[BengalsNYC]

Rookies converge on PBS
By GEOFF HOBSON
April 30, 2007

Updated: 5-2-07, 11 a.m.


Florida's Earl Everett goes helmetless to bring down Ohio State QB Troy Smith in the '07 NCAA title game. (Getty Images)
When the college free agents gather for the Bengals’ rookie camp this week, they’ll get a good idea of how the prized pupil from last year’s class is progressing.

Eric Henderson can make his linebacker debut in Friday’s double sessions because he spent last season on the practice squad and is viewed as a first-year player during a stint that impressed his coaches enough to move him from defensive end to outside linebacker.

The Bengals released their list of undrafted free agents Wednesday and they can only hope they find a couple of Hendersons. Although he was their big post-draft get from last year, injuries allowed Kentucky wide receiver Glenn Holt (11) and Miami of Ohio safety John Busing (seven) to play in games.

Henderson had to watch, but while he’s not assured of a roster spot they think he can give them some three-way versatility as possibly a core special teamer, the ninth lineman and seventh line backer.

“He’s a guy that’s a little undersized to play on the line all the time,” said defensive line coach Jay Hayes. “But he’s got good quickness and pass rush skills. He can come back down with me on third down (pass-rush drills) and probably not miss a step. That’s an advantage for him because he’s already done it for a year on this level.”

Henderson has slimmed down a bit from his days as Georgia Tech’s all-time leader in tackles for loss, but at 6-2 and a 255ish pounds, he offers tons of athleticism. He flashed during the preseason with five tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble. He’s been spending much of this offseason getting schooled by linebackers coach Ricky Hunley.

“We’re going to try him at that position. He’s always been a defensive end, so we’ll see what happens,” Hayes said. “He’s shown he can do the things you need to do there. He can stand up, he can drop, he can run. The guy’s a big, physical man who can move.”

As Hayes said, “He’s been everything we hoped and more.” Already an impressive story when he arrived as a guy who basically raised his brother and sister in New Orleans, Henderson’s character and commitment have become obvious to everyone.

“Just the way he goes about his job,” Hayes said. “He’s a serious young man.”

With the departures of special teams linchpins Marcus Wilkins, Tony Stewart, and Kevin Kaesviharn, Henderson is going to get the chance to show it in the kicking game.

“That’s how you get into games,” Hayes said. “If you become an important special teams guy, you have to dress.”

Here the names of the new players joining Henderson and the rest this weekend:

--Bryan Andrews, DE, 6-5, 262, Wake Forest; Lima, Ohio

--Daniel Coats, TE, 6-3, 257, Brigham Young; Layton, Utah

--Earl Everett, LB, 6-3, 238, Florida; Webster, Fla.

--Jesse Holley, WR, 6-2, 219, North Carolina; Roselle, N.J.

--Xzavie Jackson, DE, 6-3, 278, Missouri; Vacaville, Calif.

--Tony Kays, WR, 6-0, 194, California-Davis; Elk Grove, Calif.

--Matt Muncy, LB, 6-1, 238, Ohio; Miamisburg, Ohio

--Harrison Nikolao, G, 6-3, 305, Eastern Washington; Tacoma, Wash.

--Elliot Seifert, OT, 6-7, 308, Temple; Reading, Pa.

--Cameron Siskowic, LB, 6-1, 228, Illinois State; San Diego, Calif.

--Jeff Smith, QB, 6-5, 235, Georgetown (Ky.) College; Fort Thomas, Ky.

--Dane Uperesa, OT, 6-4, 309, Hawaii; Hauula (Oahu), Hawaii

--Stan White, FB, 6-1, 249, Ohio State; Baltimore, Md.

--T.J. Wright, CB, 5-10, 177, Ohio; Beaumont, Texas

Five players have local/regional connections. Andrews is from Lima, Ohio, Muncy Miamisburg, Ohio, and Smith Fort Thomas, Ky. White played at Ohio State, and Wright at Ohio University.

The Bengals also have arranged for a number of unsigned players to try out. Wide receiver Mark Burr of Urbana is from Cincinnati’s Northwest High School. Long snapper Pat Farfsing of the University of Cincinnati is from Cincinnati’s St. Xavier High School. Tight end Steve Kosky of Miami (Ohio) is from Cincinnati’s Anderson High School. Defensive tackle Ellery Moore of Kentucky is from Massillon, Ohio.

Cornerback Blue Adams, a fourth-year NFL player from the University of Cincinnati, will also participate on a tryout basis. Adams played for Tampa Bay last season.

Also Wednesday, the Bengals waived rookie linebacker Jason Berryman of Iowa State.

The best known? Probably Everett, the Gators’ two-time tackling champion for the defending national champions best known for his helmetless sack of Troy Smith in the beheading of Ohio State in the national title game.

The least? Probably Smith, the local product who finished 12th in the nation in total offense at the NAIA school that hosts the Bengals at training camp in Kentucky.

Also an intriguing pickup is Ohio State fullback Stan White, son of the Baltimore Colt defender of the same name.

All but 29 of Smith’s 2,396 yards came through the air as he threw for 21 touchdowns and had 12 intercepted. In his last 36 games as a starter, the 6-5, 235-pound Smith completed 56 percent of his passes for 8,410 yards, 79 touchdowns and 36 interceptions.

While his long-ball accuracy and arm strength are concerns for some NFL scouts, they also praise his quick release, compact throwing motion, and leadership, and say he could be a late bloomer in the Marc Bulger or Kurt Warner mold.

With the drafting of Reno's Jeff Rowe in the fifth round, Smith's only chance to make the team appears to be sticking with the practice squad.

The 6-2, 238-pound Everett, who probably translates to a middle or weakside backer with the Bengals, received high marks from his coaches for his character and leadership. Although the scouts call him a finesse player whose weight-room numbers don’t translate to strength on the field, they like his speed and athleticism playing on the perimeter.

Everett started all but one game last season and had a career-high 85 hits (50 solos). In 49 college games, Everett had 283 tackles (173 solos), 11 sacks, and 18 stops for losses, as well as five quarterback pressures, two fumbles, two interceptions, and 12 deflected passes.

Everett and three other players reportedly signed by the Bengals were at the NFL scouting combine last February in Uperesa, Coats and Jackson.

The 6-4, 308-pound Uperesa, who played right tackle at Hawaii, has the genes. Father Kevin was in camp with the Los Angeles Rams, where he suffered a career-ending knee injury. His uncle, Keith, spent two seasons on the Raiders offensive line and is now the recruiter and offensive line coach for Nevada-Las Vegas.

The 6-2, 257-pound Coats mostly blocked at BYU while teammate Jonny Harline caught the balls, but nine of his 86 career catches went for touchdowns. He started six games last season and caught 22 passes for 239 yards for a 10.9 average and two touchdowns.

At 6-2, 278 pounds, Jackson had been looked at as a 3-4 linebacker by some teams and there was some speculation he might be able to play some tackle.

Out of the crop comes a guy used to huge Chad Johnson-like days in University of California-Davis wide receiver Tony Kays. In 2005 he led all Division 1-AA receivers with a school-record 93 balls that included a 212-yard day against Cal Poly and 15 catches against Portland State.

Keys tacked on 66 more catches for 879 yards and eight touchdowns last season. He’s also a two-time winner of the program's Jerry Norris Award as the most valuable and inspirational player, and graduated with a degree in economics

[WildKat]

I dont know if it been posted yet but they have the new rookies numberst posted over at bengals.com.

Hall, Leon 29
Irons, Kenny 30, hopeing he would gets 21 brooks old number, 30 not bad.
Ndukwe, Chinedum 41
Rowe, Jeff 3
Santucci, Dan 65
Toeaina, Matt 66
White, Marvin 26, lets hope he dosnt take after the last bengals saftey who wore this number.

[ryanham]

BengalsNYC, on May 2 2007, 11:13 AM, said:

The Bengals also have arranged for a number of unsigned players to try out. Wide receiver Mark Burr of Urbana is from Cincinnati’s Northwest High School. Long snapper Pat Farfsing of the University of Cincinnati is from Cincinnati’s St. Xavier High School. Tight end Steve Kosky of Miami (Ohio) is from Cincinnati’s Anderson High School. Defensive tackle Ellery Moore of Kentucky is from Massillon, Ohio.

Cornerback Blue Adams, a fourth-year NFL player from the University of Cincinnati, will also participate on a tryout basis. Adams played for Tampa Bay last season.

Nice. A player from my old high school getting a tryout...fun times.

[Jumpy]

Stan White is a damn good Fullback. Would be nice to have on the PS in case we lose Jeremy for whatever reason(god forbid)

[Jason]

You can delete this yourself. At the bottom left there is a little dropdown box that says moderator options. Click on that and select delete this topic.

[bengaled]

ryanham, on May 2 2007, 11:37 AM, said:

Nice. A player from my old high school getting a tryout...fun times.

damn, you're an urbana guy, too? well how 'bout that. what year did you graduate? you might know my sons.

you do know we had marcus lewis, a DT from urbana college, make the squad last year, don't you? if i recall, he made the practice squad before going on IR in september, then got waived in november. but that was a first for an urbana guy.

[turningpoint]

Glad to see Matt Muncy get a shot, I've talked to the guy a few times.

[Tiger Stripes]

thats crazy i remember muncy he went to our rival school i think he played qb.

[IKOTA]

bengaled, on May 2 2007, 02:30 PM, said:

damn, you're an urbana guy, too? well how 'bout that. what year did you graduate? you might know my sons.

you do know we had marcus lewis, a DT from urbana college, make the squad last year, don't you? if i recall, he made the practice squad before going on IR in september, then got waived in november. but that was a first for an urbana guy.

I think he meant he attended Northwest High School in Colerain Township.

[bengaled]

IKOTA, on May 2 2007, 02:34 PM, said:

I think he meant he attended Northwest High School in Colerain Township.

oops! thanks for the clarification.

[bengalsdave985]

Tiger Stripes, on May 2 2007, 12:27 PM, said:

thats crazy i remember muncy he went to our rival school i think he played qb.

Where did you go, I went to Springboro and we played Miamisburg with Muncy every year