Former Husker Evwaraye showing NFL scouts his talent
Seppo Evwaraye prefers to delay his entry into the “real world” for a few more years. Hence his presence Wednesday at Nebraska’s indoor practice facility, where he joined several 2005 Husker seniors in performing drills and running sprints for NFL scouts.
“I’m really happy I got this opportunity,” the 6-foot-5, 320-pound offensive lineman said. “I got to showcase what I have. Hopefully this will lead to an opportunity to keep on playing a couple more years, make some money and delay my real life.”
Because Evwaraye wasn’t among 300-plus players invited to the Feb. 23-27 NFL Scouting Combine, Wednesday was critical in his bid to impress NFL teams. His agent told Evwaraye that he was on the cusp of landing a combine invite.
“I’m definitely not mad that I didn’t get invited,” Evwaraye said. “I totally understand. My play last season was a little inconsistent.”
A native of Finland, Evwaraye started the first nine games at right tackle. In the final three games, he was slowed significantly by stress fractures in his feet and lost his starting job to freshman Matt Slauson.
Evwaraye has recovered well. Wednesday, he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.95 seconds and recorded a 27½-inch vertical leap. He also bench-pressed 225 pounds 24 times.
“That (his bench press) was the only thing I was a little disappointed in,” he said.
Feedback from NFL scouts can be hard to come by, Evwaraye said.
“It’s kind of a hush-hush game,” he said. “From what I’ve heard, I’m a guy who might sneak into the sixth or seventh round or possibly be taken as a free agent. I’m just going to start getting ready for the (NFL) season as if I’m going to be playing. It’s a long NFL season. It’s going to wear on your body. You have to get ready early.”
Nebraska’s four combine invitees — safety Daniel Bullocks, tailback Cory Ross, and defensive linemen Titus Adams and Le Kevin Smith — each worked out again Wednesday, though not necessarily in all of the drills.
“I just did position drills today,” said the 6-2, 305-pound Smith. “I did well enough at the combine.”
The 6-3, 300-pound Adams ran the 40 in 4.99 Wednesday after running 5.10 at the combine.
“I was a little disappointed down (at the combine in Indianapolis),” Adams said. “I still think I could be faster. But the numbers are what they are. That’s me. That’s Titus Adams.”
Adams, an Omaha native, said the process of preparing for the draft is stressful.
“There’s a lot of pressure,” he said. “This is my job. This is essentially what I want to do. I have to be focused and kind of put other things to the side … I just thank the Lord that I’ve been put in this situation. For the most part, I’ve been enjoying the whole experience.”
Ross also accomplished his goal of running a faster 40 time than he did at the combine. He ran it in 4.45 Wednesday, down from 4.52. He has an individual workout scheduled with the Indianapolis Colts and expects to hear from other teams.
“It’s a waiting game now,” he said.
The NFL Draft will be April 29-30 in New York. Evwaraye is projected by NFLdraftscout.com as a free-agent selection as a guard. He hopes his performance Wednesday raised his stock.
If the NFL doesn’t work out, Evwaraye, who received his bachelor’s degree in December, will start looking for a “real job.”
“The NFL stands for ‘not for long,’” he said. “If I can play for three, four, five, six years — however long my body holds — that would be awesome.”
Briefly
Linebacker Jeff Souder, a true freshman from Bellevue who left the NU football team in January, said Wednesday th]at Husker coaches “have left the door open” for him to return. He’s also considering resuming his career at Nebraska-Omaha.
Reach Steven M. Sipple at 473-7440 or ssipple@journalstar.com.
“I’m really happy I got this opportunity,” the 6-foot-5, 320-pound offensive lineman said. “I got to showcase what I have. Hopefully this will lead to an opportunity to keep on playing a couple more years, make some money and delay my real life.”
Because Evwaraye wasn’t among 300-plus players invited to the Feb. 23-27 NFL Scouting Combine, Wednesday was critical in his bid to impress NFL teams. His agent told Evwaraye that he was on the cusp of landing a combine invite.
“I’m definitely not mad that I didn’t get invited,” Evwaraye said. “I totally understand. My play last season was a little inconsistent.”
A native of Finland, Evwaraye started the first nine games at right tackle. In the final three games, he was slowed significantly by stress fractures in his feet and lost his starting job to freshman Matt Slauson.
Evwaraye has recovered well. Wednesday, he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.95 seconds and recorded a 27½-inch vertical leap. He also bench-pressed 225 pounds 24 times.
“That (his bench press) was the only thing I was a little disappointed in,” he said.
Feedback from NFL scouts can be hard to come by, Evwaraye said.
“It’s kind of a hush-hush game,” he said. “From what I’ve heard, I’m a guy who might sneak into the sixth or seventh round or possibly be taken as a free agent. I’m just going to start getting ready for the (NFL) season as if I’m going to be playing. It’s a long NFL season. It’s going to wear on your body. You have to get ready early.”
Nebraska’s four combine invitees — safety Daniel Bullocks, tailback Cory Ross, and defensive linemen Titus Adams and Le Kevin Smith — each worked out again Wednesday, though not necessarily in all of the drills.
“I just did position drills today,” said the 6-2, 305-pound Smith. “I did well enough at the combine.”
The 6-3, 300-pound Adams ran the 40 in 4.99 Wednesday after running 5.10 at the combine.
“I was a little disappointed down (at the combine in Indianapolis),” Adams said. “I still think I could be faster. But the numbers are what they are. That’s me. That’s Titus Adams.”
Adams, an Omaha native, said the process of preparing for the draft is stressful.
“There’s a lot of pressure,” he said. “This is my job. This is essentially what I want to do. I have to be focused and kind of put other things to the side … I just thank the Lord that I’ve been put in this situation. For the most part, I’ve been enjoying the whole experience.”
Ross also accomplished his goal of running a faster 40 time than he did at the combine. He ran it in 4.45 Wednesday, down from 4.52. He has an individual workout scheduled with the Indianapolis Colts and expects to hear from other teams.
“It’s a waiting game now,” he said.
The NFL Draft will be April 29-30 in New York. Evwaraye is projected by NFLdraftscout.com as a free-agent selection as a guard. He hopes his performance Wednesday raised his stock.
If the NFL doesn’t work out, Evwaraye, who received his bachelor’s degree in December, will start looking for a “real job.”
“The NFL stands for ‘not for long,’” he said. “If I can play for three, four, five, six years — however long my body holds — that would be awesome.”
Briefly
Linebacker Jeff Souder, a true freshman from Bellevue who left the NU football team in January, said Wednesday th]at Husker coaches “have left the door open” for him to return. He’s also considering resuming his career at Nebraska-Omaha.
Reach Steven M. Sipple at 473-7440 or ssipple@journalstar.com.
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