Coastal fullback Tommy Fraser shined in front of NFL scouts during a Pro Day workout on Tuesday. I wouldn't have said so yesterday, but there is a Chanticleer in the Class of 2010 that has a shot to sign a free agent contract.
I've always thought Fraser had a great skill set. In fact, I thought the Chanticleers could have been much improved offensively last fall if tailbacks Eric O'Neal and Jeremy Height had stayed healthy -- yes, I know I'm asking for a lot from a Coastal tailback -- and allowed Fraser to remain at H-back. He is a gifted receiver and has enough wiggle that he can shake some would-be tacklers -- at the FCS level anyway -- in the open field without having to simply run over them.
But I wasn't sure that he would perform well enough in a combine-like setting to prove himself worthy of NFL consideration. However, he showed good athleticism and strength on Tuesday. The 5-foot-9 Fraser weighed in at 239 pounds, showed explosion with a 33-inch vertical jump and a broad jump of 9 feet, 9 inches, showed plenty of power with 28 bench press repetitions at 225 pounds and then topped it off with solid 40-yard dash times of 4.69 and 4.72. He said he's run in the 4.5s in recent weeks.
Fraser's height is a limiting factor, but Mike Tolbert's success at Coastal and now in the NFL at roughly the same size could certainly help boost Fraser's stock. Plus, at 5-9, he shouldn't have any problems keeping his pad level low as a lead blocker. The factor that will hurt Fraser the most is the lack of fullbacks used in the NFL. They are certainly a dying breed.
Can Fraser stick on an NFL roster? I don't know, but I'd be willing to believe that somebody will give him a shot after Tuesday's performance. There were only two scouts in attendance, but his numbers will go out to the masses and that could be enough for him to land a post-draft deal.
I've always thought Fraser had a great skill set. In fact, I thought the Chanticleers could have been much improved offensively last fall if tailbacks Eric O'Neal and Jeremy Height had stayed healthy -- yes, I know I'm asking for a lot from a Coastal tailback -- and allowed Fraser to remain at H-back. He is a gifted receiver and has enough wiggle that he can shake some would-be tacklers -- at the FCS level anyway -- in the open field without having to simply run over them.
But I wasn't sure that he would perform well enough in a combine-like setting to prove himself worthy of NFL consideration. However, he showed good athleticism and strength on Tuesday. The 5-foot-9 Fraser weighed in at 239 pounds, showed explosion with a 33-inch vertical jump and a broad jump of 9 feet, 9 inches, showed plenty of power with 28 bench press repetitions at 225 pounds and then topped it off with solid 40-yard dash times of 4.69 and 4.72. He said he's run in the 4.5s in recent weeks.
Fraser's height is a limiting factor, but Mike Tolbert's success at Coastal and now in the NFL at roughly the same size could certainly help boost Fraser's stock. Plus, at 5-9, he shouldn't have any problems keeping his pad level low as a lead blocker. The factor that will hurt Fraser the most is the lack of fullbacks used in the NFL. They are certainly a dying breed.
Can Fraser stick on an NFL roster? I don't know, but I'd be willing to believe that somebody will give him a shot after Tuesday's performance. There were only two scouts in attendance, but his numbers will go out to the masses and that could be enough for him to land a post-draft deal.
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