Monthly Archives: May 2006

Plus, it’s all you can eat!

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This is the time of year prospective student-athletes are paying their deposit, which is as much of a commitment as you get in Division III. Even so, they can still decide to leave their money and go elsewhere.

It’s also the time you read stories in the local media about kids picking schools and why they did so. The ones I like mention location, the campus, a particular course of study, anything that reminds us that the kids are going pro in something other than sports.

But this caught my eye today. It isn’t the first time, but it’s a good one. This is about Port Charlotte (Fla.) defensive end James Tolbert, about why he chose Central.

“It’s a school built on tradition and family,” Tolbert added. “If ever you need any advice, you have a list of alumni to help you out.”

That was one reason why Tolbert picked Central College over Beloit College of Wisconsin, Luther College of Iowa and Northern Ohio (sic) University.

Another? “The food is good,” mother Linda Tolbert joked.

We’ll see how you feel in four years, sir.

Vote D-III for All-NFL Europe

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The NFL Europe league site is taking online votes for All-League. Let’s show our support for Division III by voting for Coe running back Fred Jackson and Bridgewater linebacker Jermaine Taylor.

Jackson is listed as “Frederick Jackson” on the first page of the ballot. Make sure you hit Continue to get to the defensive side of the ballot

Beyond those guys, I don’t care who you vote for. I’m voting for the guys listed as (FA) — the guys who came over to the league as NFL free agents. Guess I love the underdogs.

Vote! Vote at home, at work, at the cybercafe, wherever!

D-III’s next NFL generation

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Division III has lost several NFL alumni in recent years. R.J. Bowers’ brief career (two NFL touchdowns) has come and gone. Michael Coleman is in and out of training camps and practice squads. Ethan Brooks has gone from starting with the Ravens to the Cowboys bench to seemingly unemployed, while R-Kal Truluck and Tony Beckham are unrestricted free agents.

So who will replace these players, especially if nobody has been drafted in three years?

They don’t have to come from the draft, or even this year’s free agent class. There are players still in the pipeline who have yet to be on a regular season NFL roster.

Fred Jackson, Coe: Jackson got a tryout and signed a free agent contract with the Buffalo Bills earlier this year. Now 25, Jackson spent two seasons in the United Indoor Football League and was named its MVP this past season after rushing for 1,770 yards and scoring 53 touchdowns. Jackson follows Carey Bender, a fellow former Coe All-American running back who was also signed by the Bills and played in NFL Europe. Jackson plays for the Rhein Fire, and you can follow his stats on the NFL Europe site, though they are not yet updated after Saturday afternoon’s game.

Jermaine Taylor, Bridgewater (Va.): Taylor is with his second NFL team, having been in the Packers’ training camp his first year out of college. He’s now a Tampa Bay Buccaneer. Taylor leads the team in tackles as of the last time NFL Europe stats were updated. He could be the next London Fletcher, only bigger. Or he could be the next Brenden Givan, the D3football.com 2000 All-American from Stillman who racked up great tackles numbers in NFL Europe two years ago.

Bryant Shaw, Mississippi College: Never heard of him? He could be the next R-Kal Truluck, working his way up from Arena ball to the NFL. The Detroit Lions signed the Grand Rapids Rampage lineman a week and a half ago during his fifth season in the league. Shaw stands 6-3, 287 now at the age of 27. He was the American Southwest Conference defensive player of the year in 1999, his senior season and the first year of D3football.com.

Eventually we’ll start learning who is going where from the current rookie class. But even if they don’t stick in the league right away, don’t forget about them. They may pop up years later.