Perry: Versatile Prospects Like Byron Jones & Shaq Thompson Always Intriguing For Patriots
BOSTON (CBS) – Bob Socci, the voice of your New England Patriots, takes to the Sports Hub airwaves to discuss prospects, scouting reports, team needs, welcome special guests and everything else you need to know ahead of the 2015 NFL Draft every Sunday at 8am through the end of draft season!
Phil Perry of Comcast SportsNet New England joined Bob Socci Sunday morning to talk about some prospects, most notably cornerback Byron Jones of Connecticut.
Jones is a young man who's made quite a name for himself in recent weeks since his standout performance at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, and more recently during UConn's Pro Day.
Jones has all the measurables plus he's very bright, serving as team captain for the Huskies. At the Combine, he set a record for broad-jump by leaping 12-feet, 3-inches and had a vertical leap north of 44 inches. At his Pro Day, Jones ran a sub-4.4 40-yard dash and coming off a shoulder injury that cut short his final campaign, he bench pressed 225 pounds 18 times.
All those numbers show this guy to be a workout warrior. In fact, Phil Perry was present in Storrs for Jones' Pro Day, and the Patriots reporter came away very impressed with the 22-year-old.
"I would say the first thing that stood out to me was at the very end of the session when he spoke to us he was very intelligent, congenial and someone who understands what it means to be a good teammate and a good leader. I got the chance to talk to some of his teammates as well at the Pro Day and they just think the world of this guy, and his coaches too," Perry told Socci.
"That part of it right there he checks off all the boxes. You have nothing to worry about in terms of off the field issues. Then when you get to the physical aspect, I don't think there was a more impressive athlete at this year's Combine. His Pro Day just kind of verified the explosiveness we saw in February."
Now we've seen good combines and pro days vault prospects up the respective draft boards of certain teams, but what it really comes down to is how you perform on the tape.
"That's what the Patriots are looking at," Perry said of the game film. "They're going to look at last season before he got hurt playing for UConn, previous seasons during his college career -- that's really the most important thing for him. Does that athleticism that he shows in the gym and at his Pro Day translate when he's in pads and on the field?"
Playing college ball right in their back yard, it would make sense the Patriots would be interested in Byron Jones. Perry notes that New England was one of the teams to spend quality time with the prospect over breakfast, which is a far more informal setting than the Combine.
"We know the Patriots have done their homework on him," Perry said.
One thing we know the Patriots love in their prospects in positional versatility, and Byron Jones has that. He's played both safety and cornerback in college, and he's also been an impact player on special teams for the Huskies.
Phil Perry and Bob Socci also talked about Shaq Thompson, a former draft pick for the Boston Red Sox.
Thompson played his college ball at Washington, and perhaps no other player is more versatile -- a characteristic we know the Patriots covet -- than he. Thompson has played linebacker, safety and running back for the Huskies, and earned All-American honors in 2014.
Listen below for the full segment!
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