SJ Sports: Future NFL Stars

This is the weekend when many young football players will hit the lottery, known as the NFL draft. Those selected in the first round will earn signing bonuses that will average more than $1 million.

Even second, third and some fourth round picks will receive contracts for hundreds of thousands of dollars. It’s nice work if you can get it. This weekend two players with South Jersey roots expect to be selected in the seven-round draft. They are Penn State defensive end Michael Haynes, who spent his senior year at Northern Burlington and West Virginia running back Avon Cobourne, a former standout at Holy Cross.

Haynes is expected to be selected in the late first round or early second. He is a 6-2, 265-pound defensive end, known more for his speed than size. In fact, playing as a defensive lineman in the NFL, Haynes will be considered undersized. However, former Eagles defensive end Hugh Douglas is around Haynes’ size and Douglas has been a three-time all-pro and recently signed a contract for more than $5 million per season with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

This past season Haynes led the Big 10 in three categories, sacks with 14.5, tackles for loss (22) and fumbles forced (7).

He moved frequently as a youngster because his father is in the military, but spent a productive senior season at Northern Burlington.

"He was a great player and great person," said former Northern Burlington football coach Charlie Pirrello, who coached Haynes.

If Haynes is selected in the first round, he will continue to continue a trend of having South Jersey players making a solid impact in the draft.

Just last year, two South Jersey athletes, Williams Green of Holy Spirit and Bryant McKinnie of Woodbury, were first-round draft choices. McKinnie was selected seventh by the Minnesota Vikings and Green was taken 16th by the Cleveland Browns. A total of 13 players from South Jersey have been selected first in the draft.

Cobourne rushed for 1,710 yards and 17 touchdowns and averaged 5.1 yards per carry as a senior. He is considered a mid-to-late NFL draft choice. There were many who backed away from Cobourne after he suffered a knee injury at Holy Cross, but West Virginia showed faith in him and was rewarded with four 1,000-yard rushing seasons. Cobourne rushed for 1,298 yards and nine touchdowns as a junior, 1,018 yards and seven touchdowns as a sophomore and 1,139 yards and 10 touchdowns as a freshman when he led the Big East is rushing.

"He has great ability, desire and dedication," said former Holy Cross coach Tom Maderia. Like Haynes, size could work against him in the eyes of some NFL teams. Cobourne is listed at 5-foot-7 ½ and 205 pounds.

"You can’t measure the size of his heart," Maderia said.

No matter which round Haynes and Cobourne are selected, they will still have to prove themselves at the next level. One thing is for sure – both players put themselves in a good position by enjoying outstanding careers at major college programs. Football enabled them to get an education and now this weekend all their hard work will pay off in the first step of what they hope will be fruitful NFL careers.

For more Local Sports features, visit our Sports page.

Article continues below

---

advertisement

---

Author: Marc Narducci