The Leading Authority of the NFL Draft

Before last season began, a scout from the Miami Dolphins called a young man playing football for the Saginaw Valley State Cardinals, in Michigan. The scout went on to tell the standout defensive lineman that he had the skills and athleticism to make it in the National Football League.

After that phone call, the Cardinals Robert Calloway said, “I took it to heart” and that the phone call “stuck with me all season”. Calloway admitted that prior to the call he had “one problem”, his conditioning. So prior to the 2009 season, Calloway said he “basically devoted” his life to getting into shape, saying that “I did the best I could for my game”.

The hard work paid off, as evidenced by his invites to the East Coast Bowl and Cactus Bowl at the conclusion of his senior season with the Cardinals.

You might be wondering why I am writing about this D-II school kid and not some SEC standout. Take names like Jacob Ford from the Tennessee Titans or Aaron Smith, the 2004 Pro Bowler from the Pittsburgh Steelers—both were D-II college players. Smith was taken in the fourth round of the 1999 draft out of  D-II Northern Colorado, and I would bet a pretty penny not too many from Steeler Nation knew what they where getting with this relative unknown. That’s why I try to bring someone to the forefront that can make a difference, someone you might not be acquainted with, so when the time rolls around and you hear his named called during the draft, you will be excited and not confused about your favorite team taking Robert Calloway.

Standing at 6’4” and weighing 322 pounds, the 2009 GLIAC Honorable Mention defensive tackle ran a 5.04-40 during his Pro Day and already is drawing interest from NFL teams. One team, that has asked not to be named, has already scheduled Calloway for a visit in the coming weeks.

Saginaw Valley State Head Coach Jim Collins said, “What is hard to believe is a lot of time Rob is not in on the tackle”. Coach Collins went on to say that, “What the average person does not notice is that he is taking up two blockers and freeing up the linebackers”.  That sentiment is shared by his teammate, John Jacobs, who earned 2009 Associated Press Little All-American Defensive First Team honors with 148 tackles. He would tell Calloway during games, “Rob, I’m seeing everything good” and during the All Star games, Calloway’s linebacking teammates commented that they wished they had someone like him at their schools. Simply put, a guy like Calloway makes the job easier for everyone around him.

When asked about playing a position that receives little fanfare, Calloway jokingly responded, “I’m getting noticed by the people who matter”. I could not have said it any better myself.

Coach Collins added, “What makes Rob stand out is his ability to play with leverage, explode off the line, and create havoc in the offensive backfield”. NFL teams are starting to be drawn to the way Calloway can anchor and when you watch him, he is always moving forward, never being pushed back.

The physical size and skills are in place. It’s also worth mentioning that he’s majoring in criminal justice. “You have to be disciplined in criminal justice,” claims Calloway. It’s no wonder that the character issues that plague some players do not come into play with him. Size, athleticism and character…enough said.

Playing a lot of one, two and three technique, Calloway mentioned that on occasion the team would use a “34 front” and he would play the “zero technique”. He even worked out as an offensive lineman during his GLIAC Pro Day. The scouts know him and they know that something special is waiting for them; it’s just a matter of who will pull the trigger on draft day, and when they’ll do so.

That’s the game inside the game. With Pro Days coming to an end and private workouts and team visits on the way, most NFL teams have their draft boards set. I’m not a GM and don’t play one on television, but I know I wouldn’t risk my team’s future by grading a player solely on where he went to school.