The last time Brian Bradford was told he wasn?t good enough to play football at a high level, the Towson linebacker more than proved his critics wrong.
But this time, the All-American is trying to do it in front of pro scouts, not college coaches.
Bradford believes he has done enough in his five years at Towson ? he redshirted his freshman year ? to at least have a chance to play on the game?s biggest stage. Several experts believe it is a long shot for him to hear his name called during the seven-round, 252-pick NFL Draft in New York City in front of a national television audience on NFL Network and ESPN on Saturday and Sunday.
Even if he isn?t drafted and has to try to land in a team?s mini-camp as a free agent, all he wants is an opportunity.
“It was a little disappointing not getting invited to the [NFL] combine, but I was able to focus on my pro day and it worked out for the best,” Bradford said. “You still have your dreams out there, dreaming of getting drafted, but I will be happy either way. All I want to do is get into a camp.”
Bradford, a standout at Gaithersburg High in Montgomery County, was an all-state linebacker as a senior, leading his team to consecutive region titles in 2001 and 2002 after winning the state championship in 2000.
Colleges, however, were slow to take notice of the 6-foot-2, 240-pounder.
His lone offer from a “big-time” Football Bowl Subdivision school was from the University of Connecticut. But late in the recruiting process, the Huskies opted to go in a different direction, leaving Bradford with few options. The one he chose, however, turned out to be a life-changing one just 50 miles north of his front door.
Bradford began the fall regarded as one of the top linebackers in the Colonial Athletic Association, the toughest league in the Football Championship Subdivision ? formerly Division I-AA ? entering the season. But the captain exceeded all expectations this year, posting one of the best seasons ever by a Towson linebacker. He finished the year with 149 tackles, second best in the 116-team FCS, to go along with 3.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, an interception and a blocked field goal in 11 games.
But one of the biggest criticisms of his play by scouts is his speed. Bradford?s 40-yard dash is about 4.7 seconds, considered slow for a linebacker.
“People sit there and look at things, they don?t see the heart in these kids and how much they want to play,” Kevin Bradford, Brian?s father, said. “I know how hard he worked for it and remember hearing him going out at night and running and working for it.”
Bradford has met with several teams, including Baltimore and Washington, and he believes even if he doesn?t get selected this weekend, a team will give him a chance as a free agent.
Ravens linebacker Bart Scott is the perfect example of a player who was believed not to have the skills to succeed in the NFL. But he proved a players? ability is not measured with a stopwatch, as the undrafted free agent out of Southern Illinois was named to his first Pro Bowl in 2006.
“Over the years, we?ve been fortunate enough to find some guys in this workout that we?ve brought to camp and have done a good job for us,” Eric DeCosta, the Ravens director of college scouting told reporters after the team worked out several local players. “This year?s crop has some talent.”
