Patriots fans have been in draft mode since November, but for everyone else, Showcase Week is the true start of draft season.
The Reese’s Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama and the East-West Shrine Game in Frisco, Texas are littered with New England prospects. This week – maybe more than any other in at least a handful of years – is a real opportunity for the region to continue gaining traction as a legitimate college area with real talent.
For decades, New England has been stuck with a reputation for mostly producing linemen and linebackers with the occasional QB thrown in every 15 years or so. While Zay Flowers broke the mold last year as a BC receiver going in the first round, the idea that legitimate skill guys can routinely come from the area and become stars in the NFL still doesn’t really exist.
By all accounts, Christian Mahogany has been tearing it up in East-West practices and continuing to build upon BC’s ‘O-Line U’ legacy. On Monday, transfer Kyle Hegel got himself a late East-West invite as well. Holy Cross’ right guard CJ Hanson is in Texas and recently got an NFL combine invite as the Crusaders’ program continues to establish itself as a national brand once again.
While those guys – particularly Mahogany who should get taken early on Day 2 if not late on that first Thursday night – all wave the flag proudly for the region as they enter this process, it’s Holy Cross wide receiver Jalen Coker and UNH running back Dylan Laube that can have the biggest impact on recruiting and the future image around here when it comes to producing NFL talent.
In a day and age where camps and clinics promote a wide open game to kids hoping to make the next viral TikTok video, Coker and Laube can put on a show for scouts this week and then at the NFL Combine in March. Suddenly, those two can make smaller schools in the Northeast fun places to showcase your speed and athleticism instead of second, third or fourth options.
Coker already boosted his draft stock a ton at the Hula Bowl a couple weeks ago with his viral one-handed catch in practice and then his diving TD catch late in the game. Coker is joining Hanson at the East-West game this week and also got an NFL Combine invite last week.
The Crusaders’ all-time leading receiver is a big red zone target who measured in at 6’1, 218lbs. during testing in Frisco. Coker can win contested balls, break away from coverage with good route running and is a plucker, not a body catcher. Having Matt Sluka throwing to him certainly didn’t hurt, but he could generate a ton of buzz for himself the next few weeks.
Meanwhile, Laube has already generated a bunch of buzz for himself among NFL scouting circles over the last two years and is headed to the Reese’s Senior Bowl and the NFL Combine. An explosive running back and return man, Laube can also take a screen 70 yards to the house in the blink of an eye or line up as a receiver and beat press coverage.
This past season, Laube finished fifth among all FCS and FBS receivers, tight ends and running backs in YAC. He also had both a punt return and kick off return TD of 100 yards. In 2022 he had 1,205 rushing yards and 464 receiving yards. In 2023, he grabbed 68 balls for 699 yards and seven receiving TD’s. The kid literally does it all and runs much, much bigger than his 5’9, 210lb. frame that was measured this week.
Mahogany, Hanson and Hergel will all be great stories wherever they end up, but as the game continues to evolve and become more speed-centric and pass happy, it’s explosive guys like Laube and Coker that could become household names and further enhance the image of New England college football the most.