Prince Valiant
04-28-2013, 11:47 PM
...Is a local from Greendale.
Ben Ericksen, class of 2008.
Signed as an undrafted free-agent free-safety out of Illinois State. That's not quite as good as being drafted...but better than only being invited to tryout.
Measurables:
6-1, 195lbs
40: 4.38(low)-4.52(high) (would have been #1 for safeties at combine, which was 4.42)
reps @ 225: 17 (would have tied for 7th)
vertical: 36 1/2" (would have tied for 9th)
broad jump: 10'02" (would have tied for 12th)
Shuttle:4.22 (would have tied for 11th)
3 cone: 6.85 (would have been 7th among safeties)
ranked 16 out of 90 FS's eligible to draft.
Was the only safety the packers signed so far...so this improves his chances of finding a place on the squad. Likewise, the fact that he only recently made the switch to defense...so he still has a lot to learn, meaning he still has considerable potential to grow. He did not even play defense in high school for a non-platooning team at GDHS...fairly impressive that he finished #4 in the country in interceptions given his inexperience.
Highlights as a receiver at Greendale:
7iHNwivQcuI
highlights from ISU (he's #7):
hb0p_z1iIa8
Also has good potential as a special teams player. Averaged 27 yds per return during his sophomore year at ISU.
Obviously I am biased, as I've worked with the kid for 4 years at Greendale, as well as providing guidance/medical advice whenever he asked while away at school. But let's face it...as an undrafted free agent, the cards are stacked against him. But he's a good kid and a great athlete, with decent size and very decent speed for a FS, almost quick enough to be a corner, and a late comer to the position. I'm hoping that he'll have a decent shot because of potential/stats to at least garner a practice squad position, or perhaps even make a go of it as a special teams player who gets a chance to learn the pro-game. He's a good kid and a hard worker...wishing him tons of luck!
He's come a long way from the 110lb kid who was a back-up QB on the freshman FB team...I mean, he couldn't even wear his gear correctly he was so small, lol. It'll be a great story if he makes it.
Ben Ericksen, class of 2008.
Signed as an undrafted free-agent free-safety out of Illinois State. That's not quite as good as being drafted...but better than only being invited to tryout.
Measurables:
6-1, 195lbs
40: 4.38(low)-4.52(high) (would have been #1 for safeties at combine, which was 4.42)
reps @ 225: 17 (would have tied for 7th)
vertical: 36 1/2" (would have tied for 9th)
broad jump: 10'02" (would have tied for 12th)
Shuttle:4.22 (would have tied for 11th)
3 cone: 6.85 (would have been 7th among safeties)
ranked 16 out of 90 FS's eligible to draft.
Was the only safety the packers signed so far...so this improves his chances of finding a place on the squad. Likewise, the fact that he only recently made the switch to defense...so he still has a lot to learn, meaning he still has considerable potential to grow. He did not even play defense in high school for a non-platooning team at GDHS...fairly impressive that he finished #4 in the country in interceptions given his inexperience.
Highlights as a receiver at Greendale:
7iHNwivQcuI
highlights from ISU (he's #7):
hb0p_z1iIa8
Also has good potential as a special teams player. Averaged 27 yds per return during his sophomore year at ISU.
Obviously I am biased, as I've worked with the kid for 4 years at Greendale, as well as providing guidance/medical advice whenever he asked while away at school. But let's face it...as an undrafted free agent, the cards are stacked against him. But he's a good kid and a great athlete, with decent size and very decent speed for a FS, almost quick enough to be a corner, and a late comer to the position. I'm hoping that he'll have a decent shot because of potential/stats to at least garner a practice squad position, or perhaps even make a go of it as a special teams player who gets a chance to learn the pro-game. He's a good kid and a hard worker...wishing him tons of luck!
He's come a long way from the 110lb kid who was a back-up QB on the freshman FB team...I mean, he couldn't even wear his gear correctly he was so small, lol. It'll be a great story if he makes it.