Blue White Illustrated

Every professional-caliber prospect to come out of college football faces the same inevitable set of questions in the weeks leading up to the NFL Draft: Where will I go? When will I go? What if I don't go? Trace McSorley is facing those ques- tions, too. But he's facing an addi- tional question, as some people seem intent on gauging his interest in switching posi- tions. During the NFL Scouting Combine in February, the All-Big Ten quar- terback was asked if he would work out as a defensive back – a request that he declined. It was not known which team (or teams) made the request, but it was not espe- cially unusual. At this year's combine, 41 players were asked to work out at a second position. At the combine, New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton told Peter King of ProFootballTalk.com that McSorley reminded him of Julian Edelman, a former starting quarterback at Kent State who has since found success as a receiver with the New England Patri- ots. Edelman finished with 7,480 yards of total offense in his three sea- sons with the Golden Flashes, but after selecting him late in the seventh round of the 2009 draft, the Patriots turned him into a wideout. He's gone on to play 10 seasons with New Eng- land and was MVP of its Super Bowl victory over the Los Angeles Rams this past February. Speaking to reporters at Penn State's Pro Day, McSorley said he hadn't had any conversations with coaches or scouts about playing a position other than quarterback in the NFL. He said that the request to perform defensive back drills at the combine was made through an intermediary. All of his discussions with scouts and coaches have been about the position he played in college. "They believe I can play quarterback," he said. "That's been the extent of those conversa- tions." McSorley said he wasn't caught off- guard by the request. He had excelled as a two-way player at Briar Woods High in Virginia and was recruited by some colleges as a defensive prospect. One of the reasons he chose Penn State was that James Franklin and assistant Ricky Rahne had as- sured him they would give him a chance to play quarterback for the Nittany Lions. "I'm an athletic guy. I can do a lot of different things," McSorley said. "I can fill a lot of different roles for teams. Athletically, I probably could go out and probably do that kind of stuff. But for me, I've been focused so much on quarterback all through my training. I haven't done a backpedal in like five and a half years. So that was the biggest thing. I've just been focused on quarterback. That's where my mindset was [at the combine], and I didn't want to go out and throw anything off there. It wasn't completely out of left field. Knowing who I am and my past, having been a defensive back, I knew it might get brought up again. So I just took it in stride and let them know at the combine and Pro Day that I was going to focus on quarterback." While McSorley's sole focus has been on playing quarterback in the NFL, he does view his versatility as an attribute that could help him get a foot in the door. "You only have a 53-man roster, so if there's a guy who can do a couple of different things, that can be a benefit," he said. "But in my heart and my mind, I'm a quarterback. That's what I did in high school, that's what I did in college. That's why I've put in the hard work behind the scenes that nobody's been around to see me do." And the request to work out as a de- fensive back? "I didn't necessarily take it as a sign of disrespect," McSorley said. "But it did put a little bit of a chip on my shoulder, for sure." –MATT HERB Allen of Kentucky. But Miller, who shared the Lions' Defensive Player of the Year award with Oruwariye this past season, said he's confident he will have an opportunity to excel at the NFL level. "I feel like I stack up as one of the best. I showed that at the combine," he said. "I've just got to focus on me, I can't focus on other guys. There are a lot of great players at defensive end and the edge [rusher spot]. I'm a great player, too, and I'm going to continue to work hard." Farmer ran a 4.48 40-yard time at Pro Day and is hoping to be drafted, but he's not considered a sure bet like Sanders, McGovern and Oruwariye. The Southern California native said he won't be watching the draft and may be at the beach instead – with his phone nearby just in case. "It's kind of crazy that it's here," Farmer said. "You dream about it as a kid – hearing your name called, getting the call. Hopefully, I'll get that phone call." ■ F O O T B A L L McSorley focused on showcasing QB potential TRACE McSORLEY

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