Da_Sperm
New Member
By Dana McBratney / SPECIAL TO THE COMMERCIAL
MAUI, Hawaii -- Dante Wesley is like most people who come to Hawaii - he really enjoyed his trip.
But, his trip was not like most.
The Arkansas-Pine Bluff senior cornerback didn't come to Maui to sit on the beach and watch the sunset. He came to showcase his football talent for the NFL scouts at the Hula Bowl all-star game Saturday night.
Wesley, who is the first Arkansas-Pine Bluff player to play in an all-star game since current Miami Dolphin defensive lineman Earnest Grant played in the Blue-Gray All-Star game in 1999, started for the South team, which won 45-28. He had one interception, three tackles and broke up two passes.
"Dante Wesley is a great player, tremendous player," said Bob Stoops, the University of Oklahoma coach who was the head coach for the South team.
"He has great ability. He is a special player."
"It meant a lot to me to start," Wesley said. "It meant I could start at this level. I had a very good week. I was proud of myself for the way I practiced."
Wesley got a chance to compete against some of the top college players in the country. Heisman Trophy winner Eric Crouch started at quarterback for the North team. The North squad also featured Brian Westbrook who won the Walter Payton Award. The South team
picked off six North passes and held the North to just 216 yards passing.
"The game showed me that I can play on this level and I am very happy about that," Wesley said. "It let me represent Arkansas-Pine Bluff and show that we can play at the D-one level.
"I also learned that the Heisman Trophy winner is a regular person just like anybody else. He is a very nice guy."
The game went well for Wesley but so did the whole week. He was the talk among NFL scouts and spent a lot of time answering questions.
"I've talked to a whole lot of scouts this week," he said. "Scouts came to me all week asking me questions and having me fill out questionnaires. That is one stress factor that is off my mind now so I can concentrate on the Combine.
"Nothing really surprised me about the week or the game. I knew what to expect. It was a real good week for me."
With the good week behind him, Wesley is looking forward to the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Ind., Feb. 28 to March 4. He will return to Orlando where he has been working out with a personal trainer since the fall semester was over.
"Between now and the Combine, I need to stay in shape," Wesley said. "I am going back to Orlando to resume training. I will be ready.
"I hope I moved up in the draft with my performance here but I still need to show up at the Combine and do well. Working out with my personal trainer every day helped me a whole lot.
"The sky is the limit. I will play for anybody. I just want a chance."
MAUI, Hawaii -- Dante Wesley is like most people who come to Hawaii - he really enjoyed his trip.
But, his trip was not like most.
The Arkansas-Pine Bluff senior cornerback didn't come to Maui to sit on the beach and watch the sunset. He came to showcase his football talent for the NFL scouts at the Hula Bowl all-star game Saturday night.
Wesley, who is the first Arkansas-Pine Bluff player to play in an all-star game since current Miami Dolphin defensive lineman Earnest Grant played in the Blue-Gray All-Star game in 1999, started for the South team, which won 45-28. He had one interception, three tackles and broke up two passes.
"Dante Wesley is a great player, tremendous player," said Bob Stoops, the University of Oklahoma coach who was the head coach for the South team.
"He has great ability. He is a special player."
"It meant a lot to me to start," Wesley said. "It meant I could start at this level. I had a very good week. I was proud of myself for the way I practiced."
Wesley got a chance to compete against some of the top college players in the country. Heisman Trophy winner Eric Crouch started at quarterback for the North team. The North squad also featured Brian Westbrook who won the Walter Payton Award. The South team
picked off six North passes and held the North to just 216 yards passing.
"The game showed me that I can play on this level and I am very happy about that," Wesley said. "It let me represent Arkansas-Pine Bluff and show that we can play at the D-one level.
"I also learned that the Heisman Trophy winner is a regular person just like anybody else. He is a very nice guy."
The game went well for Wesley but so did the whole week. He was the talk among NFL scouts and spent a lot of time answering questions.
"I've talked to a whole lot of scouts this week," he said. "Scouts came to me all week asking me questions and having me fill out questionnaires. That is one stress factor that is off my mind now so I can concentrate on the Combine.
"Nothing really surprised me about the week or the game. I knew what to expect. It was a real good week for me."
With the good week behind him, Wesley is looking forward to the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Ind., Feb. 28 to March 4. He will return to Orlando where he has been working out with a personal trainer since the fall semester was over.
"Between now and the Combine, I need to stay in shape," Wesley said. "I am going back to Orlando to resume training. I will be ready.
"I hope I moved up in the draft with my performance here but I still need to show up at the Combine and do well. Working out with my personal trainer every day helped me a whole lot.
"The sky is the limit. I will play for anybody. I just want a chance."
