TallySaint

Hofstra pride grows in the NFL

NFL.com





(Nov. 21, 2006) -- While the Hofstra University campus spans 240 acres in Hempstead, New York, the school's place on the NFL map hasn't been as sprawling. But things are starting to change for the "Pride."

Heading into the 2006 season, only two wide receivers from Hofstra had ever played a game in the NFL. This year, two rookies -- a seventh-round draft choice and an undrafted free agent -- have doubled that number.

Marques Colston of the New Orleans Saints was the 252nd player taken in the 2006 NFL Draft and Devale Ellis of the Detroit Lions signed with the club as an undrafted free agent. Colston and Ellis have now joined Charlie Adams and Wayne Chrebet as the only wide receivers from Hofstra to play in the NFL.



Colston, the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month for October, leads all rookies in yards (869) and touchdowns (7) and ranks second with 54 catches. He needs 131 yards to become the first player drafted in the seventh round or later to record 1,000 receiving yards as a rookie.

"I don't want to hype him up too much, but I love the guy," praises Saints quarterback Drew Brees. "He's just scratching the surface of what he can accomplish."



Ellis, who was selected to the Atlantic 10 Second Team in his final two years of college, impressed the Lions during the team's rookie minicamp.

"Devale came in and showed us he was fast, productive, smart and tough," says Detroit head coach Rod Marinelli. "He's showing us things each and every day. He is a hard-nosed, tough young player that we really like."



Jaime Elizondo, the wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator at Hofstra, knew that both players had the talent and work ethic to make it in the NFL.

"Both players developed into NFL-caliber players in their own ways," says Elizondo.

"I noticed how intelligent a player Marques was on and off the field," continues Elizondo. "He's an extremely bright individual. I don't think he figured out until this year how dominant he could be. Sometimes that doesn't happen until you have success at a higher level. At 6-5 and running a 4.4, I knew somebody was going to take a chance on him, and whoever did was going to be very happy.

"Devale's work ethic has gotten him to where he is right now. I believed in him from the start. He has the ability and he has a tremendous amount of heart. With him, it was waiting for an opportunity in the NFL and then capitalizing on it."

Elizondo says that the players have different leadership styles. "Devale was always talking and trying to keep players focused," he says. "As he grows comfortable as a pro, his personality may start to emerge a little bit more. He was always good at getting guys to listen and at making them laugh. Marques is more quiet, very reserved. He's a 'watch me work, do as I do' type of player. He led by example. Every player on the team has a great deal of respect for both guys.

"The one quality both guys have that is helping them succeed is that they are perfectionists. Even on plays where they might make a catch -- or even a big play -- they'd sometimes come back to the huddle and still not be satisfied with their technique in getting off a jam or how they ran a route. It was always about doing everything perfect. Both of them are very detail oriented. That has helped them out as they are making a transition to pro football."


Stats, etc....
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/9820973


8)

My Guardian Angel wears a hard hat.

maximkat

Wow.

TallySaint

Good for Colston.



The folks tracking football stats are getting as bad (or as good, if you like) as baseball.

We'll probably soon hear the talking heads at ESPN noting the "The first Samoan back-up running back filling in for an injured starter to catch 10 passes in the red zone at home".

gandhi1007

Hey......Warren Moon got in the HOF because of his stats. I guess they overlooked the "most turnovers in a season by a QB" stat or "most fumbles for a loss" stats.

Brann

My dad says the same thing.