Friday, January 18th, 2008

By Matt Feminis and Josh Buchanan (D2 Football)

Mike Dragosavich (6-5 214), North Dakota State (I-AA)

A two-time All-American, Dragosavich averaged 44.5 yards per punt over the course of four years. He will participate in the Senior Bowl, and has a Combine invite. His size lends itself to mechanical consistency questions, but Dragosavich possesses a big-time leg. He explodes into the ball, and has the ability to drop the ball inside the 20-yard line (61 in four years). An athletic punter, Dragosavich was a high school receiver, and has a 47-yard touchdown pass to his credit. If he impresses in the next month, he has a very realistic chance of being selected in the sixth or seventh round after Georgia Tech?s Durant Brooks.

Shane Longest (5-11 180), Saint Xavier (NAIA)

Aside from having a quintessential kicker?s name, Longest has the potential to be one of 2008’s diamonds in the rough. Also a baseball player, Longest excelled for three years at SXU, an NAIA school located in Chicago. He will be the only NAIA representative at February?s Combine. A known commodity amongst Midwest area scouts, Longest has been rated highly since before his senior season in which he made 27 field goals, including a 55-yarder. An All-American, he also handled punting duties, averaging 43 yards per punt. Longest has a booming leg with range superior to some kickers currently cashing NFL paychecks. In three years, he connected on 20 field goals of 40-plus yards. Longest displays tremendous distance and hang time on kickoffs, and while he?s considered a kicker in the eyes of scouts, his ability to drive deep, spiraling punts only adds to his value. An NAIA kicker being drafted is a longshot, but he?ll undoubtedly be in an NFL camp.

Other notables: K Piotr Czech (Wagner); K Rob Zarilli (Hofstra); P Zac Atterberry (Lindenwood)

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