NFL Draft keeps
UH’s Singletary busy
Vantz Singletary's phone keeps ringing as this weekend's NFL Draft approaches.
The Hawaii defensive line coach got calls from defensive coordinators and head coaches representing Carolina, Pittsburgh, Kansas City, Baltimore, Houston, Denver, Chicago and St. Louis yesterday, he said.
Former UH tackle Isaac Sopoaga and end Travis LaBoy, two players likely to be picked in the first three rounds of the seven-round draft, are the subjects of interest.
Sopoaga and LaBoy have proven themselves to be among the strongest and most athletic players available at their positions. But that's not enough for the draft decision-makers.
"The biggest things they want to know is what are they like in the meeting room," Singletary said. "Are they on time? What are they like in drills? Can they handle constructive criticism? If we push them, will they crack? Work ethic, injuries, mental toughness. Can they retain information, decipher a playbook?"
These are what they call "immeasurables." And the NFL evaluators count on people like Singletary to help them try to measure the immeasurables -- honestly.
"I won't say exactly what I told them, but I did give positive and critical feedback," Singletary said. "I can't just say they're perfect, because my reputation's at stake. It's all about integrity."
In July, Singletary joins the Cincinnati Bengals as a guest coach for three weeks. It is his seventh such stint via the NFL's minority internship program. Singletary is especially excited about this one, since Bengals' head coach Marvin Lewis is an alumnus of the same program.
"So are (defensive coordinator) Leslie Frazier and (linebackers coach) Ricky Hunley," Singletary said. "It's a great opportunity for me to learn from some great defensive coaches."
