Last Week of Pro Days

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As we hit the home stretch of preparation for the 2013 NFL Draft good to remember this is the last week of pro days.   Here is a look at the last of the bunch as there is still some good talent yet to shine.   

March 25: Duke, Iowa, Middle Tennessee State, Stephen F. Austin 
March 26: Texas, Iowa State, Louisiana Tech, McNeese State, North Carolina, North Carolina Central, Notre Dame, Southeastern Louisiana 
March 27: Connecticut, LSU, South Carolina, SMU, USC 
March 28: BYU, Central Arkansas, Coastal Carolina, East Carolina, Louisiana-Lafayette, Sam Houston State, Yale 
March 29: Southeast Missouri State 
April 2: Columbia

UConn Sio Moore Interview

Over the past six years, I have had the pleasure of interviewing nearly 300 players as they prepared to continue their careers and play professional football.    Most, if not all, players have provided me fascinating insight to what they are going through in preparation for that next step; what the life of a college football player is really like, and their hopes for life after football.   Occasionally, I come across players who just floor me with their maturity, dedication and wisdom when it comes to football and life.  Sio Moore from the University of Connecticut is one of those players, and all fans should hope their teams can add a guy like this to their roster.

Footballdialogue: At what age did your family come from Liberia?

Sio: I was less than a year old when I came to the United States.   There was a war going on and the people were fighting against the government, and my mother worked for the government.   They discovered after we left that there was a hit on my mother, and we discovered that shortly after we left the house we lived in it was attacked and shot up.

Footballdialogue: What is your official height, weight and speed?

Sio: I am 6’1” 240 pounds and expect to run between a 4.48 and a 4.5 forty yard dash.

Footballdialogue: I see you moved to North Carolina in high school from Connecticut but decided on playing at Connecticut for college.  Was your heart always in Connecticut or did you get offers to play elsewhere?  

Sio:  It’s a funny story, as I didn’t really get recruited out of high school.  East Carolina showed some interest but I was in Connecticut visiting my mother as I had been living with my older sister (14 years older) in North Carolina and was considering moving back.   I decided to go to a few camps in the surrounding area and met Coach George Deleone who was at Temple at the time and Coach Matt Cersosimo at the time.  I did all the wide receiver and running back drills and then they flipped me over and had me do some defensive drills, and after that camp, Coach Edsall offered me a scholarship on the spot.   It’s funny, as soccer was my greatest love, but I got too big for it.

Footballdialogue: While you have many amazing games during your time at Connecticut what game stands out as the most memorable?

Sio: Honestly, there isn’t one game that jumps out as I played every game with a chip on my shoulder.  I played mad as I grew tired of people thinking we didn’t have talent at our school.  We had a top ten defense the past two years as we were a good team with really good players.  No one liked to run the ball against us.  I love my university and my teammates as we played for each other.   We learned that if you make the person feel worth something then the player performs that much more. 

Footballdialogue: With what type of defense do you feel most comfortable a 4-3 or 3-4?

Sio:  Honestly, with the foundation I got early in my career at Connecticut with Coach Todd Orlando, I feel comfortable in any system.  He taught to have the pop come from my hips and not my shoulders, how to punch with my hands, he worked with me and I learned so much.   Coach Don Brown worked with me and taught the intricacies of the SAM (Strong inside linebacker) position.   I learned so much from all my coaches, I will never be able to repay them.

Footballdialogue: Where have you been training in preparation for the combine and Pro Days?

Sio:  I have been training at Athletes Performance Institute (API) in Pensacola, Fla. 

Footballdialogue: What was the biggest difference between Coach Edsell and Coach Pasqualoni?

Syracuse WR--Marcus Sales Interview

After interviewing so many players over the past six years, you can start to tell what guys have faced adversity and matured and what players still do not get it.   My initial impression right out of the gate of Marcus Sales was of a mature young married man who understands the great opportunity in front of him, and he is ready to do whatever it takes to achieve his ultimate goal.       

Footballdialogue: What are your official size, weight and speed?

Marcus: I am 6’0” 195 pounds and run a 4.5 forty.

Footballdialogue: I know you have been training at Total Athletic Performance (TAP) with speed coach Derek Touchette.  How is that going?  

Marcus:  It is going really good.   I’ve been working on technique and my confidence is really growing, only wish I have been doing this stuff all throughout my career.

Footballdialogue: What has been the most surprising thing you have learned about yourself while at TAP?

Marcus: I have seen a lot of improvement across the board, but especially on my 40 times.  All the speed training has been great.

Footballdialogue:  You had a very productive senior season with 64 receptions and 8 touchdowns.  Is there any one game or one moment that stands out from this season?

Marcus:  The game this year against South Florida when we came back and won the game was something I’ll never forget.  I was shutout in the first half, but got it going in the second half.  I finished with nine receptions but much more importantly, we won the game.

Footballdialogue: Have any SU former teammates or alumni giving you some idea of what to expect over the next six months?  

Marcus: I’ve spoken to some friends that I played with like Antwon Bailey and Jo Lonn Dunbar, and they have shared their experiences.

Footballdialogue: Being from Syracuse, it probably was an easy decision to stay and play there.  With that said, what other schools made offers for your talents?  

Marcus: I had offers from University of Miami, Virginia, Louisville, Pittsburgh, North Carolina and Syracuse.  The three that pursued me the heaviest were Syracuse, North Carolina and Pittsburgh.

Footballdialogue: I read you are following the same program as Hakeem Nicks did when training under Touchette.  Have you had the chance to speak to Hakeem at all?

Marcus: We keep missing each other.  He is coming to Florida next week and I’m leaving.  We do plan to meet up down the road. 

Footballdialogue: If a scout were to ask you for a game film of you at your best what game would you give him?

Marcus: I would say Kansas State in 2010

Footballdialogue: What would you say to NFL teams if they were to ask you about the 2011 drug charges that were subsequently dropped?