Pro Day workouts by highly-regarded quarterbacks Cam Newton (Auburn) and Ryan Mallett (Arkansas) got all the publicity from the NFL draft analysts on Tuesday. Around the New York area, almost all eyes in the sporting world were focused on Madison Square Garden for the opening games in the Big East Conference Basketball Tournament.
With all of that going on, did you even know that Fordham University held its own Pro Day on Tuesday, where 31 small-school hopefuls tried to impress NFL scouts and earn a shot at an NFL dream? According to the Fordham website, six Rams players were joined by 25 other players from schools like Columbia, Yale, Stony Brook and UAlbany.
The group was led by Fordham tight end Stephen Skelton and defensive back Isa Abdul Quddus, who would appear to have the best chances among the Fordham contingent of winding up in an NFL camp. ESPN New York reported that there were three New York Jets scouts and one New York Giants scout among the 15 teams at the workout.
A quick check of the National Football Post prospect database shows that Skelton rates as a potential late-round pick for teams in need of a pass-catching tight end. Abdul-Quddus is likely looking for an invitation to someone's camp as an undrafted free agent.
Former Fordham quarterback John Skelton, Stephen's older brother who started four games for the Arizona Cardinals in 2010, was also in attendance at the Pro Day. Since he is living the dream, he knows the opportunity the players were presented with.
"A lot of the big-school guys get the hype," the elder Skelton said. "Some deserve it and some get it because the media needs something to write about, but you see guys from the smaller schools that have talent. These are guys that no one ever heard of, but they come to something like this and it's an opportunity to get in front of an NFL scout."
-- The Fordham website lists a breakdown of the top performances, and all of the measurables for the Fordham players.