Print
E-mail
Comment
Rate
Roach looks to improve his stock for NFL Draft
By KEVIN TRAVIS, Sports Editor
GREENVILLE — Barking out a signal before taking a couple steps back, Brad Roach fired the football to his receiver with deft precision.
He did it time and time again during Wednesday’s Pro Day at East Carolina University. The All-American quarterback at Catawba College and a former star at Williamston High School hoped to impress the NFL scouts in attendance and improve his stock for the upcoming NFL Draft.
“I think I did pretty good,” said Roach, who was holding a sheet the Indianapolis Colts wanted him to fill out. “Overall, I felt like I tested pretty well. I had a great time out here.
“I just want to thank East Carolina and coach Skip Holtz for letting me come here to showcase my abilities and giving me this opportunity.”
Roach went through various drills for the scouts, including the board jump (nine feet), vertical jump (30 inches) and 40-yard dash (4.77 seconds) .
“I was hoping to just get under five (seconds) in the 40-yard dash and I did better then I thought I was going to do,” Roach said. “I was happy with that.”
He then had a workout with the receivers. The 6-6, 248-pound quarterback had to deal with some steady wind at times.
“I thought I threw the ball pretty well,” Roach said. “(The scouts) said they understood about the wind factor and that I was throwing to different receivers. That helped me calm down a little bit.”
Two of Roach’s biggest supporters were nearby during the passing drills. Roach’s father, Keith Roach, a Washington resident and former Martin County sheriff, and his former high school coach at Williamston, Harold Robinson, who is ECU’s Director of High School Relations, watched like proud fathers.
Roach, who participated in the Division II Cactus Bowl All-Star game, said throwing to receivers he’s not used to has its good points and bad points.
“Hopefully, it showed that I can adjust quickly,” Roach said. “If I mess up, hopefully it shows I can adjust to that receiver and his speed.”
Roach, who completed 224 of 376 (59.6 percent) passes for 3,322 yards and 32 touchdown passes his senior year, will go to another Pro Day at Catawba College on March 25.
“I might not run (the 40-yard dash) again, but I’m definitely going to throw,” Roach said.
The former co-captain of the Indians, who guided his team to an 11-2 record and a playoff victory, completed 608 of 1,099 passes (55.3 percent) for 7,874 yards and 62 touchdown passes in his career. He also ran for 138 yards and six scores.
Roach set a handful of records during his career at Catawba. He holds the school record for passing yards in a season (3,322 in 2007), touchdown passes in a season (32 in 2007), touchdown passes in a game (five against Albany State in 2007), completions in a season (224 in 2007), efficiency rating in a season (153.4 in 2007) and passing attempts in a season (384 in 2005).
Roach believes that NFL scouts will factor those numbers in with his overall performance on the field.
“I think numbers have a little part to do with it,” Roach said. “They want to see you make good decisions and have consistency. Obviously, my size will attract a couple people.
“I thought I made a big jump from last year to this year during the season, making better decisions and that’s one of the big keys they look for.”
Roach will head to Charlotte to continue training before the NFL Draft, which will be held April 26-27.
“I just have to get in the best shape of my life,” he said. “I have to keep working hard. They said I look good with my lower body, but I really need to work hard on my upper body. I want to give them a better impression when they see me next time.”
Roach is excited and anxious for the upcoming draft.
“It feels like it’s taking forever to get here,” Roach said. “If I get drafted, that’s a great honor. I’m just hoping to get an opportunity anywhere.
“I’m confident. I feel like I’ve showcased my abilities. I still have a long way to go just because I’m coming from a smaller school, but it’s a challenge and I have a lot to prove.”
He did it time and time again during Wednesday’s Pro Day at East Carolina University. The All-American quarterback at Catawba College and a former star at Williamston High School hoped to impress the NFL scouts in attendance and improve his stock for the upcoming NFL Draft.
“I think I did pretty good,” said Roach, who was holding a sheet the Indianapolis Colts wanted him to fill out. “Overall, I felt like I tested pretty well. I had a great time out here.
“I just want to thank East Carolina and coach Skip Holtz for letting me come here to showcase my abilities and giving me this opportunity.”
Roach went through various drills for the scouts, including the board jump (nine feet), vertical jump (30 inches) and 40-yard dash (4.77 seconds) .
“I was hoping to just get under five (seconds) in the 40-yard dash and I did better then I thought I was going to do,” Roach said. “I was happy with that.”
He then had a workout with the receivers. The 6-6, 248-pound quarterback had to deal with some steady wind at times.
“I thought I threw the ball pretty well,” Roach said. “(The scouts) said they understood about the wind factor and that I was throwing to different receivers. That helped me calm down a little bit.”
Two of Roach’s biggest supporters were nearby during the passing drills. Roach’s father, Keith Roach, a Washington resident and former Martin County sheriff, and his former high school coach at Williamston, Harold Robinson, who is ECU’s Director of High School Relations, watched like proud fathers.
Roach, who participated in the Division II Cactus Bowl All-Star game, said throwing to receivers he’s not used to has its good points and bad points.
“Hopefully, it showed that I can adjust quickly,” Roach said. “If I mess up, hopefully it shows I can adjust to that receiver and his speed.”
Roach, who completed 224 of 376 (59.6 percent) passes for 3,322 yards and 32 touchdown passes his senior year, will go to another Pro Day at Catawba College on March 25.
“I might not run (the 40-yard dash) again, but I’m definitely going to throw,” Roach said.
The former co-captain of the Indians, who guided his team to an 11-2 record and a playoff victory, completed 608 of 1,099 passes (55.3 percent) for 7,874 yards and 62 touchdown passes in his career. He also ran for 138 yards and six scores.
Roach set a handful of records during his career at Catawba. He holds the school record for passing yards in a season (3,322 in 2007), touchdown passes in a season (32 in 2007), touchdown passes in a game (five against Albany State in 2007), completions in a season (224 in 2007), efficiency rating in a season (153.4 in 2007) and passing attempts in a season (384 in 2005).
Roach believes that NFL scouts will factor those numbers in with his overall performance on the field.
“I think numbers have a little part to do with it,” Roach said. “They want to see you make good decisions and have consistency. Obviously, my size will attract a couple people.
“I thought I made a big jump from last year to this year during the season, making better decisions and that’s one of the big keys they look for.”
Roach will head to Charlotte to continue training before the NFL Draft, which will be held April 26-27.
“I just have to get in the best shape of my life,” he said. “I have to keep working hard. They said I look good with my lower body, but I really need to work hard on my upper body. I want to give them a better impression when they see me next time.”
Roach is excited and anxious for the upcoming draft.
“It feels like it’s taking forever to get here,” Roach said. “If I get drafted, that’s a great honor. I’m just hoping to get an opportunity anywhere.
“I’m confident. I feel like I’ve showcased my abilities. I still have a long way to go just because I’m coming from a smaller school, but it’s a challenge and I have a lot to prove.”
 |
||
| Tigers stunned by Patriots, Vikings look to advance |
