Friday, February 15, 2002
Rolovich trying Nick Rolovich made the most of a late invitation to the Hula Bowl, taking MVP honors at the college all-star game on Maui two weeks ago and impressing no less a critic than Washington Redskins coach Steve Spurrier.
for ticket to Indy
UH's record-setting quarterback
wants to showcase his skills
at the NFL combineBy Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.comThe record-setting Hawaii quarterback would like to improve his pro stock some more at the NFL combine, but time is running out.
"I haven't found out yet, so I'm guessing no," Rolovich said when asked yesterday if he'd been invited to Indianapolis. The combine is Feb. 28 through March 4.
"Coach (June) Jones and (agent) Leigh (Steinberg) are doing their best to get me in, but I think a lot of guys are trying to get their guys in," Rolovich added.
He signed on with Steinberg, who is also Jones' agent, last month.
"We're trying to work it out so Nick can be at the combine," said Steinberg, whose company represents 11 players in last week's Pro Bowl. "The more that NFL people see him, the more we think they'll agree he can be an impact player. The draft is not a consensus vote as much as it is an individual team falling in love with a player. The more people he can work out for, the better his draft status will be."
If the combine is not a possibility, Steinberg said he will arrange for NFL scouts to see Rolovich's skills in person either here or in California before the draft.
Rolovich has been working out with some of his former Warrior teammates in informal 7-on-7 drills at Cooke Field. He's also hit the weight room.
Rolovich, who began last season on UH's bench and ended it with 20 touchdown passes in his last three games, said he has gotten some positive feedback from pro scouts.
"Some say I could go in the later rounds. I'd like to go to the combine because I don't think it would hurt my chances unless I did really bad there," he said. "My goal in the Hula Bowl was to show I could compete with the top 10 or 12 quarterbacks. To show I can play with the top five or six, I've got to get to the combine."
If Rolovich does get invited to Indianapolis, he will join former teammate Ashley Lelie there.
Lelie left the Warriors a year early for the draft. He is projected as a first-round pick by several prognosticators, including ESPN's Mel Kiper, who has him as the 13th-best player in the draft. If Lelie goes in the first round, he would be the first former UH player to be picked that high.
Also, Lelie is doing a weekly diary about his transition from college to the NFL on ESPN.com.
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