This third and final look at some lesser-known Packers were all signed as Undrafted Free Agents (UDFAs) after the 2010 NFL draft. All three spent parts of the season on the Packers practice squad and were signed to futures contracts after the Super Bowl. I guess you could call them the “veterans” of the Packers’ lesser-knowns. Without further ado…
Chris Campbell, Eastern Illinois, 6’5”, 328lbs. Pro day Stats: 5.28 40yd time, 1.77 10yd time, 4,14 20yd shuttle, 8.08 3-cone, 25” vertical, 14 reps@225lbs, and a 8’0” broad jump. Ranked 18 out of 96 Wide receivers by NFLDraftScout.com.
Scouting Report: Campbell has the talent to become a good starting left tackle, but he has a lot of work to do first. He is a tall, well-built prospect with the long arms, quickness and athleticism to slide out and block edge pass rushers. He also has the agility to move outside and block effectively in space. Despite these positives, Campbell won’t be a high pick because his technique is very raw and he gets beaten too often. He won’t be able to contribute any time soon, which is why he’ll most likely be a seventh-round pick or a free agent.
Signed by Green Bay as a non-drafted free agent on April 30, 2010… Came to Eastern Illinois as a walk-on and finished his career as the starting LT… Played in 30 games with 12 starts during his senior year. Earned second-team All-Ohio Valley Conference honors as a senior… Played in the Texas vs. The Nation all-star game following his senior season… As a junior in 2008, played in all 12 games on special teams while also serving as a backup LT… nickname is ‘Big Baby’… Born in Chicago.
High school and college coaches have always talked about Campbell’s “potential”, but not until senior year in college did the player nicknamed “Big Baby” start to realize his potential. Even then, his college coach was unsure if he could play at the next level. In stepped agent Joe Linta.
Linta’s reputation in 20 years as an agent has been made by identifying unknowns and turning them into knowns. He’s located the likes of Pro Bowl center Matt Birk from Harvard, Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco from Delaware, Steelers starting offensive tackle Willie Colon from Hofstra and Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher from Maine.
Linta was convinced Campbell had the needed talent and worked hard to get him into the Texas vs. the Nation All-Star game. Campbell did well there, opened some eyes and quickly rose up NFL draft boards. (Read the full story from Scott Powers, ESPN Chicago.)
Campbell is a definite project, a kid with all the physical tools that has to prove he really wants to work hard to earn an NFL career. An underachiever until senior year in college, you have to wonder about a huge guy nicknamed “Big Baby” that could only bench press 225lbs 14 times. Heck, there were 25 wide receiver prospects at the combine that performed at least that many reps.
Despite the doubts, many NFL teams were enamored with his potential and he was a hot commodity after the draft ended. The Packers outbid six other teams for Campbell, with the Jets being the primary competition.
Chastin West, Fresno State, (6’1”, 216lbs) WR Combine Stats: 4.59 40yd time, 2.64 20yd., 1.61 10yd time, 4.42 20yd shuttle, 7.12 3-cone, 33.5” vertical, 15 reps@225lbs, and a 9’1” broad jump. Ranked 64 out of 276 Wide receivers by NFLDraftScout.com.
Scouting report: Athletically gifted prospect with an incomplete game. Extends his hands to make the reception away from his frame, and gets up and then out muscles opponents to come away with the ball. Shows marginal quickness to his game. Does not play with great balance. He lacks a burst of speed and cannot run to the deep throw. West offers the size/speed numbers to play at the next level yet has shown only flashes of ability in college.
Signed by Green Bay as a non-drafted free agent on April 30, 2010. Was a three-year letterman who made contributions as a WR and as a return man… Played in 36 games with 26 starts during his career, missing 2007 due to injury, and posted over 2,000 all-purpose yards for the Bulldogs. Caught 79 passes for 1,008 yards (12.8 avg.) and six TDs during his three years of action, along with a 21.3-yard avg. on 45 kick returns and a very respectable 11.3 avg. on 21 punt returns.
There were other UDFA wide receiver in the Packers camp that I liked better than West, but by the time the preseason was over, he had won me over with his consistency. West was not the fastest or most dynamic, but ran good routes and caught everything thrown to him. He’ll be competing for Brett Swain’s job, so special teams contributions will be must-do for West.
Anthony Levine, Tennessee State, (5-11 3/4, 199lbs) Safety, CB/KR, Pro day Stats: 4.48 40 time, 2.53 20yd., 1.53 10yd time, 4.07 20yd shuttle, 6.75 3-cone, 35” vertical, 20 reps@225lbs, and a 9’1” broad jump. Ranked 14 out of 75 Safeties by NFLDraftScout.com
Scouting report: Strengths: Thickly built and will attack the ball carrier. Plays bigger than he lists and covers ground. Uses the shoulder to jar the ball loose. Has a nose for the football and the knack for the big play. Has hands for the pick. Clever and careful in coverage. Football smart. Weaknesses: Not an elite athlete or cover man. Not a real quick-twitch pass defender. Runs a little hot and cold. Sometimes goes for the big hit when the guaranteed tackle is needed instead. A tad small for a box safety, but his pro day shows he could be more…
Levine ran track in high school and also his junior year at TSU. He wowed scouts with some of his Pro day results, which compared favorably with some of the top safeties at the NFL combine. Levine beat the longest of odds, having been invited to the Packers’ rookie camp. Along with NT Aleric Mullins, Levine beat out 28 other invitees and was signed to a contract by the Packers. In an interview with Brian Carriveau, Levine’s college coach called it “a joke” that Levine wasn’t drafted and had to tryout. Read the full interview here.
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Jersey Al Bracco is the founder and editor of AllGreenBayPackers.com, and the co-founder of Packers Talk Radio Network. He can be heard as one of the Co-Hosts on Cheesehead Radio and is the Green Bay Packers Draft Analyst for Drafttek.com.
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You have Chris Campbell listed as:
“Ranked 18 out of 96 Wide receivers by NFLDraftScout.com.”
Thanks Al, I love these bio’s on the guys that are not in the spotlight. If one or more of them move up the ladder it will further prove TT’s personnel development is a deep and on going process. I’m beginning to see why FA is only a small part of his strategy.
Too much money wasted on Fa’s is a detrement to a long term strategy. (See the Redskins for proof) I’m sorry I ever had doubts. Especially since I’ve seen the strategy being focused on the Oline finally. Sorry just can’t help myself. The Oline is the key to success in the NFL in my warpped mind.
A couple interesting things of note…
These particular 3 guys that you’ve listed spent almost the whole year on the practice squad last year which is something very noteworthy.
I believe they all have a decent chance.
-Last training camp we saw “big baby” Campbell manning up the Right Tackle position and for the Pack to keep him around and stregthen him up is interesting. Of all the prospects listed I do believe he has the best chance here to do the same all year AGain this year….. I think 2012 is his final 53 year unless an injury strikes. Could see him contribute to 53 man in 12′
In regards to Chastin West, it’ll be interesting to watch if he takes that JUMP but my money is on Swainn who is outstanding on ST’s AND for the shear fact that undrafted/FA WR’s are a dime a dozen.. Thinking 2011 P.S. for this fella
And Levine I just see his situation a numbers game b/c he spent the majority of this past year on 8-man p.s. as well. He’s really got to pop b/c he’s got Peprah the top backup safety, then Bush, and maybe Anthony Smith if in fact he returns. Maybe p.s. again?
I know this team annualy has 1 to 3 undrafted make the squad but I dont see any this year making it unless you consider a guy such as 2010 UDFA Josh Gordy this years crop. Think he could be this years surprise guy!
I do think that Ted targeted his “cream of the crop” FA’s in those last 2 rounds this year…
Go Pack Go!!!
I hope the NFL will make allowances on roster size to keep these prospects another year. The lack of OTA’s will likely mean the practice squad will be crowded with players that weren’t given a chance to prove their value this off season. Wonder how UDFA’s will fare this year? I’m sure TT has his eye on at least a few more.
Great series. That much info on such fringe players? I don’t know if they can make it to the 53 man, but now I have at least some idea to how those guys play, because I’ve never seen them actually play.
Expanding roster sizes will only help a team like the Packers that have a staff that believe in depth and building from within. As was shown last year, this team had about 35 starter quality players on its roster, if the league wants an 18 game schedule it will also benefit a young deep team like the packers.