Injury concerns could drop LSU’s Dorsey
Glenn Dorsey arrived here for the NFL combine ready to make his stand as the top prospect in the draft.
After spending most of Saturday being examined from head to toe at a hospital, and then being probed Sunday during a question-and-answer session with reporters, the LSU defensive tackle must be wondering if his stock is sky high or rock bottom.
Dorsey is one of the biggest storylines since the combine began last Thursday. He’s clearly the elite defensive line prospect (Colts general manager Bill Polian said Dorsey can’t be blocked one-on-one), but injury issues are causing concerns.
Dorsey played most of the 2006 season after breaking a tibia. He suffered a knee injury during LSU’s run to the national championship last season, but surgery wasn’t required.
As far as Dorsey is concerned, he’s healthy and hopeful of being the first pick in the draft.
“There is no health concern to my knowledge,” Dorsey said. “I haven’t missed a game since I’ve been at LSU. Everybody gets nicked up; that’s the way I look at it. Who doesn’t go through a season getting bumps and bruises? I don’t think it’s a problem at all.”
Still, a little bit of concern among teams selecting high in the first round might be enough to drop Dorsey from the top spot and perhaps out of the top five. At the same time, the show put on by Arkansas running back Darren McFadden in running the 40 Sunday (a best time of 4.27) might have vaulted him to the top of the list.
Dorsey should have known what to expect when he arrived here last week. When you’re on top of the hill, every aspect about your life (health, character, etc.) will be put under a microscope. Last year LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell, who was picked first overall by the Oakland Raiders, was quizzed about a supposed lack of ability to fully grasp the mental aspect of the position.
“There are a lot of good players out there,” said Dorsey, who had 12.5 tackles for lost yardage and seven sacks last season. “It’s an honor to be considered one of the top players. When you’re one of the top players, a lot of people are looking for negatives.”
McFadden didn’t arrive here without a few negatives. He was handcuffed and then released by Little Rock police last year following a disturbance at a bar. The police report said that Darren McFadden was “agitated and provoking aggressive behavior inciting the incident.”
McFadden was also allegedly involved in an incident at a bar in 2006. He suffered a toe injury.
McFadden had to convince coaches and general managers during interviews last weekend that he won’t be a problem off the field.
“I know I put myself in a bad situation,” he said. “I shouldn’t have been in it, and I take full responsibility for it.”
Asked if the incidents will affect his draft stock, McFadden said, “That’s something I haven’t been worried about at all.”
Dorsey will take advantage of meetings with numerous team officials to make his case for being the best of the best. He takes pride in having a non-stop motor and a dedication to the system. He remained at LSU for a fourth year of eligibility to fulfill his commitment to the football program.
On the field, Dorsey (6-foot-1, 297 pounds) has the versatility to play anywhere along the line. He’s best suited as a tackle lining up opposite a guard, but he’s confident in his ability to play on the nose opposite the center. If needed, he could move out to an end.
“It doesn’t matter (where I play),” he said. “Whatever a team wants me to do, I’ll do it.”
Dorsey has an advantage in dealing with the pre-draft hype because of his friendship with JaMarcus Russell. He won’t hesitate to call Russell for some advice.
“He said to stay within myself and stay away from all the hoopla,” Dorsey said. “People are always going to have their opinions about you. Some people like you; some people don’t. He said to make sure at the end of the day that I take care of my responsibility and continue working hard.”
It might pay off on day one of the draft.
FORMER RAIDER WORKS OUT: Former Warren G. Harding Raider Antwaun Molden is a cornerback with Eastern Kentucky at the combine. He worked out with the rest of the defensive backs Sunday, but didn’t speak to reporters.
Molden (6-foot-2, 195 pounds) played at Harding through his junior year before transferring to Cleveland Glenville.
Next, Molden attended Toledo his freshman season in college before transferring to Eastern Kentucky where he had 70 tackles with two interceptions during his senior year when they went 9-3.
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