Mouton hopes he did enough for NFL to call
POSTED: Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Ryan Mouton didn't get to show NFL scouts the full range of his ability in postseason workouts.
So did he get enough done to warrant a call during this weekend's draft?
“;Hopefully so,”; Mouton said from Houston. “;I would have liked to do more, but I feel I showed enough.”;
Ryan Mouton
The cornerback is hoping he has impressed at least one NFL general manager: » Height: 5-9
» Weight: 187
» High School: Katy (Texas)
» College: Hawaii
NFL combine stats
» 40-yard dash: 4.48 » Bench press: (225) 18
» Vertical jump: 39.5
» Broad jump: 10-9
» UH pro day: Was timed at 4.42 in the 40 and covered 11 feet in his broad jump.
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A pesky hamstring prevented the former Hawaii cornerback from running a full 40-yard dash at both the NFL Combine and UH's pro day. But his performances still generated some pre-draft buzz.
Mouton hurt his hamstring while playing in the East-West Shrine Game in Houston in January. He was off to an impressive start at the NFL Combine in February, when he pulled it running the 40, and was credited with a 4.48 even though he couldn't go full speed through the line.
The scenario repeated itself at UH's pro day on April 2, when the hamstring forced him to pull up during his 40, but he still finished in 4.42 seconds. Being able to post those times on one healthy leg raised both eyebrows and questions heading toward the draft.
On one hand, the speed and explosiveness he displayed in his workouts — which included an 11-foot broad jump at pro day — could make him an attractive pick. On the other, the injury along with his height (5-foot-9) might scare off some.
A recent mock draft on sportingnews.com lists Mouton as a fourth-round pick. According to others, he could be headed to the free-agent route.
“;I really don't know what to expect,”; Mouton said.
While the workouts carry weight with scouts, UH associate coach Rich Miano, who is also the Warriors' NFL liaison, said Mouton “;put enough stuff on film,”; to make teams take notice.
Mouton shuffled around the secondary in his two years at UH, playing cornerback, nickelback and free safety with the Warriors. He also started two games at slotback last season and returned kicks.
In two years, he broke up 17 passes and had three interceptions, returning two for touchdowns. He also returned two kickoffs for touchdowns.
“;They look at a lot of things,”; Mouton said. “;A lot of them will look at what you did in the combine and pro day, but the one thing they can't take away is what you did on the field.”;
Mouton and defensive end David Veikune took part in a workout with Miami Dolphins' scouts after the combine and Mouton was scheduled to meet with represetatives from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers one more time this week prior to the draft. As for his hamstring, Mouton said he'll be ready when mini-camp rolls around.
“;The main thing is getting in there and going to work,”; he said.
Former Oregon State safety Al Afalava is another defensive back with Hawaii ties who could get a look in the late rounds this weekend. The Kahuku graduate is the eighth-ranked strong safety in the draft, according to nfldraftscout.com.