Over a year ago those of us who follow Nevada football closely have been saying the Wolf Pack players with pro prospects would turn a lot of heads at the NFL Combine. Not to say we told you so, but – well, we did! This past weekend in Indianapolis, the NFL got a first hand look at what we’ve been talking about for a couple of years. It prompted more than a few NFL scouting pundits to ask, “Where does Nevada get these athletes?”
Former Nevada defensive end Dontay Moch, on the heels of a brilliant Wolf Pack career that included the 2009 WAC Defensive Player of Year honor, showed the country his incredible skill set this morning at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis. Moch was the top performer among defensive linemen in the forty (4.44), broad jump (10′8″) and vertical jump (42.0″). Silver and Blue Sports caught up with Moch after he performed.
Nevada had a trio of former offensive stars on display the past two days at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, with Colin Kaepernick, Vai Taua and Virgil Green all participating in the miscellaneous practice and speed drills in front of millions of viewers. It was no surprise to the Silver and Blue faithful to see all three doing their part to not only represent Wolf Pack football, but to improve their personal stock in the 2011 NFL Draft as well.
It was a tough hoops weekend for the Wolf Pack, dropping their final two home games of the year to Idaho and Boise State with a lot on the line in the upcoming WAC Tournament in Las Vegas. It is the wrong time of the year to be out of sorts on the hardwood, but unfortunately that’s where Nevada is currently at as a team. The good news is that with two more road games ahead, visits to Louisiana Tech and New Mexico State, plus a very young squad who has shown flashes, Nevada has a chance to right the ship prior to the postseason.
Right when it counted, Nevada, holding on to the slim hopes of reeling in the second seed in the upcoming Western Athletic Conference Tournament put up a dud. The Wolf Pack (11-17, 7-7) lost their regular season home finale, 72-66, to visiting Boise State on Saturday night at the Lawlor Center. Nevada, which looked like the hunted most of the night, has now dropped two straight at home and three straight in conference, virtually eliminating them from a potential postseason two seed.
For whatever reason, Nevada, looking to put themselves in a stronghold for a 2nd place seed in the upcoming WAC Tournament despite a sub-.500 record, came out tight in their second to last home game on Thursday night. Facing an improving Idaho squad, Nevada played loose only in stretches and ended up suffering their first home loss since early January. The defeat knocked the Pack back some, however, with most other WAC teams facing more arduous road schedules, winning out could still bring the second seed.
John Bender was a four-year starter on “The Union” and one of the offense’s team leaders throughout his outstanding Nevada career. With his eligibility now exhausted, John, who stands a sturdy 6-foot-8, 325-pounds, begins the next journey of his career as he seeks to showcase his sizable talents to pro football scouts on Nevada’s upcoming “Pro-Day” at Mackay Stadium on March 22.
Reno, NV – The Nevada Wolf Pack (11-16, 7-6) lost a pivotal conference game against the visiting Idaho Vandals (16-11, 8-6), 67-59, in a game that had serious postseason implications hanging in the balance. With the win, Idaho, took control of the tiebreaker for second place in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) after sweeping the season series from the Wolf Pack.
The University of Nevada football program has produced NFL talent before, Brock Marion, Nate Burleson, Charles Mann, among others, but never before have Pack fans watched the NFL Combine, pro football’s week long job interview for draft prospects, so closely.
This President’s Day Weekend saw some thrilling displays of exhibition hoops. East Coast rappers battled West Coast rappers in the NBA’s annual tribute to French-inspired defense. Blake Griffin jumped over both a Kia Optima and the outstretched arms of Prodigal Wolf Javale McGee to win the dunk contest. Even Justin Bieber got in on the act, winning MVP honors over Scottie Pippen in the celebrity game. Or was that Kellen Moore?
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