Texas vs The Nation

SECOND CHANCES ABOUND IN EL PASO

Preview of Texas vs. the Nation.



Marcus Thomas

Jan. 28, 2007

As I was driving down I-10 today towards El Paso, I reflected on some of the second chances I have gotten over the course of my life. I also remembered the people along the way that gave me every chance to prove myself even though I did not have the pedigree of the type of person that normally gets that opportunity. I wouldn't be where I am today without those breaks. This is what the Texas vs. the Nation game is all about -giving players a chance to prove themselves to NFL scouts.

More than twenty of the guys I will watch this week have combine invites. Many were highly recruited.

Here are just a few of the more interesting players on each squad that I will be highlighting in my practice coverage:

Texas

  • Josh Swogger, QB, Montana - Swogger lost out to Alex Brink at Washington State and transferred to Montana for the 2006 season. Former Wazzu coach Mike Price recruited Swogger to UTEP and now he gets to play under Price on the Texas team. He's a big QB listed anywhere from 6'3" 225 to 6'5" 254. Swogger has been invited to the combine.

  • Ramonce Taylor, RB, Texas College - Taylor was Texas's own version of Reggie Bush when they beat Bush's team for the national championship in the 2006 Rose Bowl.

  • Paul Mosley, RB, Baylor - Mosley is a 6'3" 236 lb. back with speed, but he was stuck in the spread offense this year at Baylor.

  • Marcus Mason, RB, Youngstown St - Mason was a 1-AA All American this year. He transferred to the school Jim Tressel used to coach from Illinois after 2004.
     

     

  • James Finley, WR, Oregon - Finley was a top recruit on the west coast coming out of prep school and one of Oregon's leading receivers in 2005 and 2006. He has an NFL WR frame and a Combine invite.

  • Allen Barbre, OT, Missouri Southern - Barbre is a versatile, athletic OT who garnered d2football.com All American honors and a NFL Combine invite.

  • Kurt Quarterman, OG, Louisville - Quarterman tips the scales in the mid 300's, but he can pass block with the best of them with surprising quickness and speed. Kurt was named to the All Big East First Team and All American 3rd team.

  • Michael McFadden, DE/OLB, Grand Valley State - All time Division II sack leader, two time All American, and two time Gene Upshaw Award winner (given to best D2 lineman).

  • Walter Thomas, DT, NW Mississippi CC - This man mountain (6'5" 335) was heavily recruited but left Oklahoma State early in his college career. He can reportedly run in 4.8-4.9 range.

  • Justin Rascati, QB, James Madison- Transferred from Louisville in 2004. He has been a sensation at the 1-AA level and earned a reputation as an intense, accurate, mobile QB.

  • Jeff Smith, QB, Georgetown (Ky.) - Smith has ideal NFL QB size at 6'6" 240 and looked like he had the potential to be an intriguing project in the NFL during the Intajuice North-South All Star Classic

  • Justise Hairston, RB, Central Connecticut State - Hairston led Division 1-AA in rushing this year.

  • Justin Vincent, RB, LSU - Turn back the clock to 2003 and you would have predicted that Vincent would be a surefire first day pick when he came out. Injuries and other quality RB's at LSU have sidetracked his career.

  • Gary Russell, RB, Minnesota - Russell looked just as good, if not better, than Laurence Maroney at Minnesota.

  • Brian Stokes, FB, Appalachian State - Stokes served two tours of duty in Iraq and has been decorated with a purple heart.

  • Maurice Price, WR, Charleston Southern - This junior led all of Division I-AA (and Division 1-A) with 103 receptions this year. He's extremely athletic, with a reported 40 time anywhere from 4.35 to 4.4, an 11 foot broad jump, and a 40 inch vertical.

  • Ryan Moore, WR, Miami-Florida - Moore was an elite recruit out of high school. He's a big (6'3" 225) WR who reportedly runs around 4.5. He will be at the NFL Combine.

  • Marcus Thomas, DT, Florida - Widely considered an elite (1st round) physical talent at defensive tackle.

    Monday: Weigh-in results and day one of practice.

    For more information, go to http://texasvsthenation.cstv.com/. The game will be telecast on CSTV at 10 pm EST/7 pm PST on Friday, February 2.