[ SENIOR BOWL ]
COURTESY VANTZ SINGLETARY
UH line coach Vantz Singletary attended Senior Bowl practices this week with Warrior alums Isaac Sopoaga and Travis LaBoy.
LaBoy, Sopoaga
making some noiseScouts are getting a good look
at them at the Senior Bowl
The opinions of Vantz Singletary and Danny Zuckerman are obviously biased when it comes to Travis LaBoy and Isaac Sopoaga; Singletary's reputation as a coach and Zuckerman's income as an agent are at stake.
The reports from scouts at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., this week are a mixed bag on the Hawaii defensive end and defensive tackle -- some positive, some critical. That is to be expected; while they were dominant players in college, they are now among the best seniors in the nation.
Senior Bowl
What: College senior all-star gameWhen: Today, noon
TV: Live, ESPN
LaBoy and Sopoaga are on the North team coached by the Cincinnati Bengals staff in today's game that kicks off at noon on ESPN2.
"Now the scouts are able to compare apples and apples," Zuckerman said. "I think Isaac (6-foot-3, 315 pounds) has helped himself. He's a sharp guy, a teddy bear off the field, a tough guy on it. The scouts like that.
"Travis is doing good, too. People expected to see a speed rusher, and that's what they're seeing. Is he a bullrusher? No. But when no one can touch you, you don't have to have that power."
There's been talk that at 6-foot-4 and 253 pounds LaBoy might be more suited for linebacker in the NFL.
"Not too many scouts feel that way. He's actually a lot heavier than a lot of rush ends in the league," Zuckerman said. "He has shown he's versatile. He can put his hand down and rush from the edge, or he can stand up if he has to and go into coverage.
"But it really does depend on the scheme and the team."
Hawaii defensive line coach Singletary was in Mobile this week to watch his former players practice.
"They're doing well," he said. "They're all fired up."
Singletary said officials from a number of teams, including the Texans and Bengals, asked him about the two Warriors.
"They helped their stock, no question," Singletary said.
He said coaches and scouts were impressed with the UH players' technique and energy level.
"They went up against guys from Oklahoma and (national co-champion) LSU and dominated. ... They beat them up physically."
The Star-Bulletin's Sjarif Goldstein contributed to this report.
