More Than Brains in the Ivy League
The Ivy League has been the Mecca of scholarly knowledge in America for almost four hundred years. From Bill Gates to Bill Nye, the Ivy Leagues have seen some of America's finest and brightest grace their halls. Less noticed is the athletic tradition in the conference. The annual contest in football between Harvard and Yale is referred to simply as, "The Game." Lesser noticed still are the athletes themselves as professional sports prospects. Kevin Boothe is an exception. Since his freshman year, he has been followed by NFL scouts. Currently, he is one of the top offensive line prospects in the draft class. His 6'5"/316 size is excellent, and his athleticism gives scouts the impression he can play either of the guard or tackle positions in the NFL. During his career at Cornell, Boothe was a dominating force. He has a hard-working mentality and finishes every play. Having had time to pick Kevin's mind, below is an exclusive interview with The Big Red's pigskin standout.
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Q: What is your favorite aspect of the game of football?
A: Competing with my teammates to win.
Q: What facet of your game is most NFL-ready?
A: My mental side and my toughness.
Q: What scares you most about the NFL? Why?
A: I guess it would be not succeeding. I think that's a fear we all have
regardless of our profession. It's human nature.
Q: What excites you the most? Why?
A: The chance to win a Super Bowl; it has been a lifelong dream.
Q: When did you first realize you were going to be a draftable talent?
A: Probably after my first year starting at Cornell in 2002.
Q: What are you going to miss most about college?
A: Hanging out with teammates after games and in the summer.
Q: Growing up, what NFL player made you most want to become a professional player?
A: Jerry Rice
Q: Who was your favorite player in Tecmo Super Bowl?
A: Jerry Rice. Run all the way to the back of the endzone with Montana and let it fly.
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Kevin is a very intriguing name to watch on draft day. While some teams undervalue his abilities since he has only played against relatively weak Ivy League competition, other teams are totally impressed with his size, athleticism, and toughness. In the mix with the top offensive lineman in the draft, Booth could fall off the board anywhere from the late 2nd round to the beginning of day two. My current projection has Boothe landing with the Bucs with the 90th overall pick in the third round, but keep an eye on the Jaguars, Lions, Packers, Redskins, and Saints as well.
Kevin Boothe is a top sleeper prospect in the draft
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Q: What is your favorite aspect of the game of football?
A: Competing with my teammates to win.
Q: What facet of your game is most NFL-ready?
A: My mental side and my toughness.
Q: What scares you most about the NFL? Why?
A: I guess it would be not succeeding. I think that's a fear we all have
regardless of our profession. It's human nature.
Q: What excites you the most? Why?
A: The chance to win a Super Bowl; it has been a lifelong dream.
Q: When did you first realize you were going to be a draftable talent?
A: Probably after my first year starting at Cornell in 2002.
Q: What are you going to miss most about college?
A: Hanging out with teammates after games and in the summer.
Q: Growing up, what NFL player made you most want to become a professional player?
A: Jerry Rice
Q: Who was your favorite player in Tecmo Super Bowl?
A: Jerry Rice. Run all the way to the back of the endzone with Montana and let it fly.
---------------
Kevin is a very intriguing name to watch on draft day. While some teams undervalue his abilities since he has only played against relatively weak Ivy League competition, other teams are totally impressed with his size, athleticism, and toughness. In the mix with the top offensive lineman in the draft, Booth could fall off the board anywhere from the late 2nd round to the beginning of day two. My current projection has Boothe landing with the Bucs with the 90th overall pick in the third round, but keep an eye on the Jaguars, Lions, Packers, Redskins, and Saints as well.