Three-year starter awarded All-Conference honors the past two years. A great specimen with size and growth potential, Bender is a terrific developmental prospect. Offers a lot of upside and could reap big dividends for a team who is patient with him. Jacob Bender/OT/Nicholls State It still amazes us Bender has flown below the radar screen. A three-year starter at left tackle twice named as an All Conference selection, Bender moves like a power-forward on the football field. At 6-feet-6-inches and 317 pounds, more than a dozen NFL teams went to view his pro-day this weekend. Bender did not disappoint running a 5.03-forty, 4.47 short shuttle, completing 27 repetitions on the bench then turning in a 30-inch vertical jump. And while teams presently project Bender as a left-tackle, his size coupled with growth potential make a move to the strong-side a possibility. The New Orleans Saints, Cleveland Browns and New York Jets have all set up one-on-one interviews with the athletic blocker.
Great pick for the Jets in round six. They finally address the OL. Jacob Bender OL Bender (6-6 3/8, 316 pounds) ran the 40-yard dash in 5.18 with the wind and 5.26 against it. He also had a 25-inch vertical jump, 8-foot-7 long jump, 4.60 short shuttle, 7.84 three-cone drill and 27 bench presses.
CAREER NOTES: Allowed only two sacks over his final 1,987 plays...Over the past three years, the Colonels have averaged 281.1 yards per game rushing, with 215.5 of those yards coming over the left side of the line...Only the fifth offensive lineman in school history to earn All-American honors (2006), and the first since Lynn Bychurch was named second-team All-American in 1985. AGILITY TESTS Campus: 5.18 in the 40-yard dash (wind-aided)...5.26 40-yard dash (against the wind)...2.96 20-yard dash...1.81 10-yard dash...Bench pressed 225 pounds 27 times...25-inch vertical jump... 8'7" broad jump...4.6 20-yard shuttle...7.84 three-cone drill.
Saturday, April 14, 2007 Q & A WITH JACOB BENDER Jacob Bender is an offensive tackle from Nicholls State who brings intriguing upside. Josh Buchanan: How are you feeling with just two weeks left to this whole process? Jacob Bender: I am feeling anxious and excited. At the same time I just want it to hurry up and come. I have been working hard and going on all of these visits. I am not nervous yet but I probably will a couple days before the draft. Josh Buchanan: What teams have shown the most interest? Jacob Bender: Seattle, Cincinnati and Jacksonville. Josh Buchanan: What were the best workout numbers you produced? Jacob Bender: My best 40 was a 5.03, my vertical was 30 1/2 inches, my broad jump was 8'11 1/2, bench press were 27 reps, short shuttle was 3.50, and 3-cone was a 7.55. Josh Buchanan: How have teams said you will fit best in the NFL? Jacob Bender: They said I will have to develop a little bit but everybody says I will be a left tackle because of the way I move my feet. I have good bend and athleticism. One team did say I might move to right tackle and be the strong run blocker type guy. Josh Buchanan: What's your plan for watching the draft? Jacob Bender: I will be in Maryland at my house.
So can this guy play OG? If he can't im not sure I undertand the pick... Sounds like he is more suited to play LT.
While he may be a good backup policy if Ferguson ever needs to leave the field, he projects more to OG or RT in the NFL.
Actually thats one hell of an endorsment. If you have the ability to be a left tackle you have the ability to play either guard positions or RT. LT is the premier position on the line ... just because you project there doesn't mean you can't play another of the positions.
This guy sounds like a very versatile prospect that could potentially play both OT and OG positions. Odds are he will be used as depth to push Clement and/or Moore.
I like this guy a lot. Looks like he can play 4 positions on the line, and play them all pretty well. Just as important, he's open to playing all 4 positions. It is interesting to see how the Jets view him. Maybe he's a possible RT solution? Maybe he's a possible OG solution? Maybe he's just depth? We'll see.
There is a short audio Interview with Bender at nfldraftguys . com I would post a link if I was allowed to.
Jacob Bender, OT/Nicholls St: Bender (6-6 3/8, 316 pounds) ran the 40-yard dash in 5.18 with the wind and 5.26 against it. He also had a 25-inch vertical jump, 8-foot-7 long jump, 4.60 short shuttle, 7.84 three-cone drill and 27 bench presses. Many scouts think he’s a sleeper, and he’s been compared to the Eagle’s Todd Herremans, who recently got his contract renewed.
Bender is soaring up draft boards and threatening Allen Barbre for the honor of first small school lineman selected at the draft. Like Barbre, he has the athleticism to hang in the NFL, and ruled the 1-AA ranks the way you would expect him to. He's also got the frame to stay at LT, and his intangibles on and off the field are only a plus. He's a project, but one that could pay huge dividends down the line. http://nfldraftguys.com/rankings/2007_Draft_OT_Rankings_Bloom.php
