Tell us about your college career and what the recruiting process was like. Why did you choose Merrimack? Coming out of High School the recruiting process was amazing. I heard from SEC, ACC, American, and a few other big Time D1 teams and conferences. I ended up being a late qualifier and going to school close to home. I was playing only Basketball at Brookdale Community College when Merrimack offered me for football but to also play Basketball there as well which I did. I chose Merrimack out the 20 plus options I had coming out of Juco because they were one of the few that were offering both sports but what really did it for me was how genuine and honest the coaching staff and team was towards me on my visit. My head Coach Dan Curran also played 10 years in the NFL so I knew I was in good hands.
What would you consider to be your biggest accomplishment in your sports career so far? my biggest Accomplishment for my sport this far would be making it to Rookie mini camp and OTA’s with two different NFL Organizations. Competing at those and performing very well was really a highlight of my football career.
What do you consider to be one of the more important things you learned from the coaching staff while playing at Merrimack? One of the most important things I learned from my coaching staff was how to mature and become a man throughout my football career with them. When you’re under the staffs guidance like that 7 days a week for a good part of each day they can have a huge impact on your life in many ways. I was blessed with all positivity from them and really grew as a man and player in my time at Merrimack.
What was your major and what are your plans if football didn’t work out? My major was Human Development. After football I plan on getting into sales and continue my personal training career as well. Fitness plays a huge part in my life so I’d like to stay close to that field as well.
What would your teammates say about you and your qualities? My teammates and I all had great relationships. My senior year I took every single practice snap and didn’t take a day off. I made sure that they all knew they could always depend on my availability as a player and positive influence mentally at all times. I love football more than anything, it’s the greatest game on earth. I always kept the environment lighthearted and enjoyable, positivity at all times on and off the field was a must for me. I take pride in knowing my work ethic on the field, Weight room, and film room are next to none.
What has been your biggest challenge and how do you manage it? I think my biggest challenge has just been getting pro organizations to take a legit shot on me. Coming from a small school has hurt me even though Merrimack was in one of the best D2 conferences in the country and has now moved up to D1A in the NEC I still feel playing at a small school was held against me. I managed it by going out and having one of the best overall pro days in the country at the Tight End position. I can only control the product I put out there but it’d be really nice to see a team believe in me and offer me a contract this upcoming season.
What is your biggest strength that you bring to a professional team and why should pro scouts consider you? My biggest strengths at the Tight End and D-End positions are my size, strength, speed, and overall athleticism. At 6’5 250 I jumped a 38 1/2 Vert, 10’2 broad, 28 bench reps, lowest 40 4.66. For me all of this carries over to the field. I dominated defenders in the run game putting them on their backs the majority of the time. In the pass game although my college stats don’t show it even though I lead the NE-10 my Senior year in yards for Tight Ends I was open a lot beating my defenders deep and creating space in the short game. As a defensive End there’s not an O-linemen in any league that’s going to blow me up off the ball. Ten times out of ten I’m standing them up at the line of scrimmage in the run game and creating space to shed them. In the pass game I know I can apply pressure on the Qb nearly every play.
Who is or has been the most influential person in your life? The most influential person in my life has been my dad. He’s been my coach in sports since the 3rd grade. He also played Tight End and D-End at the Division One level. My dads my bestfriend and he’s always been Behind me guiding me through life and putting me in the best position to succeed. I can’t explain how much of an impact he has on my life.
Are you involved in mentoring, a charity or do you “give back”/”pay it forward” in your community? Growing up for years I always coached Buddy Ball. It’s a program in my town back home where I helped out kids with special needs in sports. That was always one of the most enjoyable and rewarding things I’ve done in my life to this day.
How are you preparing for the 2019 National Scouting Combine and what were your expectations? I’m preparing for the National Scouting Combine by training at Exceed. My trainers Shane and Sean there are the two best combine prep trainers in the country. These guys are like technicians when it comes to technique for all of the combine drills. Monday-Friday they have us training for 3 hours a day at least. We cover all the combine drills, necessary lifts, supplements, and meal prep. I’ll be more than ready for the combine thanks to them. My expectations are to beat all my combine numbers from last year as well as set some records of my own at the combine this year.
What would be your ultimate achievement? My ultimate achievement is to make a final roster and play in every game for a team this season.
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“I would like to start this message by thanking you and everyone involved who made this opportunity possible. I am truly grateful for the experience and atmosphere you’ve cultivated through the National Scouting Combine. My journey has not been an easy one by any means. Losing my mother in 2017 to cancer, losing the house my brothers and I called home before attending this very event in 2018, and completely bombing the event left me completely shot mentally. This event that just took place gave me the motivation and hope for better days. That is exactly what has been provided to me. Opportunities I never considered have presented themselves to me with each passing day. WWE contract offers, Rugby offers, and NFL scout inquiries about what kind of man Jarrod Cann is, are just the first of many opportunities
that were made real through my participation in your event! Thank you for allowing me to tell my story on such a platform and allowing me to save lives with my story.”
“The National Scouting Combine was a great opportunity for me to get official test numbers and get my information out to teams and scouts to gain necessary exposure. It is always a big challenge for athletes to get official verified numbers but the National Scouting Combine gave me this opportunity. The entire staff works with the players to put them into the best position to succeed. They give players opportunities to promote themselves on and off the field. They have a setup to do all combine tests and to perform official position drills. The event also allows for players to gain useful contacts with teams and National Scouting Combine staff members to further promote themselves. The National Scouting Combine provided me with a chance to showcase my abilities as a free agent and put myself in a good position to have success in my pursuit to play professional football. I want thank the National Scouting Combine staff for giving players this unique chance to demonstrate their skills.”
“I had a great experience at the combine. The whole staff was extremely positive and really wanted the best for all of the players that attended. Being that I was a free agent and a season removed from NFL camps it was crucial for me to get new numbers to show I was still working hard. My only opportunity so far came from a scout who attended the combine. As players that’s why we attend these events, to be seen by the pro levels. I’m very greatful for the opportunity that was came from the combine. I’ll be recommending it to every player possible in the future who’s looking to go pro.”
My experience at the National Scouting Combine was an extremely positive one. Coming from a small school (Bryant University – Division I AA), opportunities to showcase my athleticism and measurables to pro scouts were scarce. However, Jimmy and his team gave me that opportunity when they put together a first-class event, in an outstanding venue and invited hundreds of players that had been overlooked or just wanted the opportunity to showcase their abilities. The connections, advice and coaching I received at the 2018 National Scouting Combine were priceless, as many pro scouts and coaches began to get in contact with me during and immediately after the combine. Jimmy and his team did an outstanding job of incorporating new, cutting edge technologies into the combine, while inviting well-respected coaches, scouts and former professional players to run the drills and provide coaching. Jimmy provided me with a platform to chase my dream of playing professional football that I would not otherwise have had, and in turn is part of the reason why many CFL teams took interest in me, why I was invited to Rookie Minicamps with the Jets and Texans and why I have now signed with the Orlando Apollo’s of the new Alliance of American Football League. The invitation to the 2018 National Scouting Combine was a blessing to me and my career and I would recommend any and all small school or overlooked college football player to attend and take advantage of this combine that, with Jimmy leading it, will continue to get better every single year.
“My testimonial would be because of COVID-19, it has hindered my ability to showcase my talents at pro days, workouts, and tryouts. But, because of the NSC I can still send official numbers and video to each team, while also gaining the opportunity to meet scouts in face and build a relationship with them. Lastly, the NSC is second only to the NFL combine which helps me have something else to hang my hat on as one of the top performers!”
“Thank you for the support and helping with promoting me for the next level. I am most definitely interested and my experience at the national scouting combine was incredible. It was my first official opportunity and it was a professional combine. All verified, legitimate laser times and numbers are vital to have especially in the times we are facing today. All of the coaches and personnel involved were professional in every aspect. It is such a blessing to have the opportunity to be apart of the national scouting combine and I can’t be more grateful to have verified numbers.”
“First and foremost I would like to thank the NSC staff for giving me the opportunity to showcase my skills in front of scouts and allow myself to get relevant combine numbers. This combine is by far the best Combine I have been to. The rooms were great and the food that was provided by NSC was great as well. You can feel that they had a passion for helping those who may not have had an NFL Combine invite and others who are just chasing that opportunity. They were extremely supportive and willing to market the players in every way possible. I was beyond impressed with the testing once we got going. Everything was very organized and professional just as it should be. When it came to the testing they had both hand time and laser time which makes your test times that much more official. The number of scouts that attended the Scouting Combine was even better. This staff truly knows how to put together a legit A+ combine experience and was by far the best combine experience I have been a part of.”
“I was fortunate enough to be a participant in the 2020 BSN Scouting Combine as it was an experience that I will surely never forget. Not only did it open opportunities for me to play football at the professional level, but it also shed light on my path to a football dream as an underdog. Not many athletes get this sort of opportunity and I am just blessed to have been apart of it.”
Pursuing a career in professional football from a small school is a lonely path. A prospect may have the support of his peers, family, and teammates, but the process can be overwhelming and very confusing. Often times small school prospects don’t have access to the resources provided to prospects at football powerhouses. “How can I get myself in front of scouts? How can I prove to them that I can play at the next level?” These are only a few of the many questions that race through a potential prospects mind on a daily basis.
The Beyond Sports Network National Combine helped simplify this process for many of the players that attended, including myself. Despite the combine being held for a few days, the information and services provided by the combine, as well as the sense of community between the staff members and prospects stood out to me. Every test that would be performed at the NFL combine was covered, every coach and staff member supported each prospect to an unbelievable extent, and the amount of scouts and agents in attendance and how interactive they were was impressive.
The Beyond Sports Network National Scouting Combine was a critical step in attempting to take my talents to the next level. If you are a small school prospect with no clear path to the next level, the National Scouting Combine will certainly clear up the path for you.
BSN gave me the platform I needed to be respected as a athlete. I came to there first Combine in 2010. I was pulled by every NFL, CFL scout. At that time there were a couple really good WRs including a SEC top WR who NFL scouts were coming to see. Once I put up good #s in my Testing Drills, we did one on ones. I showed my great covering skills to the point all the scouts herd the WRs talking and asking who was this guy. Then BSN promoted me and my numbers and I received workouts on all levels. I became a name in the business. Having legit numbers and respectable organization backing you is what you need. Everyone can say they can play and perform but coaches and scouts don’t believe you. BSN gives you the stage to perform and prove them wrong and get the opportunity you deserve. Because of BSN I was able to create a long professional career and when needed comeback to prove I could still play at a high level.
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