Post by MizzouTiger on Feb 25, 2008 22:25:01 GMT -5
www.kansascity.com/sports/story/503842.html
LSU’s Dorsey hopes to follow former teammate as No. 1 pick in the NFL draft
By RANDY COVITZ
The Kansas City Star
INDIANAPOLIS | LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey made his long-awaited arrival at the RCA Dome for the NFL scouting combine on Sunday.
Dorsey, considered by many to be the top prospect in the NFL draft, was a day behind because of the death of his grandmother and having to spend about nine hours at the hospital on Saturday where doctors examined his right tibia, which was fractured in 2006, and right knee that was injured last season.
Dorsey realizes teams that are considering investing more than $20 million in him are going to scrutinize every inch of his 6-1¼, 297-pound body.
“I (broke) the tibia the summer of my junior year and played the whole year with it,” Dorsey said. “I bumped it up against a weight or something in the weight room. It just calcified on my leg and had a little knot on it.”
Dorsey, who swept nearly every major honor for a defensive player last season — the Outland, Nagurski, Lombardi and Lott awards — said he has no concerns about his physical condition dropping him from the top of the draft.
“I haven’t missed a game since I’ve been at LSU my whole four years,” he said. “Everybody gets nicked up. Who doesn’t go through a season without getting bumps and bruises? I don’t think it’s a problem at all.
“When you’re considered one of the top players, a lot of people are looking for negatives, saying I have an injury problem.”
While Dorsey started all 14 games for LSU’s national-championship team last season, he was never 100 percent for the final six games after suffering a knee sprain as a result of an illegal chop block against Auburn.
“A guy hit me high, a guy hit me low, and it kind of twisted my knee,” said Dorsey, who had to wear a cumbersome brace on the knee for the rest of the season. “I don’t know if it was planned … I try not to get into all that.
“I let it go … I’m a national champion. I’m on cloud nine to tell you the truth.”
Dorsey played through the pain lining up mostly at left tackle but starting five games at right tackle. Despite constant double- and triple-teaming, he made 69 tackles, including 12 for losses and had seven sacks as the focal point of a defense that ranked third in the nation.
“He’s the guy you look for when you come to the line of scrimmage when you play LSU,” said Tennessee quarterback Eric Ainge, whose team lost to the Tigers in the SEC championship game.
Some teams like Miami, which has the first overall choice, will look at Dorsey as a nose tackle in a 3-4 front.
Others, like St. Louis, which has the second pick, would play him as a true tackle in a 4-3.
“It doesn’t matter,” Dorsey said. “I’ve played both at LSU. I’ve been a nose tackle, I’ve played tackle, I’ve even played end some. It really doesn’t matter.”
Playing at 297 might be too light in the NFL against bigger, stronger and faster players.
“If they want me to gain weight to play nose tackle, I’ll gain weight,” Dorsey said. “I’m going to get bigger, stronger, faster also. I know some big-time guys are ready to pound on me. I’m going to be a student of the game and try and learn as much as possible.”
Following his former LSU teammate — quarterback JaMarcus Russell — as the first overall pick would be something special to Dorsey, who cited “unfinished business” for returning for his senior year.
“Without a doubt,” Dorsey said. “You want to be that guy who gets his name called first. You want to go as high as possible. That would be a dream and the ultimate goal.”
USC is the only school in history to produce consecutive first overall picks in the draft when offensive tackle Ron Yary and running back O.J. Simpson went first overall in the 1968-69 drafts.
NFL draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. doesn’t see why it can’t happen again nearly 40 years later.
“Dorsey, to me, when he’s at full strength, and he wasn’t after the Auburn game, is a dominator,” Kiper said. “He gives you that Ray Lewis mentality that he is so energized, football is all that matters, and everyone around him becomes better when he is on the field.””
LSU’s Dorsey hopes to follow former teammate as No. 1 pick in the NFL draft
By RANDY COVITZ
The Kansas City Star
INDIANAPOLIS | LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey made his long-awaited arrival at the RCA Dome for the NFL scouting combine on Sunday.
Dorsey, considered by many to be the top prospect in the NFL draft, was a day behind because of the death of his grandmother and having to spend about nine hours at the hospital on Saturday where doctors examined his right tibia, which was fractured in 2006, and right knee that was injured last season.
Dorsey realizes teams that are considering investing more than $20 million in him are going to scrutinize every inch of his 6-1¼, 297-pound body.
“I (broke) the tibia the summer of my junior year and played the whole year with it,” Dorsey said. “I bumped it up against a weight or something in the weight room. It just calcified on my leg and had a little knot on it.”
Dorsey, who swept nearly every major honor for a defensive player last season — the Outland, Nagurski, Lombardi and Lott awards — said he has no concerns about his physical condition dropping him from the top of the draft.
“I haven’t missed a game since I’ve been at LSU my whole four years,” he said. “Everybody gets nicked up. Who doesn’t go through a season without getting bumps and bruises? I don’t think it’s a problem at all.
“When you’re considered one of the top players, a lot of people are looking for negatives, saying I have an injury problem.”
While Dorsey started all 14 games for LSU’s national-championship team last season, he was never 100 percent for the final six games after suffering a knee sprain as a result of an illegal chop block against Auburn.
“A guy hit me high, a guy hit me low, and it kind of twisted my knee,” said Dorsey, who had to wear a cumbersome brace on the knee for the rest of the season. “I don’t know if it was planned … I try not to get into all that.
“I let it go … I’m a national champion. I’m on cloud nine to tell you the truth.”
Dorsey played through the pain lining up mostly at left tackle but starting five games at right tackle. Despite constant double- and triple-teaming, he made 69 tackles, including 12 for losses and had seven sacks as the focal point of a defense that ranked third in the nation.
“He’s the guy you look for when you come to the line of scrimmage when you play LSU,” said Tennessee quarterback Eric Ainge, whose team lost to the Tigers in the SEC championship game.
Some teams like Miami, which has the first overall choice, will look at Dorsey as a nose tackle in a 3-4 front.
Others, like St. Louis, which has the second pick, would play him as a true tackle in a 4-3.
“It doesn’t matter,” Dorsey said. “I’ve played both at LSU. I’ve been a nose tackle, I’ve played tackle, I’ve even played end some. It really doesn’t matter.”
Playing at 297 might be too light in the NFL against bigger, stronger and faster players.
“If they want me to gain weight to play nose tackle, I’ll gain weight,” Dorsey said. “I’m going to get bigger, stronger, faster also. I know some big-time guys are ready to pound on me. I’m going to be a student of the game and try and learn as much as possible.”
Following his former LSU teammate — quarterback JaMarcus Russell — as the first overall pick would be something special to Dorsey, who cited “unfinished business” for returning for his senior year.
“Without a doubt,” Dorsey said. “You want to be that guy who gets his name called first. You want to go as high as possible. That would be a dream and the ultimate goal.”
USC is the only school in history to produce consecutive first overall picks in the draft when offensive tackle Ron Yary and running back O.J. Simpson went first overall in the 1968-69 drafts.
NFL draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. doesn’t see why it can’t happen again nearly 40 years later.
“Dorsey, to me, when he’s at full strength, and he wasn’t after the Auburn game, is a dominator,” Kiper said. “He gives you that Ray Lewis mentality that he is so energized, football is all that matters, and everyone around him becomes better when he is on the field.””