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Post by elonpride on Apr 29, 2007 17:38:08 GMT -5
He was #251 and went to the Jags! Good luck Nkang!
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Post by ElonPhan on Apr 29, 2007 18:13:20 GMT -5
Nkang is special teams pick Elon linebacker can run
By Vic Ketchman, jaguars.com senior editor 04/29/07
Chad Nkang is an undersized linebacker who qualifies as this year’s special teams pick. The Jaguars selected Nkang with the first of two seventh-round compensatory picks.
Nkang is a tackling machine who runs in the 4.4’s. He immediately becomes new special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis’ rookie candidate for a gunner role on coverage units.
Beyond special teams, Nkang’s immediate future is in the weight room. He’s a player whose foot speed and athletic ability gives him “sub package” role potential.
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Post by elon_phan on Apr 29, 2007 19:17:04 GMT -5
Here is another profile... 2007 NFL Draft Scouting Report Saturday April 28, 2007 Player: Chad Nkang Team: Jacksonville Jaguars (Compensatory Selection) Round7 Overall251 NFL Draft Home | DraftTracker The good: One of the most dominant playmakers from the Division I-AA level in recent seasons, he’s a fast and instinctive which makes up for his 5-feet-11, 220-pound size. He’s a fine athlete with the tackling skills to make the jump to the NFL. He’s a weak side linebacker/safety tweener with the speed and agility to be a consistent playmaker in the right setting. He moves well and has good recognition skills and good hand use to stay clean and finish plays. He can run down backs consistently from his middle linebacker position. He was the best athlete on his team and playing inside allowed him to make the most plays, though he will have to move outside to make an NFL roster. His ability to run, stay on his feet and finish should earn him time on coverage units as a rookie. The bad: His smallish frame has little growth potential, so he needs to find a niche in a situational defense before competing for fulltime playing time. He struggles with blockers who get into him and can control him. Outlook: He had a strong showing at the Hula Bowl and ran a 4.41 and 4.42 40-yard dash at the Elon pro workout day. At the NFL combine he was among the top 10 finishers among linebackers in the 40-yard dash. Overall, he has the talent to be a top pro backup and staring nickel linebacker and ace special teams performer, but he’ll likely be a late pick or high priority free agent that could be a major steal. Rankings by Frank Coyle of Draft Insiders' Digest and www.draftinsiders.com.
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Post by elonfirefighter on Apr 30, 2007 11:23:10 GMT -5
Elon's Chad Nkang Drafted by Jacksonville Jaguars Courtesy: Southern Conference Release: 04/30/2007 Courtesy: Elon University
Elon's Chad Nkang was drafted by the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars Elon senior linebacker Chad Nkang (Hyattsville, Md./Northwestern High) was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars Sunday afternoon as the 251st pick during the seventh round of the 2007 National Football League Draft, capping off one of the most decorated careers in the history of Phoenix athletics.
“This is an incredible feeling,” Nkang said. “It was definitely a nail-biter, coming down to the last several picks. However, it worked out for the best as Jacksonville is one of the teams I have always been the most interested in. In the first few minutes after the announcement, it seemed like I was congratulated by everybody I have ever met in my life.”
Nkang tops a list of 25 Elon athletes to work their way into the National Football League, but he becomes the first Phoenix football player to be drafted since wide receiver Joe Randolph in 1992. Minnesota drafted Randolph as the 322nd pick during the 12th round. Prior to Randolph, running back Jimmy Smith was the most recent NFL Draft pick from Elon. Smith was drafted by Washington as the 102nd pick during the fourth round of the 1984 Draft.
“We were hopeful that things would work out and Chad would get an opportunity to fulfill his dream,” Elon coach Pete Lembo said. “He came one step closer today. It looks like Jacksonville will be a good fit for him, both with their defensive scheme and the size of their linebackers. I continue to believe that Chad’s ability to fit in on special teams as well as the defensive side of the ball will enhance his chances of making the Jaguars’ roster this summer.”
Nkang played all 45 games during his career at Elon, the first 12 at fullback and the last 33 at linebacker. In those 33 defensive starts, he amassed 414 tackles for an average of 12.5 stops per contest.
Nkang also collected 54 tackles for loss, nine sacks, two interceptions, three pass deflections, seven forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries during his last three seasons. He also scored two touchdowns during his college days – one as a starting fullback in his first collegiate game and one on a 47-yard interception return in his 44th career contest.
He is the 81st Southern Conference player drafted into the NFL. A year ago, Furman quarterback Ingle Martin was a seventh round pick of the Green Bay Packers. Eleven SoCon players have been drafted by NFL teams since 2000.
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Post by elonfirefighter on Apr 30, 2007 12:40:58 GMT -5
Panthers need a safty and pass over nkang
Panthers still look for their safety net Draft yields help in several areas, but defensive back remains a need PAT YASINSKAS pyasinskas@charlotteobserver.com Rick Havner, APFirst-day draft picks Dwayne Jarrett and Jon Beason were in Charlotte for introductions Sunday. Beason, a first-round pick, will provide insurance at middle linebacker for oft-injured Dan Morgan. Jarrett, a second-rounder, probably will back up Keyshawn Johnson. Video | Panthers Day 2 news conference Video: Panthers Day 1 press conference Poll | How would you rate Panthers' day 1 picks? Inside the Panthers | Pat Yasinskas blogs Forum | Got an opinion on the draft? Round 1 | LB Jon Beason Round 2 | USC receiver Dwayne Jarrett Round 2 | Center Ryan Kalil Round 3 | Defensive end Charles Johnson Round 4 | WR Ryne Robinson Round 5 | LB Tim Shaw Round 5 | TE/FB Dante Rosario Round 7 | Cornerback C.J. Wilson Don't be blue for Browns NFL Draft | Team-by-team selections Projected Depth Chart Panthers welcome top picks Patriots take Moss off Raiders' hands Undrafted Leak 'happy to be a Bear' Bears sign undrafted Leak Jenkins expected to remain with Panthers Raiders know who is No. 1 Scott Says | Scott Fowler Tyler 1st N.C. player taken NFL Draft | First-round capsules Panthers get young copies of their stars Panthers had pick of trades Rushing to Bucs' defense Jenkins still with Carolina Quinn's fall could help Browns rise Carolina thinking not like receiver's The Carolina Panthers went on a two-day shopping spree, methodically checking off items on their list, but leaving one item at the top untouched.
It wasn't by design. The Panthers went into the NFL draft looking for help at safety, but, after seven rounds and 255 picks, they're still looking. They waited until the seventh and final round to select a defensive back, and that was Baylor cornerback C.J. Wilson, who has the size to move to safety.
"We'll just keep looking," general manager Marty Hurney said. "We always say there are a lot of avenues you use to improve your football team. Safety is one spot that didn't fall right for us in this draft. But we feel like there were a lot of other areas on our football team that we did improve. We'll just keep looking every way we can to try to upgrade that area, whether it be free agency, the waiver wire or trade."
With Mike Minter entering his final season and Shaun Williams and Colin Branch unrestricted free agents, the Panthers are thin at safety. They had safeties targeted early in the draft, but never felt the value was right. The Panthers could have had their choice of any safety except Louisiana State's LaRon Landry if they had stayed put at No. 14.
But they grabbed a trade down to the New York Jets' spot at No. 25 and watched safeties Michael Griffin, Reggie Nelson and Brandon Meriweather go off the board before they took Miami linebacker Jon Beason. Even with an extra second-round pick from the Jets, the Panthers didn't see the right safety at the right time.
They filled their needs at linebacker with Beason and fifth-round pick Tim Shaw, at wide receiver with second-round pick Dwayne Jarrett, defensive end with Charles Johnson in the third round, punt returner with Ryne Robinson in the fourth round and fullback/tight end with fifth-rounder Dante Rosario.
They even used their extra second-round pick on an area where there was no apparent need, drafting Southern California center Ryan Kalil. But they didn't get a top-notch safety.
"If it wasn't that position, it would have been somewhere else," Hurney said.
That leaves the Panthers with Minter, second-year pro Nate Salley and journeyman Deke Cooper as their top safeties as they head into a three-day minicamp Friday. They'll hope some undrafted players can come in and surprise, but they'll probably spend the next few months examining every safety possibility.
"We felt good that we really improved our team in a lot of other areas because we had the discipline to take the best players available and we really did not reach for any specific needs," Hurney said. "The good part about it is we got a lot of good football players, but now we do need to use other avenues to try to improve the safety position."
Panthers' Second-Day Picks
FOURTH ROUND: Ryne Robinson, WR/KR, Miami (Ohio)FIFTH ROUND: Dante Rosario, TE/FB, Oregon
FIFTH ROUND: Tim Shaw, LB, Penn State
SEVENTH ROUND: C.J. Wilson, DB, Baylor
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Post by elon_phan on Apr 30, 2007 21:20:47 GMT -5
Elon's Nkang picked by Jaguars in seventh round Adam Smith / Times-News April 29, 2007 3:00 PM Chad Nkang long held a dream of becoming a digital animator after college and perhaps working with Disney.
Now he has entered the NFL’s magic kingdom.
The Jacksonville Jaguars selected the swift and punishing Elon University linebacker Sunday in the seventh round of the NFL Draft. At overall choice No. 251, he checked in as the fifth-to-last pick in the marathon process, which started Saturday and covered more than 19 hours.
“I’m feeling good, really loving it right now,” Nkang said while chowing down Sunday night at Cracker Barrel in Burlington.
The two-time Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Year became the first Elon draftee since Joe Randolph in 1992. It marked the third time since 1984 that an Elon player’s name has been called in the draft.
Nkang’s agent, Philip Wickstrom of Sports Capital Group in Atlanta, said the Atlanta Falcons called to inquire before Sunday’s portion of the draft — rounds four through seven — got under way at 11 a.m.
Wickstrom said his phone constantly rang from that point on, with the Tennessee Titans, Indianapolis Colts, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Falcons showing substantial interest. He was talking to a Minnesota Vikings representative when the Jaguars made Nkang the 10th member of their draft class.
“We thought several times he was going to go,” Wickstrom said, “but that’s just the nature of it. He dropped down, but I think he’s in a great position. He’s on a team where he fits in perfectly with the Cover 2 defense they run and he’ll have a great opportunity to play there.”
Some analysts and draftniks had dubbed Nkang as either a hidden gem or possible sleeper in the draft. Ultimately, he was the 32nd and final linebacker chosen.
Nkang, a Division I-AA All-American in 2005 and 2006, was plucked a pick ahead of when New Orleans took receiver Marques Colston out of Division I-AA Hofstra in last year’s draft.
Colston stormed through the league last season while producing 70 catches for 1,038 yards and eight touchdowns. He was a leading candidate to pick up Associated Press Offensive Rookie of the Year honors before Titans quarterback Vince Young closed with a flourish.
“I watched every single round,” Nkang said. “It was definitely a nail-biter coming down to the last several picks.”
He joined a Jacksonville group of draftees that includes second-rounder Justin Durant, a linebacker out of Division I-AA Hampton, and fifth-rounder Josh Gattis, a safety from Wake Forest. Durant is the younger brother of former North Carolina quarterback Darian Durant.
Nkang racked up 414 tackles, an average of 12½ per game, during his last three Elon seasons after converting from fullback. Vic Ketchman, Jaguars.com senior editor, said Nkang “offers the potential to be a special teams demon” in a Web report.
Jaguars scout Marty Miller, who stopped by Elon’s campus last season to assess Nkang, didn’t return calls seeking comment Sunday night.
“Chad may have interviewed with Jacksonville three or four times up in Indianapolis,” Wickstrom said, referring to February’s NFL Scouting Combine. “When a team has an entire staff sit down with you, they have a serious interest.”
Wickstrom said Nkang will report to Jacksonville for a three-day mini camp that begins May 11. He said Nkang probably will sign a contract with the team in June.
“It’s not going to be a problem,” Wickstrom said. “He’ll have his deal done early this summer compared to a lot of the draft picks.”
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Post by bornthrilla on May 5, 2007 10:39:01 GMT -5
Congrats. He simply destroyed us in Aggie Stadium last season.
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Post by whoanellie on May 9, 2007 19:50:47 GMT -5
FYI Jax Jags show NKang's Jersey # as #45 not a bad number for a rookie i hope he shows well at mini-camp
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Post by euphoenix99 on May 14, 2007 10:03:04 GMT -5
I look forward to the NFL preseason enough as it is, but following Nkang will add a whole new level of excitement. Jacksonville's defense and special teams seem tailor-made for him, I hope he can take full advantage of it. I'd love nothing more than to see him playing against the Panthers late in the season.
Go Phoenix!
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Post by soconf on May 14, 2007 10:40:47 GMT -5
He has his work cut out for him to crack the roster. Adds another team to pull for when they play the Panters.
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Post by elonphoenix on May 15, 2007 13:07:16 GMT -5
Someone tell Chad to be careful if he takes del Rio's "keep chopping wood" mantra too literally.
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Post by elonfirefighter on Jun 5, 2007 15:22:09 GMT -5
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Post by elonalum06 on Jun 16, 2007 9:40:13 GMT -5
the jags just cut Donovan Darius, this is a good thing for Chad because they cut both of there starting safeties, a team would not do that inless they have some one else in mind already.
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Post by elonpuckhog on Jun 16, 2007 9:57:33 GMT -5
The Jags are trying to go younger according to the articles I've read. Certainly good news for Chad. I doubt he'll get much playing time this year, but Im hoping for the best in the future.
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Post by whoanellie on Jun 16, 2007 17:54:25 GMT -5
Sensabaugh a ETSU & UNC product was also coached as was NKang by Paul hamilton think he can score some home game tickets for Kye? ;-)
anyway with Nelson UF a top prospect these guys could be good for a long while
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