The difference between football players at Texas and those at Towson is simple, according to Baltimore-based agent Tony Agnone.
“The only difference was the T on the side of [a Texas] helmet was bigger,” said Agnone, who heads-up Eastern Athletic Services, a Hunt Valley-based sports agency.
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While Agnone represents some big names around the National Football League, he takes pride in helping the little guys ? Division I-AA prospects who might otherwise be overlooked.
“I think more and more teams are starting to realize there is some fallout from the bigger schools,” Agnone said. “I think they?re looking [at mid-majors] more and more than they ever have.”
Among the handful of prospects Agnone represents in this draft, the most likely to be taken is Towson offensive tackle Jermon Bushrod. A potential third-round pick, the 6-foot-5, 320-pound Bushrod credits the relationship between Towson?s coaching staff and the EAS firm with helping him.
“Those guys at EAS have been a great help,” Bushrod said. “They?ve done everything they can to bring scouts here for my pro day. They put me in position where I am now.”
Agnone also represents two University of Maryland prospects: punter Adam Podlesh and offensive tackle Stephon Heyer. Podlesh is an intriguing prospect ? one of two top punters in the draft who runs a 4.4-second 40-yard dash.
“If he had started at any other position, he?d be drafted,” said Agnone, who laughed as he mentioned Podlesh as a receiving prospect.
Agnone should know, having represented punter Sean Landetta when he was signed out of Towson.
“We had Sean Landetta; he?s going to the Hall of Fame. Sean has great athletic ability ? but this kid is an athlete,” Agnone said of Podlesh, whom he expects to go in the fourth round.
Agnone said that Heyer should go as high as Bushrod, but the Maryland prospect is coming off a season in which he played through knee injuries.
Most draftable players come with drawbacks ? whether it?s an injury like Heyer?s or the small-school background like Bushrod?s. With that in mind, Agnone understands what NFL teams are thinking.
THE EAS FILE
EAS team » Tony Agnone, Edward G. Johnson, Richard M. Rosa, Susan J. Insley, Noel M. LaMontagne
NFL clients » According to www.easfootball.com, Agnone?s firm represents 32 active NFL players, headlined by Giants DE Michael Strahan, Giants S Will Demps, Falcons DE John Abraham and Seahawks DE Patrick Kearney.
