According to Seattle Seahawk Kerry Carter, draft day is one of the most difficult in the life of a football player.
"It's a tough day, no question about it," said Carter. "Everyone has a theory about when or if you might get picked, but all you can do as a player is stay glued to the television with your stomach in knots."
Carter, a Toronto native a former star running back at Stanford, was passed over in the 2003 NFL draft but signed a free agent contract with Seattle shortly after the draft.
Since anything can happen during a draft, Brantford Ontario's Nick Kaczur is trying not to think too much about this weekend's NFL Draft, which will be held at the Javits Convention Centre in New York this weekend (broadcast live on TSN, starting at noon Saturday).
"I have no idea where I'll go," the 6-foot-4, 319-pound offensive lineman told the Toronto Star. "Some say third (round), others say fourth. I wish I knew. It would be a lot easier."
"I'm really excited," added the 26-year-old former Brantford Collegiate and University of Toledo student. "It's a great opportunity. I'm looking forward to it. However, I try not to think about it. I try to go on with my daily life."
Yet Kaczur need only be reminded of other highly touted Canadians like Carter and University of Miami lineman Brett Romberg, who starred at the University of Miami, to remember that there are no sure things on draft day. Romberg was regarded as a sure mid-round draft pick, yet never heard his name called (as with Carter, Romberg signed as a free agent contract shortly after the draft).
Kaczur's offensive line coach at the University of Toledo, Mike Devlin, watched the big lineman pave the way for 1,827 yards rushing last season (166 per game) by Toledo Rocket running backs.
"I see his chances (of being drafted) as being pretty good; anywhere from the second to the fourth round," Devline told the Toronto Star.
Kaczur has been a starter since his freshman year with the Rockets, and was named an all-MAC Conference performer a record four times.
Sporting News columnist Dan Pompei ranks Kaczur as the eighth-best guard available in the draft, and describes him as follows:
"Kaczur is a strong, tough blocker who can anchor at the point of attack. Shows decent mobility. Plays with an attitude. Has not helped himself in the postseason, however. Some NFL teams see him as a tackle. Could slip in the draft because he worked a few years before entering college and is 25 years old."
Stanford safety O.J. Atogwe (Windsor) and McMaster runningback Jesse Lumsden (Burlington) are two more Canadians that may hear their names called, but are widely considered long shots.
"Any team that drafts O.J. will be real happy with him," said Carter, a former teammate of Atogwe's at Stanford. "Once you get past the first two rounds of the draft, when there aren't as many physical distinctions between players, teams really start looking at intangibles. Things like leadership, personality, character and intelligence really come into play. O.J. has all of these in spades.
After his senior season Atogwe was named recipient of the Jack Huston award given to the Stanford Cardinal player who "exemplifies aggressiveness, exceptional performance and unheralded efforts." Atogwe lead the team with 76 tackles and added four interceptions, seven pass breakups and two forced fumbles.
Lumsden has also been working out for NFL teams, and has been happy with the results.
"I feel great. I'm real happy," Lumsden told the Toronto Sun after the workouts. "It was an awesome day. I think it was a positive step and hopefully (the scouts of the teams) saw it as a positive step."
Lumsden's camp told NFL teams the 6-foot-2 1/2, 226-pound running back could run the 40-yard dash in a time of 4.45-4.50 seconds, which is solid for an athlete his size. Indianapolis Colts scout Cal Murphy, who attended the workout but refused to give exact details based on his team's policy, told the Toronto Sun Lumsden posted a 40-yard time in the range of what had been advertised.
