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NFL scouts are on-hand for the East West Shrine game practices, and are meeting with the players that intrigue them after practice[s]. According to this NFL.com report, here are the players the St. Louis Rams met with on Tuesday:
Blake Bell, TE, Oklahoma
It's a weak TE class, but Scouts interested in Blake Bell. Looked good but not too rocked up at Shrine weigh in #NFLdraft
— Cecil Lammey (@CecilLammey) January 12, 2015
Oklahoma QB-turned-TE Blake Bell (80) is here in St. Pete, listed at 6-6, 260 pounds ... pic.twitter.com/w3ztBz4b4Y
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) January 12, 2015
Blake Bell looks the part at tight end in drills. Now needs to carry it over into production.
— Tony Pauline (@TonyPauline) January 13, 2015
Here’s what NFL Media Analyst Charles Davis had to say about the Sooners’ Tight End:
Bell (6-foot-6, 260 pounds) began his OU career at quarterback, then moved to tight end this season. He had 16 receptions for 214 yards and four TDs this season and still is learning the position. While he weighs 260, he carries the weight well and looks almost lean. Davis says that, as a former quarterback, Bell will be able to quickly understand an offense and that "he runs a route with a quarterback's eyes." For a guy who has played tight end less than a season, Bell looks at ease when running routes and has good hands. He also has good bloodlines: His dad and uncle both played defensive end in the NFL. The 2015 tight end class is not a great one, and Bell -- who is one of two tight ends on the West squad -- looks to be a promising third-day prospect.
Bell might best be known for this play - while playing QB - where he didn’t treat this poor fella from TCU with a whole lot of respect. He’s now known simply as "Bell Dozer"...
Malcolm Brown, RB, Texas
QB Taylor Heinicke, RB Malcolm Brown, WRs Kasen Williams/Ezell Ruffin/Tre McBride/D.Gardner one's most intrigued by: http://t.co/1wWSQo2wQN
— Eric Galko (@OptimumScouting) January 10, 2015
Galko has this to say about the Longhorns’ Running Back:
One of the best one-cut power runners in the 2015 NFL Draft, Brown’s plus plant and cut speed along with balance once he picks up speed. With ideal size and built, Brown does a great job of finishing broken tackles and adjusting his upper half to take on more tacklers. He lacks great initial speed, and struggles to adjust laterally after the first cut, but his explosive cut upfield and size give him the tools to emerge as the Shrine’s best runner.
Three @Shrine_Game crushes prior to practices: William & Mary WR Tre McBride Texas RB Malcolm Brown Louisville LB/EDGE Deiontrez Mount
— Josh Norris (@JoshNorris) January 11, 2015
Here’s Josh Norris’ take:
Texas Longhorn Malcolm Brown was a highly coveted high school recruit. He then made an immediate impact in 2011. Perhaps the situation around him impacted the results, but Brown still has plenty of talent. When asked to make zone cuts, Brown was able to work frontside to backside with little wasted movement. He picked up yards blocked for him by finding lanes. Brown was able to be first contact with low pad level, aggression and leg drive. This means he created yards for himself, behind and beyond the line of scrimmage. That is the combination evaluators look for.
Aaron Ripkowski, FB, Oklahoma
That's how you finish a block big fella!! https://t.co/A87PWl2LJi
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) December 30, 2014
It appears as though the aforementioned Texas running back and Ripkowski have a good working relationship...
Thanks for the new decal!!! @MallyCat_28 @OU_Football #hornsdown #TexasSucks #newroomie pic.twitter.com/b9eHmomGRl
— aaron ripkowski (@AaronRipkowski) January 13, 2015
The 6’1", 257 lb. fullback was the recipient of the Oklahoma’s Don Key award in 2014, which was awarded by Sooners’ head coach Bob Stoops as the player who demonstrates all-around excellence in the classroom and on the playing field.
This Scout.com article, which ranked the 11 most important players for Oklahoma in 2014 [Ripkowski landed at 6], had this to say about the fullback:
A former walk-on, Ripkowski has earned everything that has been given to him. He won reps. He earned a scholarship. He fought for carries. He bullied his way to touchdowns. After a special year, he’ll probably receive an invite to an NFL camp. It’s a long way to go for a player who had just one scholarship offer out of high school.
He’s a team-first guy, through and through.
After playing the most notable game of his career against Oklahoma State, he deflected his personal achievements on the first question.
I didn’t really think about my success. I just thought about that I was sad for the seniors. It was their final game on this home field. No one wants to go out like that.