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https://www.ninersnation.com/2019/4/1/18290050/49ers-predraft-visit-brandon-hitner-villanova
49ers scheduled to work out Villanova OL Brandon Hitner
The team is looking to bring in depth along the offenisve line
By Kyle Posey@KP_Show Apr 1, 2019, 2:02pm PDTThe San Francisco 49ers are likely looking late in the draft at potential depth for the offensive line. Per Eric Edholm of Yahoo Sports, the team is scheduled to workout Villanova offensive tackle Brandon Hitner. The 6’6, 305 pound tackle posted a 5.16-second 40-time, vertical jump of 32.5 inches, and a broad jump of 115.5 inches at Villanova’s pro day. Those jumps would have been top five at the NFL combine. So one thing we know about Hitner is that he’s an athlete.
If the 49ers are looking to add versatility, it would make sense why they are interested in Hitner:
“I went into Villanova playing guard, not really knowing what to expect, because I played guard throughout high school. Then they threw me out at tackle because of depth issues. I just stuck with tackle the rest of my career but I feel like guard is a good spot for me and I definitely feel like I’m versatile enough to play all three positions.”
Having a player that can play all three positions is the type of versatility that make offensive line coaches salivate. Hitner started the past two years at right tackle before he was a swing guard for Villanova. I have never seen him play. Lance Zierlein—who does the scouting reports for the NFL’s website—predicts Hitner to be a borderline draftable prospect. This was the anonymous executive quote:
“His intelligence test was off the charts. He had the physical profile to move inside to center and now we know he has the mental profile as well.” — AFC personnel executive
AgamemnonOline
Matt Kaskey is a massive offensive lineman from Dartmouth who plays pissed off. I love him and he is my favorite player in the entire NFL Draft. At 6070, and 310 pounds if you can watch this kid and not get excited you are not a football fan. He is a beast.
This guy looks like a big bully.
http://www.draftanalyst.com/matt-kaskey
Pos:
Large, relatively athletic offensive tackle with a lot of next-level ability. Powerful and gets a lot of movement as a run blocker. Easily turns defenders off the line and finishes the play. Quick out to the second level, pulls across the line of scrimmage and blocks in motion well and consistently seals defenders from the action. Big enough and strong enough to recover when defenders get the first step on him. Uses his long arms to push pass rushers from their angles of attack.
Neg:
Often late with his hands. Gets tall as the play proceeds and does not block with consistent knee bend. Lined up at left tackle but lacks natural footwork and the ability to slide off the edge.
Analysis:
Kaskey is a large, explosive lineman who plays to his size and shows great power on the field. He’s a college left tackle who will have to move to the right side and has enough ability and upside to make a practice squad this fall. Agamemnon“His intelligence test was off the charts. He had the physical profile to move inside to center and now we know he has the mental profile as well.”
Hitner has attracted a lot of interest among some Rams fans. This looks like a good UDFA haul. I know many think the roster is virtually set, but, it has to turn over every year to an extent, since they need cheaper additions if they are going to carry 2 big contracts in Goff and Donald.
If you look at last year’s roster (including the practice squad) the team carried more than a dozen UDFAs.
The Rams have signed a bunch of interesting udfas for the Oline, plus the 2 linemen they drafted. The Offensive line looks decent. 😉
AgamemnonPatriots have met with EWU WR Nsimba Webster, per source
5-10, 180 — ran 4.4 40, 6.7 3 cone at Wash. St pro day
— Eric Edholm (@Eric_Edholm) April 5, 2019
AgamemnonHad the pleasure of talking to Justin Sumpter (@Sumptin_just_in) of @KSUOwlNation about his path from Kennesaw State to the Rams as an UDFA 🦉 https://t.co/sY2yj1ORA2
— Cameron DaSilva (@camdasilva) May 9, 2019
Sumpter has a knack for making one-handed grabs. This catch was No. 1 on ESPN's Top 10 plays in 2017 pic.twitter.com/kYRwNLma9S
— Cameron DaSilva (@camdasilva) May 9, 2019
Some other highlights from my interview with him:
– He watches film of DeAndre Hopkins and Brandon Marshall
– His parents live in the same neighborhood as Calvin Johnson's parents
– He led the Owls in receiving all 4 years
– Wasn't a starter until senior year in HS— Cameron DaSilva (@camdasilva) May 9, 2019
Rams UDFA Justin Sumpter hoping to put Kennesaw State on the NFL map
Rams UDFA Justin Sumpter hoping to put Kennesaw State on the NFL map
By: Cameron DaSilva | 23 hours ago
Making the transition from college football to the NFL is extremely difficult, regardless of position or talent level. Going from the FCS level to the pros is even tougher – especially when you’re a wide receiver coming from a triple-option system where receptions were tough to come by.
Former Kennesaw State wide receiver Justin Sumpter is attempting to make that leap with the Rams after signing with them as an undrafted free agent. Heading into the 2019 NFL draft, he was hoping to become the first player selected from Kennesaw State – a football program that’s only four years old.
Unfortunately, he wasn’t one of the players selected in Nashville, but he still hopes to put his lesser-known school on the NFL map.
Only a few former Owls have reached the NFL, the first being Dante Blackmon, who signed with the Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2017. Sumpter was joined by Darnell Holland as two Kennesaw State products to sign after the draft this year as both try to make it in the NFL.
Sumpter knows it won’t be easy to make the team, but he feels he was fortunate to have gone to Kennesaw State where the football program was started his freshman year in 2015.
“I felt like it was a blessing,” Sumpter said in a phone interview with Rams Wire. “I was still kind of new to the game because I didn’t play in middle school and I didn’t play freshman year of high school. I played like three JV games my sophomore year, so my junior year I was a backup. I started my senior year, so I was still learning as I went. My freshman year at Kennesaw was their first year so as was learning new things about how to play football, the school and the team, we were still growing together. I feel like that fit me perfectly.”
Sumpter had offers from Ball State and Presbyterian, and was also recruited by Kentucky and Georgia Tech, but he doesn’t think going to a big program would’ve benefitted him because of his lack of football experience.
He chose Kennesaw State because of the proximity to home, and one of his closest friends got an offer from the Owls, too. Playing in front of the home crowd was something he loved.
“If I went somewhere else, I might’ve redshirted while I was trying to learn, and then they’re bringing in other guys who already know things, so I probably would’ve had to sit on the bench my sophomore year. Whereas at Kennesaw, everyone was on the same page, we were all learning together and growing together,” Sumpter continued. “So I wasn’t losing anything. Being in that program and seeing where it came from, when I first got there, we looked like a high school team. To see now, where it’s starting to become almost like a national powerhouse.”
Kennesaw State doesn’t get the attention that top programs get at the FBS level. However, the football team’s progress since its inception in 2015 has been remarkable.
In Sumpter’s freshman season, the Owls went 6-5. The following year, they finished 8-3. In 2017, they made real headway with a 12-2 record, making the FCS playoffs and reaching the quarterfinals. Last season, the Owls went 11-2 and made the playoffs again, unfortunately coming up short in the quarterfinals for the second straight year.
Sumpter led the Owls in receiving each year, including an impressive 2017 campaign when he caught 33 passes for 610 yards and five touchdowns. Seeing passes come his way wasn’t a frequent occurrence for Sumpter – or any other Owls receiver, for that matter – considering the team ran a triple-option, wing-type offense.
Making the transition to a standard drop-back offense may not be as seamless as most other receivers going to the NFL, but Sumpter is excited about the opportunity to run more routes and catch the ball more often.
“My first year, I’m still going to be learning a lot,” he said. “There might be some bumps here and there, just making the transition from blocking the whole time to now having to read coverages and stuff like that. But it shouldn’t be that bad. I feel like I’m a really quick learner. I don’t feel like it’ll be that bad, but it’s going to be a fun experience just being able to run other routes like posts and I get to go show I can run a quick out and run some double-moves, so I’m really excited about the opportunity.”
Sumpter’s route tree was limited with the Owls, given the type of offense they ran, but he hopes to show off his route-running ability with the Rams. As for his favorite pattern in college, it was the go route.
“That was my bread and butter. Hopefully they turn me into an out-route, slant guy because I’ve always wanted to do that,” he added.
Coming from a triple-option offense does have its benefits, though. Sumpter is no stranger to run blocking, having to do it often on the outside. The Rams, as we know, love for their receivers to be willing blockers with how often they run the ball – especially on outside zone plays.
He enjoys blocking, whether it’s getting up on a cornerback or cracking down on a defensive end. He’ll do whatever the Rams ask, and he’ll do it at a high level, too.
“I’m a big, physical receiver. Brandin Cooks is probably one of the fastest guys in the league, you got Todd Gurley in the backfield, so you need someone to block on the outside for him. And being around the edges, that’s what I really took pride and joy in. Not really getting the ball that way, I was like, ‘At least I could be one of the reasons we score a lot of touchdowns.’ My main thing was just stay in the pathway on the outside for our running backs.
“I’m going to make a block they need me to make, no matter if it’s a linebacker, a crackdown on the D-end or a safety or corner. I’m going to make sure I block for them.”
That might be Sumpter’s best asset, but receivers in the NFL have to, well, catch the ball. In college, he only caught a total of 111 passes in four years. But he brings something to the table that not many other Rams wideouts possess: size.
“Being a big-bodied receiver, I probably have one of the highest red zone percentages in the nation, in the whole draft class,” Sumpter said. “A lot of people say, ‘He’s got the 50-50 jump ball.’ But for me, I’ve got the 80-20, so I feel I bring that to the table, as well – being a bigger asset. Because most of the guys aren’t that big or tall.”
Leading up to the draft, Les Snead said the Rams would consider taking a wide receiver late on Day 3 if he was a “red-zone threat.” Sumpter has the potential to be exactly that, as he showed in college.
Sumpter has a knack for making one-handed catches. His most famous one came against Liberty, which landed him on SportsCenter and ESPN’s “You Got Mossed.” Sumpter had to go off the grid for a few days after that catch landed him in the national spotlight.
“I had to turn my phone off for a couple days because it was on SportsCenter that night and then the following Monday, it was on ‘You Got Mossed.’ That whole weekend it was just blowing up,” he said. “People were mentioning me. Even people I went to elementary school with were like, ‘Hey I know that guy, we went to elementary together.’
“It was fun getting that exposure. It really helped the team out because people didn’t realize who Kennesaw State was and we went on a little run after that – that was the year we made the playoffs and made a deep run.”
As for the one-handed catches, it’s just reactionary for the 6-2 receiver. However, it is something he practices – not to be flashy, though.
“It’s really just a reaction thing. I do practice it a lot in practice, just like worst-case scenario situations,” he said. “Thursday is our perfect practice day, so sometimes while special teams was going on, me and the quarterback would practice fade balls because that’s usually what we’d be running. So sometimes I would just go up there with one hand in case someone was grabbing my arm, I want to be able to know I can adjust quickly and come down with it.”
DeAndre Hopkins has made some highlight-reel grabs with the Texans, coming down with passes using just one hand. He’s also one of the best wideouts in the NFL and someone Sumpter’s watched a lot of film on.
“I’ve been watching a lot of film recently and two guys that I mainly watch are DeAndre Hopkins – he’s not the fastest guy out there but he finds ways to get open and uses his hands well – and the other guy I like to watch is Brandon Marshall, just because me and him have a similar body type. He’s a big-bodied receiver, strong hands and I like the way he plays the game,” Sumpter explained.
So how did he land with the Rams? Strangely enough, they weren’t a team on his radar throughout the pre-draft process. In fact, they were one of the only teams he hadn’t heard from leading up to the draft.
“The Rams were probably one of the only teams that throughout this whole process, I didn’t have a workout with, I don’t remember them coming to see me at the school,” he said. “I think it was one scout that was at the College Gridiron Showcase that said something to me as I came off the field. That was the only interaction I had with the Rams throughout this whole process. So when I heard they were calling to sign me, it kind of caught me off guard.”
Sumpter was originally going to join the Titans on a tryout basis, but the Rams called 20 minutes after Tennessee. The Rams wanted to sign him as an undrafted free agent rather than bringing him in as a tryout player, which made it the better landing spot for Sumpter.
After talking to his family and agent, he picked L.A. over the Titans.
“We talked it over and felt like it was a better opportunity for me to go to L.A. They both called at the same time – the Rams called like 20 minutes after the Titans called,” Sumpter said. “At first, I was going to go to the Titans but they called the next day and I talked to my agent and that’s when they called back and said they were going to sign me for a minicamp tryout, so it was a win-win.”
if Sumpter makes it in the NFL, he’ll have something in common with Calvin Johnson. Both attended Sandy Creek High School in Georgia. Coincidentally, his parents live in the same neighborhood as Johnson’s parents, so Sumpter sees the retired Lions receiver “all the time.”
“I actually went to his camp two times when I was in high school because it was at the high school. But it’s actually funny because his parents and my parents live in the same neighborhood, so I see him all the time,” Sumpter chuckled. “But I don’t really try to reach out, I know he’s enjoying his whole retirement life. Eventually I might try to contact him, but for right now I haven’t really reached out to him or anything.”
There’s a lot riding on rookie minicamp and offseason workouts for Sumpter, who reports to the Rams on Monday. If he makes the team, he’ll be the first Kennesaw State product to earn a spot on an NFL roster.
That’s likely on his mind, but right now, he’s just focused on the task at hand: rookie minicamp.
“Only three people have actually been close to being in the NFL out of our whole program,” he said. “But overall, it’s really a blessing to be able to be one of the guys that they’re considering at the next level.”
AgamemnonI got to know Rams UDFA Natrez Patrick, a linebacker out of Georgia. He’s a great redemption story and has overcome past mistakes to reach this point (via @OSDBSports)
📝 https://t.co/VEaqSaJAPb pic.twitter.com/FEjfn1o8Zt— Cameron DaSilva (@camdasilva) May 9, 2019
Natrez Patrick said the Rams have talked about him as a tweener between ILB and OLB. He has pass-rushing experience, too, which could help him stick in LA https://t.co/m45tct1xQ1
— Cameron DaSilva (@camdasilva) May 10, 2019
Natrez Patrick plans to capitalize on chance with Rams after turbulent tenure at Georgia
May 9th 2019 08:45 AMBy : OSDB
By Cameron DaSilva —
Natrez Patrick always had dreams of playing in the NFL. He was a standout in high school, a top recruit for the University of Georgia and someone who “looked the part” when it came to being a linebacker at the next level. Sure, he had flaws like every other player, but Patrick’s talent has always been apparent.
What wasn’t certain was his maturity. Patrick was arrested three times in college for marijuana-related offenses, raising red flags about his character and off-field decision-making. His last arrest was in 2017, and since, he’s more than cleaned up his act. He’s become a different person and now has the opportunity to pursue his dream of making it to the NFL.
“It definitely changed me as a person,” Patrick told OSDB Sports in a recent phone interview. “I had to grow up. I was making immature, young mistakes. I had to grow up. It helped me, I think. I wouldn’t change anything if I was to do it all over. Because it made me the person that I am today.”
Patrick signed with the Los Angeles Rams as an undrafted free agent, getting the chance to prove he can make it as a pro. He was disappointed to not get selected by any of the 32 teams at the NFL Draft in Nashville, but Patrick is grateful just to have the chance to showcase his skills at the next level.
If not for Georgia coach Kirby Smart, Patrick may not be where he is today. He wasn’t recruited by Smart, but Georgia’s then-new coach stood by Patrick and gave him the opportunity to continue playing football for the Bulldogs.
“It meant everything. I had a pretty good relationship with Coach Smart going through the recruiting process (for Alabama), so he was no stranger,” said Patrick, who is from Atlanta. “Just for him to believe in me, to still want to keep me on the team and for the guys to rally around me. It just shows what type of man he is and how he wants to help kids rather than just his own personal gains or wins. I’m really grateful for it.”
The lowest point of Patrick’s career was being checked into an in-patient rehab center in Augusta, Ga., where he addressed and received help for his addiction. While getting treatment, Patrick was forced to miss the Rose Bowl in 2018.
The Bulldogs won a riveting shootout against Oklahoma, 54-48, to advance to the national championship. Patrick watched the Rose Bowl from the rehab center.
“It was my low point. The only place I could go after that was up,” he said, “I elevated, I made my mind up and I made a conscious decision to do what was best for me, what was best for my family. I had no more selfish intentions and like I said, I went up – I elevated.
“I went into my senior season with no issues. Nothing bad. Everything was just non-existent. I just feel like that situation helped me, being away from my team, being away from my coaches, being away from my family. Everything, it gave me some perspective.”
Rehab wasn’t the only thing that helped Patrick become the person he is today. In addition to a scared-straight visit to a max-security prison, a motivational speaker by the name of Damon West guided Patrick, too.
The former North Texas quarterback was sentenced to life in prison for drug abuse and burglary charges, but was released after seven-plus years. Since, West has used his mistakes to help steer youth away from a path he traveled.
“Me and Damon found each other to have a great relationship, probably from circumstances I didn’t like. But he was a great help,” Patrick said. “He came in as a speaker and talked to the team at one fall camp. And after he heard my situation, he reached out and wanted to help and lay his hands on me and talk to me and kind of be a mentor for me to get my life in the right direction. I was really grateful for it. I was really appreciative of him for doing it because he didn’t have to. He’s busy, man. He’s touring everywhere and for him to just come and try to help me, one individual, it meant a lot to me.”
Patrick was asked by teams about his past mistakes throughout the pre-draft process, and didn’t shy from the truth. He was honest about his situation and showed maturity by overcoming addiction.
“It’s never really about what you are when you’re down. It’s about what are you like when you get up? Can you get up, and can you keep going?” he said. “Just the fact of those teams seeing my drive and being able to change my situation and make it a better situation for myself, I feel that spoke volumes. A team would really appreciate it that I’ve been through things. They know that I appreciate more, they know that I appreciate the opportunity.”
Patrick is heading to Los Angeles for the Rams’ rookie mini-camp, which begins on Monday. On the field, he can play inside or outside linebacker, bringing physicality – which he says is his best trait – to the defense. Off the field, he’s hoping to prove the coaches and front office right for giving him the chance to join the Rams.
AgamemnonNo Group of 5 TE had more receiving conversions than new Jaguars TE Josh Oliver did in 2018 pic.twitter.com/ix5lRh99rC
— Pro Football Focus (@PFF) May 13, 2019
Agamemnonhttps://www.therams.com/news/rams-announce-signing-of-22-undrafted-free-agents
Tuesday, May 14, 2019 01:20 PM
Rams announce signing of 22 undrafted free agents
Myles SimmonsAt the start of the week, the Rams have signed 22 undrafted free agents to bring the team to a full 90 players on the roster.
Los Angeles had previously agreed to terms with 19 undrafted free agents. Defensive back Jake Gervase, wide receiver Jalen Greene, and defensive tackle Bryant Jones are the three players who were not previously announced.
Below is the full list of 22 players:
WR Alex Bachman, Wake Forest
.
TE Kendall Blanton, Missouri
.
OT Chandler Brewer, Middle Tennessee
.
TE Romello Brooker, Houston
.
TE Keenan Brown, Texas State
.
RB Matt Colburn, Wake Forest
.
DT Marquise Copeland, Cincinnati
.
DE Landis Durham, Texas A&M
.
DB Jake Gervase, Iowa
.
WR Jalen Greene, Utah State
.
OT Brandon Hitner, Villanova
.
C Vitas Hrynkiewicz, Youngstown State
.
DT Bryant Jones, Mississippi Valley State
.
OT Matt Kaskey, Dartmouth
.
WR Johnathan Lloyd, Duke
.
LB Natrez Patrick, Georgia
.
OT Justice Powers, UAB
.
LB Troy Reeder, Delaware
.
DT Boogie Roberts, San Jose State
.
WR Justin Sumpter, Kennesaw State
.
DT Tyrell Thompson, Tarleton State
.
WR Nsimba Webster, Eastern Washington AgamemnonLos Angeles Rams: Best undrafted free agent signings
By AJ Schulte –
May 16, 2019The Los Angeles Rams followed up a solid draft class by bringing in a talented group of undrafted free agents. Here is a look at who has a chance to make it on the final roster?
Every year, hundreds of players fall out of the NFL Draft and end up signing onto teams as undrafted free agents. These players go undrafted for a multitude of reasons, but each one fights to stick on the team. Who fits best the current Rams roster and could contribute to the team this year?
WRs Nsimba Webster, Eastern Washington, and Alex Bachman, Wake Forest
Both of these players are deep-threat receivers with traits that project well to special teams. The Rams are four-deep at wide receiver, but the fight for the last two spots with Mike Thomas and Khadarel Hodge is wide open. The Rams’ staff likes Hodge so the battle between Webster, Bachman, and Thomas for that last spot will be a story to monitor.
Pharoh Cooper was an All-Pro returner in 2017, but the Rams lacked that dynamic play from him in 2018. Both Webster and Bachman have the quickness and speed to make their mark as returners and rotational deep threats. The Rams have been emphasizing special teams ability this offseason, so either of these players sticking on the roster as a returner could happen.
LB Natrez Patrick, Georgia
Patrick is, once again, a play on the emphasis for special teams. He is a twitchy athlete in a tweener body, but he’s a good tackler and pass rusher. The Rams have spoken to him about playing at both inside linebacker and outside linebacker, which bodes well for his chances to stay on the Rams’ roster. With how thin the Rams are at linebacker, Patrick making it on as a potential special teams ace/rotational man is a move that would make sense.
TE Keenan Brown, Texas State
Keenan Brown is an athletic tight end with some mismatch capabilities. He can line up all over, but mainly should be used as a receiving option and should seldom block until he improves in that area. Brown showed an ability to create yards after the catch and make big plays in college. The Rams signed three tight ends as undrafted free agents, and I believe Brown to be the best of them. With his playmaking skills and Tyler Higbee approaching a contract year, Brown could stick on and develop as the TE3 and TE2 moving forward.
DT Marquise Copeland, Cincinnati
The Rams made moves in the offseason to help stop the run game. Defensive tackle Marquise Copeland was one of the best run-stoppers in the country for Cincinnati the past two seasons. He isn’t a standout athlete, but his pass-rushing skills improved every year. Copeland is undersized, but surprisingly stout at the point of attack and plays with solid technique and leverage. His best football could be ahead of him, and he could be a solid rotational player for the Rams.
OL Brandon Hitner, Villanova
The Rams built for depth in this draft class and focused on the offensive line by drafting offensive tackles Bobby Evans from Oklahoma and David Edwards from Wisconsin. They also signed five offensive linemen as undrafted free agents, and many of them offer versatility in their roles. Versatility is an outstanding trait to have if you want to stay on a roster as depth and potentially start.
Brandon Hitner from Villanova seems the likeliest to stay on the roster due to his athleticism, versatility, and smarts. Hitner is an athletic talent on tape and in testing, posting a 32.5′ vertical jump, a 115.5′ broad jump, and a 5.16s 40-yard dash at 6’6, 305 pounds while performing at Villanova’s pro day. He played at right tackle at Villanova, but teams have been evaluating him as a guard and center. Teams also have been raving about his football IQ in meetings and on the field (zero penalties in 2018), and he never gave up a sack the past two seasons. The Rams drafted two tackles for depth, but after an offseason that had key starters depart the roster, interior depth on the offensive line is a good thing.
Agamemnon
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