Laskey FB 6-2, 225 Georgia Tech

Ranks 13th in school history with 2,033 career rushing yards.

Matt Longacre DE 6-3, 260 Northwest Missouri State

School career records for sacks (30 1/2), tackles for loss (47).

Cameron Lynch LB 6-0, 229 Syracuse

Had 97 tackles, 7 sacks in 2014; team captain.

Keshaun Malone LB 6-2, 260 Bacone

Conference def. player of the year in ’14 (135 tackles, 5 INTs).

Bradley Marquez WR 5-10, 196 Texas Tech

Spent 2 summers playing minor-league baseball w/Mets.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1860927/bradley-marquez
Marquez is average in the size, strength and speed categories, but he shows natural route acceleration to change gears well with toughness to work over the middle and do damage in contested situations.

Tyler Slavin WR 6-1, 201 New Mexico Highlands

Caught 119 passes for 1,418 yards and 17 TDs last season.

Louis Trinca-Pasat DT 6-1, 290 Iowa

Combine invite had 69 tackles, 6 1/2 sacks last season.

Darrell Williams OT 6-5, 301 South Florida

Had 29 starts at left tackle in college.

Rams notes: Northwest Missouri star Longacre gets a shot with Rams

By Joe Lyons

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/football/professional/rams-notes-northwest-missouri-star-longacre-gets-a-shot-with/article_8ce15121-c5e0-56e5-9493-46aa85a343c1.html

Rams defensive end Matt Longacreis is out to prove himself again.

A team captain and leader at Millard West High in Omaha, Neb., Longacre drew limited recruiting interest before opting for NCAA Division II power Northwest Missouri State — largely because of the program’s winning tradition. Over the last four seasons, the Bearcats went 46-8, made four playoff appearances and capped a 15-0 campaign in 2013 with a fourth national championship.

And Longacre, a 6-foot-3, 260-pounder who recently signed as a rookie free agent with the Rams, was at the heart of that success. He twice was voted the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association defensive player of the year after finishing as career leader in tackles for loss (47) and sacks (30½). As a senior, he was in on 38 tackles, including 12 for loss, with 8 ½ sacks and 17 quarterback hurries.

Despite that production, he went undrafted.

“It would’ve been nice to be drafted — it’s a huge honor; everybody wants to hear his name called — but I went into the draft knowing my situation and wasn’t overly disappointed,’’ he said after taking part in a rookie workout over the weekend at Rams Park. “I’m just happy to be here and looking forward to the opportunity to prove myself.’’

Longacre said he was in contact with the Rams throughout the final rounds of last weekend’s draft.

“I probably signed less than five minutes after the draft ended,” he said. “I had some other calls, but I just told them, ‘Sorry, I’m a Ram.’

“Going into the weekend, I talked a lot with my college coaches and my agent, and for me, the Rams just seemed like the best fit. This team has one of the best defensive lines in the league and the best defensive line coach (Mike Waufle) in the NFL. I’m looking forward to learning from the best and doing what I can to help.’’

Rated as the No. 11 small-school draft prospect by D2football.com, Longacre hopes to make an early impact on special teams.

“I’m highly motivated,” the 23-year-old said. “Being a free agent, a guy from a small school, I know I have to work and fight that much harder to make an impression. I’m going to listen to the coaches and just keep striving to get better.

“All I ever wanted was a chance. The Rams have given me that chance and the rest is up to me.”

NAIA HOPEFUL

Like Longacre, linebacker Keshaun Malone from Bacone College of Muskogee, Okla., dominated last fall. The Central States Football League defensive player of the year made 135 tackles, intercepted five passes and had a sack.

Not bad for a guy who stands 6-2 and weighs 260 pounds.

“I worked hard and had a great season. I was thrilled to get the call from St. Louis and I’m excited to be here,’’ the 22-year-old said. “Just being here, it’s great. This is the NFL, the best of the best, and I’m just going to try and push myself every single day to show them that I can play. You can’t worry about the next guy; I just want to go out every day and play my game, do what I can do and hopefully find a way to help this football team.’’

A finalist for the Cliff Harris Award, which goes to the nation’s top small school defensive player, Malone is the second Bacone player in as many years to sign with the Rams. A year ago, defensive tackle Deantre Harlan showed some promise during the preseason before failing to survive the final cut.

“We watched Deantre on TV during the preseason — he played real well — and I talked to him once he got back to school,” Malone said. “He told me this was a great organization, and I’m excited to be a part of it.”

Brugler on Claiborne:

34. IMOAN CLAIBORNE | Northwestern State 5095|189 lbs|5SR Alexandria, La. (Alexandria HS) 7/20/1992 (age 22) #18
2010: (5/0) 0/0.0/0.0/0/0 2011: Redshirted
GRADE 7th Round
MEASUREABLES Arm: 32 | Hand: 09 1/8 | Wingspan: 77 1/4
COMBINE N/A (not invited)
PRO DAY 40-YD: 4.56 | 10-YD: 1.65 | 20-YD: 2.69 | BP: 13 | VJ: 39 | BJ: 10’00” | SS: 4.58 | 3C: 7.28 PRONUNCIATION EH-mon
2012: (9/0) 2013: (11/11) 2014: (11/11) Total:(36/22)
18/0.0/0.0/3/1 37/2.0/1.0/6/2 47/2.0/1.0/11/4 102/4.0/2.0/20/7

BACKGROUND: A two-star wide receiver recruit out of high school, Claiborne committed to Northwestern State over Louisiana-Lafayette in order to stay closer to home. He moved to cornerback and played sparingly as a true freshman in 2010, seeing action on special teams, and was forced to redshirt in 2011 because of poor academics. Claiborne returned in 2012 and made an impact off the bench, recording 18 tackles, three passes defended and one interception. He became a full-time starter in 2013 as a junior and recorded 37 tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss, six passes defended and two interceptions, earning All-Southland Second Team honors. Claiborne started 11 games in 2014 as a senior and finished with career-bests in tackles (47), passes defended (11) and interceptions (four), earning All-Southland First Team honors. He earned an invitation to the 2015 Senior Bowl.

STRENGTHS: Adequate muscle tone and functional strength for the position…above average length to match up with bigger targets…disrupts routes in press coverage with a mug-and-tug mentality at the line of scrimmage…stonewalls receivers off the snap to disrupt routes and destroy offensive rhythm…coordinated footwork in small spaces…finds the football fast when he gets his head turned…playmaking instincts when the ball is in his stratosphere, using a large catching radius and ballskills to attack – seven career interceptions, averaging 10.6 yards per return…extensive special teams experience…good head on his shoulders with improved work ethic and strong family roots – fiancée (Ashlee) and two-year old daughter (Addison).

WEAKNESSES: Shorter than ideal with a limited frame to add bulk…routinely a step behind and lacks ideal make-up speed to recover after burned…ordinary burst and doesn’t show multiple gears in his movements…leggy and upright in his pedal and doesn’t look comfortable moving in reverse…undisciplined eyes and doesn’t recognize routes, allowing too many comebacks and underneath completions…doesn’t have the quick-thinking reflexes to collect himself and drive…too physical downfield and doesn’t have a great feel for what he can get away with…inexperienced in off-coverage, playing mostly zone and press-man in college…forced to redshirt in 2011 due to poor academics…minor durability concerns, missing one game as a senior with a spleen injury (Oct. 2014) after he took a shot to the abdomen.

SUMMARY: A baseball player growing up, Claiborne didn’t start playing football until high school and had only two years of experience before college, choosing Northwestern State over other offers in order to stay close to his mother, who has heart problems. He was considered a better wide receiver as a recruit, but had the physical nature needed for cornerback and moved to defense for the Demons, starting the past two seasons. Claiborne lined up mostly in press coverage and was asked to jam and bail, but did his best work when he played nose-to-nose at the line of scrimmage and used his length and aggression to disrupt receivers. While he can locate quickly with ballskills when he turns, he still doesn’t have a great feel at the position downfield and will need to make a living on special teams while he develops on defense – late round player.

Highlights of University of Texas running back Malcolm Brown, who signed as a free agent with the St. Louis Rams after the 2015 NFL Draft.

===

Malcolm Brown, RB
School: Texas | Conference: BIG12
Height/Weight: 5-11 / 224 lbs.

Workout Results
40 Yd 4.51

canadaram wrote:

Ourlads on Malcolm Brown:

Started 25 games over his four year career. From Cibolo, TX. a tough three down north/south runner. Runs with a low centre of gravity. Flashes good quickness and cutting ability. Played with a whole new line in 2014. Many times he got hit in the backfield or before he could get started. Productive over his Longhorn career despite rotating with a variety of backs. A good inside zone runner with vision and running skills. Finishes his runs by lowering pad level and driving his legs on contact. A willing pass protector who step up and attack an inside or outside blitzer. Catches the ball well out of the backfield. A good athlete with good foot agility with the ability to step through a tackle. Brown upgrades the quality of depth of an NFL backfield. An East-west Shrine game participant. 2014 stats: 708 yards, 3.9 upcoming, 6 TD, 16 rec, 58 yes. OSR: 10/34. Seventh round/PFA. (A-32 3/4, H-10 1/4, BP-19, SS- 4.15).

canadaram wrote:

19. MALCOLM BROWN | Texas
10/21/2.1/0 15/112/7.5/1 17/195/11.5/2 16/58/3.6/0 58/386/6.7/3
2011: (10/7)
2012: (8/1)
2013: (13/4)
2014: (13/13)
Total: (44/25) 561/2,332/4.2/23
103/396/3.8/4 61/324/5.3/4 214/904/4.2/9 183/708/3.9/6

BACKGROUND: A five-star running back recruit out of high school, Brown was considered the top prep player at the position and collected dozens of offers, ultimately deciding to stay in-state with the Longhorns. He saw the field right away as a true freshman, starting seven games in 2011 and leading the team with 396 rushing yards, earning Big 12 Newcomer of the Year as the first true freshman to lead Texas in rushing since Cedric Benson. Brown missed five games in 2012 with an injury, but returned strong in 2013, sharing the backfield duties (four starts) and leading the team with 904 rush yards and nine touchdowns, earning Second Team All-Big 12 honors. He started all 13 games as a senior in 2014, rushing for a team-high 708 yards on 183 carries, earning Second Team All-Big 12 honors. Brown earned an invitation to the 2015 East-West Shrine Game.

STRENGTHS: Looks the part with a rock-solid build, forward lean and natural power…lowers his pads to absorb contact with the body strength and balance to shake off single tacklers and play lower than defenders…runs tough with a head of steam, not afraid of contact…follows his blocks and wastes little time once he sees an opening, anticipating well to get north-south quickly…runs tough and determined with consistent play speed, showing spurts of energy…not very shifty, but shows concise plant-and-go quickness to square his pad level to the line of scrimmage…shows reliable hands out of the backfield with natural receiving ability…consistent base strength to hold his ground and sustain in pass protection…protects the ball like a pit bull (only one career fumble) – lowest fumble rate in this draft class (619.0)…goal-oriented type with reliable work ethic and preparation habits.

WEAKNESSES: Limited explosive qualities, lacking sudden footwork and loose hips which limits his change of direction skills…only average speed and won’t run away from anyone at the next level with ordinary acceleration and burst…gets himself in trouble when he hesitates at the line of scrimmage, taking wasted steps in the backfield and allowing defenders to close when he doesn’t trust what he sees…his power and balance don’t necessarily translate to broken tackles…too easily slowed by contact and doesn’t consistently push the pile, slowing himself at times before the contact point…needs to do a better job selling fakes and focusing on details…durability has been a minor issue, dealing with ankle, foot and shoulder injuries in the past.

SUMMARY: Not to be confused with teammate defensive tackle Malcom Brown at Texas, Brown led the Longhorns in rushing three of the last four seasons, but never eclipsed the 1,000-yard rushing mark in a season and didn’t live up the massive hype out of high school. He has the body strength and balance to run through arm tackles in space, but doesn’t show the same power or effectiveness between the tackles and needs to pack more of a punch at the point of attack. Brown isn’t a home run threat and there isn’t much that separates him, but he’s a solid all-around back with the traits to earn draftable grades and survive on third down in the NFL – trustworthy meat and potatoes back with late round potential.

STRENGTHS: Brown looks the part with NFL build, running square to the line of scrimmage with the body strength to shake off single defenders and play with lower pad level than most on the field. He doesn’t have dynamic elusiveness, but shows effective plant-and-go quickness with excellent play speed, always looking to get north-south in a hurry. Brown follows his blocks well with good feel and vision to find openings and get to the second level. Although he doesn’t have ideal power and explosive traits, Brown runs physical, low to the ground and always seems to be picking up positive yardage.

WEAKNESSES: Lacks the juice teams are looking for in a feature back, showing little explosiveness through the hole and lacking breakaway speed. Shows toughness to run through tackles but is an upright runner who too often absorbs big hits, leaving the ball and his body vulnerable. Swings his arms to maintain balance, at times, further exposing the ball. Possesses a naturally imposing frame but isn’t a cut-up athlete, raising questions about his weight-room dedication.

zn wrote:

Howard Balzer ‏@HBalzer721

Rams have signed undrafted FA center David Wang (6-1, 303) from Virginia Tech.

—————–

Other Virginia Tech prospects to watch in 2014: C David Wang…Versatile, smart lineman with 23 career starts, rotating between guard and center over the last two seasons. Although not a massive specimen or elite athlete Wang’s intelligence, quickness and position versatility should earn him a chance to make an NFL roster if he’s able to stay healthy and continue his consistent play. – Derek Stephens, NFLDraftScout.com

Military Bowl: Virginia Tech’s Wang Perseveres Through Pain

By Elliott Smith
December 27, 2014

https://footballmatters.org/stories/military-bowl-virginia-techs-wang-perseveres-through-pain

If it feels like David Wang has been at Virginia Tech forever, and by the player’s own admission, he really has.

“It’s been a long, long journey,” the sixth-year center said. “I’ve seen so many of my friends come and go. I’ve seen my friends suffer career-ending injuries. It puts my time in perspective. I truly am blessed to be here.”

When Wang pulls his helmet on for the Military Bowl on Dec. 27, it will be the culmination of an arduous, yet rewarding, career with the Hokies in which he has overcome a spate of injuries to become one of the leaders on Virginia Tech’s revamped line.

Wang arrived in Blacksburg as part of the 2009 class, but lost almost two full seasons to a shoulder injury in ’09 and a broken foot in 2011. Confined to his room by the latter injury, Wang put his focus into recovery and video games, namely the hit Call of Duty. He became so adept at the game, he was ranked among the best players in the country.

“I couldn’t walk around anywhere, so I played Call of Duty from the time I woke up to bed,” he said. “I got really good at it. I’m definitely the best gamer on the team.”

But after receiving a special exemption for a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA, Wang put down his controllers and refused to let any of the bumps and bruises keep him from enjoying his final year of college football.

“(The injuries) are countless right now,” he said with a laugh. “But it’s a lot I can play through. I just wanted to be out on that field. It’s a love of the sport. I’ve played football all my life and it means something to me.”

In searching for the right combination, the Hokies shuffled their line throughout the season, and Wang played both center and guard this year. But everything came together in the most important game of the season, as Virginia Tech beat rival Virginia to earn a 22nd consecutive bowl berth.

“We truly came together in the Virginia game,” Wang said. “Everyone knows how much that game means to our program, the town and all the Hokies out there. We were more focused than ever. This is my last game, but for the rest of the young guys, it’s a way to set the tone for next season.”

At 24 years old, Wang probably knows more about college life than the average student. He holds two undergraduate degrees in management and marketing, and on Dec. 19, earned his Master’s in curriculum and instruction.

“My biggest advice is to enjoy yourself in college with your team and your friends,” he said. “It goes by quickly. Football truly is something that can jumpstart your life.”

And as Wang prepares for a potential NFL career, he has a great sounding board in his brother Ed, who was a senior at Virginia Tech way back when David was a freshman. Ed Wang played in the NFL with the Buffalo Bills and David hopes to follow in his brother’s footsteps.

“He’s been there every step of the way – he’s a great older brother,” David Wang said. “I spent so much time focusing on school and getting my degrees so I could have a solid cushion to fall back on, but now I am throwing everything into football. I am going to give it my all and try to continue my football career.”

Trinca-Pasat gets opportunity with the Rams

By Nate Latsch

http://stl.scout.com/story/1546566-trinca-pasat-gets-chance-with-rams?s=124

ST. LOUIS — Louis Trinca-Pasat tried not to pay much attention to the final day of the NFL Draft. The former Iowa defensive tackle, who was projected by some as a late-round pick, kept himself busy instead of following along with the picks.

“I was playing board games with my family,” Trinca-Pasat said. “Playing soccer and some sports with my nieces and nephew in the backyard. My family, my parents, were glued to the TV. I didn’t want to be tense or anxious or distracted because of all that. I just kind of kept my mind clear.”

There were 256 players selected in the seven rounds of the Draft but Trinca-Pasat, a three-year starter who was a second-team All-Big Ten selection in 2014, wasn’t one of them.

Instead, the 6-foot-1, 290-pounder ended up signing as an undrafted free agent with the St. Louis Rams shortly after the conclusion of the Draft.

“The general manager talked to my agent and my agent and I agreed that this was the best fit for me for me to come,” Trinca-Pasat said when he met with reporters during the Rams’ rookie orientation last weekend. “It’s a great d-line and great coaches to learn from and get better.”

The defensive tackle had options. He said his agent told him that, besides the Rams, eight other teams wanted to sign him as a free agent.

In St. Louis, Trinca-Pasat joins a defensive line that includes five former first-round draft picks — Chris Long, Robert Quinn, Nick Fairley, Michael Brockers and Aaron Donald — but only currently has three defensive tackles on the roster in Donald, Brockers and Fairley.

Trinca-Pasat said joining the Rams is a great opportunity to learn from the best.

“They have one of the best d-lines and Aaron Donald and all the other guys,” he said. “I still have to learn their names, but they were one of the best in the league last year. I’m just here, I’m excited. It’s always good when you get to absorb knowledge from the best.”

Trinca-Pasat is similar in size to Donald, the 2014 NFL defensive rookie of the year. Trinca-Pasat is 6-1, 290. Donald is 6-1, 285.

“I was seeing a little bit of him on film and heard of him coming out of Pitt,” Trinca-Pasat said. “He’s just a really good player, a very good guy I’ve heard. I haven’t met him yet, but I’m looking forward to it.”

The rookie defensive tackle will get to know his new teammates during the Rams’ offseason program. He’ll have a chance to impress his new coaching staff during OTAs and training camp.

Trinca-Pasat impressed draftniks with his play at Iowa, where he started 38 games over three seasons, and then during the draft evaluation process at the Senior Bowl, Scouting Combine and at his pro day.

Trinca-Pasat racked up 69 tackles, including 11.5 for loss, and 6.5 sacks during his senior season with the Hawkeyes. He then put up solid numbers at the Combine — 4.96 seconds in the 40-yard dash, 32-inch vertical leap, 4.30 seconds in the 20-yard shuttle and 7.40 seconds in the 3 cone drill — and showed off his versatility at his pro day by also going through drills as a fullback.

Ourlads’ NFL Scouting Services rated Trinca-Pasat as the 13th-best defensive tackle prospect in the 2015 Draft and projected him as a fourth- or fifth-round pick. NFL.com projected Trinca-Pasat as a fifth-round pick.

“Made a reputation for himself by being a relentless worker on and off the field,” Ourlads’ David Syvertsen wrote in his scouting report. “He lacks the ideal physical gifts that most teams want out of a defensive tackle, but coaches love to have this kind of guy on the depth chart. He plays with great pad level, quickness, and aggression. He can be a handful for blockers to deal with as games wear on and fatigue sets in. He will be limited to certain roles at the next level, but there is a spot for this kind of player on every team.”

Rams’ offensive lineman Andrew Donnal, a fourth-round pick from Iowa, echoed those sentiments about his college teammate.

“He’s a great guy to have on your team, on your side,” Donnal said. “He’s an all-for-the-team kind of guy, not selfish at all, and just willing to do anything. That’s what makes him so great. He’s extremely hard working and a great guy to be on this team.”