A local product to keep an eye on is inside linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar (6-0, 22 
of Boston College.
He came off very polished, friendly, and humble in his interview with the media Saturday. Being a player from the New England area, he compared himself – size-wise and in style of play – to Tedy Bruschi.
He also said that he’s had some contact with the Patriots, and has even interacted with head coach Bill Belichick at some local charity events.
“How were those encounters,” Dunbar was asked. “Ahh,” he paused, searching for the right words, “Short,” he finally replied with a smile.
From the SEC, Tennessee’s Jerod Mayo is another possibility.
“I haven’t had any official meetings yet, but those guys [the Patriots] pulled me aside and told me what they think of me,” Mayo told me a short time ago. He added that his official interviews start tonight.
He came across as nice, bright young man who has experience with 3-4 schemes.
“At UT we play multiple defenses,” he noted. “Some of our packages include 3-4 and I line up in the middle.”
At this point, both players are projected as second-day draftees.
February 23, 2008 at 2:57 pm
I like Mayo as a player but I’m not sure he is the best fit for the Patriots, seeing he’ll probably be a late first/early second round draft choice.
February 23, 2008 at 3:04 pm
Although Erik, Belichick has kind of intimated recently that he may be more inclined to take the smaller, more athletic guys due to all the passing NFL teams do now. So if that’s the case, Mayo could be a possibility.
February 23, 2008 at 3:17 pm
Hey Tom,
Scalavino’s posting got me thinking, what ever happened to De’Cody Fagg. He put up some pretty good numbers for an average Florida State team. I know this is not a WR posting but what do you think of him and about what round does he go?
February 23, 2008 at 3:24 pm
Matt,
A late-round sleeper who could wind up being a better pro than college receiver because he played with the worst college quarterback ever at FSU in Drew Weatherford.
February 24, 2008 at 11:56 am
What’s this guy’s speed? At that size it’s kind of hard to imagine him playing a two-gap system. He’d take one hell of a beating from those OL. But then again, if he’s decent in coverage and good on special teams, I could see Belichcik taking a look at him.