That's right, I said it. And here's why:
1. The pro scouts love big-time pro-day showings (Tannehil now the #3 draft pick?!?) and DLo had a MONSTER pro day, running a sub 4.4 - 40, doing really well in all categories, and in the coverage drills showing a tremendous range of motion. Watching Donny in those coverage drills reminded me of Jimmy Wilson's last year. Donny hustled his backside off, even when he didn't have to he was going full speed (such as sprinting back to the line full speed after catching a pass, etc). Also, it wasn't just me that came away from that pro day overly impressed with him, many players there told me directly that he had a monster pro day, probably the best of any player there.
2. Stern7888 on youtube put up all the proday videos, as I pull up his channel tonight I see just two players with what I'd call a significant amount of views. Tru, and DLo. Donny made waves there and the hits/views of his pro day backs that up. Going into pro-day Donny was relatively unknown in pro-scouts eyes, coming out of it he's got more hits than guys that are presumably getting camp invites (Oppy, McSurdy, and Middleton)
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkST7epduVg&context=C4ee3096ADvjVQa1PpcFOuaLaa6_Y2e2A3CxiKfCqc1q62_O3gBRs=[/youtube]
3. Donny's showing at the Big Sky track meets back up his speed, he's got more to go off than just his pro-day results.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggtnlvqCrWo[/youtube]
4. Donny has extensive special teams experience, he's a hard hitter, and a guy that rarely loses outside containment on return-men. His long highlight reel shows what he can bring to a team from a special teams role. I don't think he's starting corner material for the NFL, slot/nickel though or possibly a "project" to covert to safety? Maybe. He can come in an contribute right away on special teams and with a few years of adaptation he could develop into a 3rd/4th corner for a team. It's a long shot, but for just about any DB that isn't as physically gifted as Tru coming out of the FCS - the odds are about the same.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4M3aJ6mx4qU[/youtube]
To conclude, I see Donny right now as a free agent signing to an NFL team, his track and pro-day results might have been enough to earn him that. From there, it's all on his shoulders. He'll have to have a monster rookie camp and that might only get him to a scout team (like Colt Anderson had happen). Doing a search for him with his pro-day results he's listed as on the bubble between a free agent signing and a preferred free agent signing.
Call it a gut feeling, but I think DLo's football days aren't over.
1. The pro scouts love big-time pro-day showings (Tannehil now the #3 draft pick?!?) and DLo had a MONSTER pro day, running a sub 4.4 - 40, doing really well in all categories, and in the coverage drills showing a tremendous range of motion. Watching Donny in those coverage drills reminded me of Jimmy Wilson's last year. Donny hustled his backside off, even when he didn't have to he was going full speed (such as sprinting back to the line full speed after catching a pass, etc). Also, it wasn't just me that came away from that pro day overly impressed with him, many players there told me directly that he had a monster pro day, probably the best of any player there.
2. Stern7888 on youtube put up all the proday videos, as I pull up his channel tonight I see just two players with what I'd call a significant amount of views. Tru, and DLo. Donny made waves there and the hits/views of his pro day backs that up. Going into pro-day Donny was relatively unknown in pro-scouts eyes, coming out of it he's got more hits than guys that are presumably getting camp invites (Oppy, McSurdy, and Middleton)
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkST7epduVg&context=C4ee3096ADvjVQa1PpcFOuaLaa6_Y2e2A3CxiKfCqc1q62_O3gBRs=[/youtube]
3. Donny's showing at the Big Sky track meets back up his speed, he's got more to go off than just his pro-day results.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggtnlvqCrWo[/youtube]
4. Donny has extensive special teams experience, he's a hard hitter, and a guy that rarely loses outside containment on return-men. His long highlight reel shows what he can bring to a team from a special teams role. I don't think he's starting corner material for the NFL, slot/nickel though or possibly a "project" to covert to safety? Maybe. He can come in an contribute right away on special teams and with a few years of adaptation he could develop into a 3rd/4th corner for a team. It's a long shot, but for just about any DB that isn't as physically gifted as Tru coming out of the FCS - the odds are about the same.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4M3aJ6mx4qU[/youtube]
To conclude, I see Donny right now as a free agent signing to an NFL team, his track and pro-day results might have been enough to earn him that. From there, it's all on his shoulders. He'll have to have a monster rookie camp and that might only get him to a scout team (like Colt Anderson had happen). Doing a search for him with his pro-day results he's listed as on the bubble between a free agent signing and a preferred free agent signing.
Call it a gut feeling, but I think DLo's football days aren't over.