To answer the question from the headline, I still don’t know for sure. I worked the phones for a while on Sunday and basically got two answers from everyone I talked to.
There was a subtle criticism of Lazard’s agent that I heard. I don’t know specifics and also believe that if Lazard was a can’t miss NFL guy, he would have been drafted regardless mistakes that were made along the way. However, once you get to the 4th round or beyond, agents do become much more important.
Regardless, most of the reactions I got were like my own, just genuine shock.
After examining the Jacksonville Jaguars (where Lazard signed) roster last night, I do believe that Allen will be fine. Prediction: He will be on the Jags final roster prior to the season.
Jacksonville did draft a receiver, D.J. Chark (of LSU) in the second round. That’s notable but if you at Jacksonville’s current group of receivers, Lazard is the tallest on the roster by two inches. He’s unique to that roster, which should help.
It’s also interesting to me that according to the Des Moines Register’s Tommy Birch, Jacksonville told Lazard that if he signed with them, they would not add another non-drafted free agent at the position.
That’s big.
What about Lanning and the others?
From the sound of things, these will be more of your traditional non-drafted free agent situations compared to what Lazard is entering. Allen seems to be a bit of a preferred walk-on, if you will.
The good news for Lanning is that because of the versatility he brings, the thought is that at the very least he will end up on Dallas’ practice squad. The Cowboys, I’m told, love the thought of putting him on special teams though, should he make the team. That will be Joel’s big opening.
As for Marchie Murdock and Jake Campos, you’re likely looking at guys vying for a spot on the practice squad. It’s a shame too because Campos looked like a future NFL guy three years ago. The injuries really caught up to him.
It’s also notable that Mackenro Alexander (Redskins) and Colin Downing (Chiefs) will end up in rookie camps.
Where’s Cotton-Moya going to land?
Probably nowhere, for now at least. Kamari is hoping to get a tryout somewhere.
This is a sad story. Do you guys remember his first game as a Cyclone?
For multiple reasons, I’ll never forget that 34-14 loss to North Dakota State. The Clones jumped off to an early two-score lead in the second quarter and we all thought that perhaps Paul Rhoads had turned things around after a brutal 2013 season.
Nope.
A guy named Carson Wentz led the Bison to scored 34 (!!!) unanswered in route to a 34-14 defeat.
The one thing I always remember most about that game: Freshman free safety Kamari Cotton-Moya egregiously being ejected for targeting in the second quarter. Cotton-Moya might have been the best defensive player on the field for Iowa State that game. The defense was completely different with him not out there.
I swear to this day Iowa State would have won that game with a healthy Kamari at free safety for four quarters. I’m probably wrong though considering that defensive line was as soft as a piece of wet paper towel and that team did go 2-10 on the season (winless in the Big 12).
That seems like it was 10 years ago.
That game also marked Allen Lazard’s debut as a Cyclone. He caught one pass for 48 yards after Quenton Bundrage left the game early in the first quarter to a torn ACL.
Ah, memories.
Another, “Man, that sucks,” moment from the weekend
From a purely selfish perspective, it’s probably good for Iowa State basketball in 2018-19 that Lindell Wigginton didn’t receive an invite to this summer’s NBA Combine.
While I don’t think that it would have changed anything (Lindell is probably coming back for his sophomore season), we all need to understand that he is at Iowa State to play basketball and eventually become a professional. It would have been great for Lindell to experience the combine. Perhaps he still will. The Ames Tribune’s Travis Hines reports that Wigginton has been selected as an alternate.
Lindell Wigginton is not among those initially invited to the NBA draft combine, but the league has asked him to fill out paperwork should space open up.
— Travis Hines (@TravisHines21) April 29, 2018
