With Earl Austin Jr.
Maroney and other hopefuls wait for that call
NFL draft this weekend
The futures of several football players from the St. Louis area will change dramatically in the next few days.
Area players will be on pins and needles all weekend as they hope to hear their name called as the National Football League holds its annual draft on Saturday and Sunday. Each ring of the telephone will bring about great anxiety.
One player should hear his name fairly early in the process while a few others may have to wait a few hours or even another day. The phone may not ring at all for others, but the opportunity to sign as a free agent is still available. Years of hard work and sweat are put into this weekend and all of your dreams come down to a phone call.
As we do every year in this space before the draft, we wish good luck to the area hopefuls who will go through this rollercoaster ride. This year’s class includes Laurence Maroney (Normandy), Martin Nance (Pattonville), Brandon Williams (Hazelwood East), Brent Hawkins (Jerseyville), Montez Murphy (East St. Louis), Jason Davis (Lindbergh), Derrick Ming (Webster Groves) and the other area players hoping to be drafted or sign as free agents. Everyone will also be watching what happens with former Missouri standout Brad Smith, who starred at quarterback in college, but will probably be drafted at another position.
Draft week will be a memorable one for Maroney, who enters the play-for-pay ranks after three successful seasons at the University of Minnesota. He is expected to be a first-round pick and one of the top running backs taken. This week, Maroney celebrates his past greatness along with his lucrative future career plans.
On Tuesday, Maroney had his high school football jersey (#27) retired at Normandy’s annual spring pep rally. Maroney rushed for more than 4,000 yards during his career at Normandy. He was also a standout on the Vikings’ track team as a sprinter and jumper.
On Saturday, Maroney will get together with more than 200 friends and family members for a special celebration at the Herbert Hoover Boys Club, where he got his start in football.
Martin Nance is also hoping to hear his named called on the first day of the draft after a brilliant career at Miami of Ohio. Nance spent the first half of his career catching touchdowns from Super Bowl-winning quarterback Ben Roethlisgberger of the Pittsburgh Steelers. He rebounded from a season-ending knee injury in 2004 to have a big senior year in ’05. At 6’4” and 215-pounds, Nance is one of the top big receivers available. He also hopes to follow former Miami of Ohio receiver and fellow Suburban North Conference player Trevor Gaylor to the NFL.
Williams, who was a four-year starter at Wisconsin, is a dual threat as a receiver and kick return specialist. He should become the latest ex-Spartan to join the pro ranks through Wisconsin, joining the likes of Terrell Fletcher, Jamar Fletcher and Scott Starks. Williams earned All-American honors as a receiver and special teams players as a senior at Wisconsin.
Hawkins is hoping to take the route from the NCAA Division I-AA ranks to the NFL. The 6’3” 244-pound Hawkins was a dominant performer at defensive end at Illinois State. He also shined in the postseason as the Defensive Most Valuable Player of the Hula Bowl.
Murphy is a big, athletic defensive end, who enjoyed a productive career at Baylor while playing against top competition in the Big XII Conference while Davis is a capable fullback who can catch the ball coming out of the backfield like former Illini fullback Jameel Cook of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
St. Louis Area players drafted in the past five years
2005
Scott Starks (Hazelwood East): Third Round, No. 87 by Jacksonville
Atiyyah Ellison (Parkway South): Third Round, No. 89 by Carolina
Damien Nash (Riverview/East St. Louis): Fifth Round, No. 142 by Tennessee
2004
Christian Morton (Riverview Gardens): Seventh Round, No. 233 by New England
2003
Courtney Van Buren (Ladue): Third Round, No. 80 by San Diego
Melvin Williams (Mehlville): Fifth Round, No. 120 by New Orleans
Joe Odom (Bethalto): Sixth Round, No. 191 by Chicago
2002
Wendell Bryant (Ritenour): First Round, No. 12 by Arizona
Bryan Fletcher (Hazelwood East), Sixth Round, No. 210 by Chicago
2001
Jamar Fletcher (Hazelwood East), First Round, No. 26 by Miami
Dan Alexander (Wentzville), Sixth Round, No. 192 by Tennessee
Reggie Germany (Hazelwood East), Seventh Round, No. 213 by Buffalo
