Oregon State offensive tackle Andy Levitre finished his senior year at
left tackle for the Beavers, but he's played every position on the offensive
line except center, even getting some time at tight end during his freshman
year. And although he was All-Pac-10 at left tackle as a senior and started every game
at either left or right tackle as a junior, some talent evaluators think the
6-foot-3, 305-pound lineman could be even more successful as a guard at the next
level.
Either way, Levitre's going to be a real asset to the team that drafts
him at the end of the month.
"The NFL is so competitive, and you only have seven offensive linemen
dress out on game day, so being a player who can cover multiple positions makes
you more valuable to the team," Levitre told Scout.com.
At the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, 12 NFL clubs wanted to meet with
the talented blocker one-on-one for a formal interview. The Tennessee Titans,
Houston Texans, Carolina Panthers, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers,
Washington Redskins, Miami Dolphins, Indianapolis Colts, San Diego Chargers, New York Jets, New York Giants, and the Oakland Raiders all set aside a 15-minute
time slot to meet with the Oregon State star.
A double-major student who graduated with degrees in Finance and Sociology,
Levitre strives for excellence in all areas of his life, paying attention to the
details along the way that others often overlook. And that trait also helps
provide him with a competitive edge among this year's NFL draft prospects.
"I'm a hard worker who never quits. I'm a technician. I go out to
practice every day with the thought of getting better," he said. "My
love for the game is what drives me."
Levitre started 39 games for the Beavers, including the last 35 contests of
his collegiate career. At his school's Pro Day, he sat down to talk with the
tight ends coach from the Eagles, the offensive line coach from the Atlanta Falcons and the offensive coordinator of the Panthers.
In addition to conducting a private workout for the offensive line coach of the Denver Broncos, Levitre had a busy schedule that included visits with the Buffalo Bills, the
New Orleans Saints, the Cleveland Browns, the San Diego Chargers and the
Pittsburgh Steelers.
The fastest running back at the Combine, Virginia's Cedric Peerman, has been
getting plenty of attention from NFL clubs. But according to a source, the Denver
Broncos and the Carolina Panthers have been two of the teams that have been
showing the most consistent interest in the well-rounded athlete.
In addition to posting the top 40-time in Indianapolis, Peerman also placed
fourth in the bench press and second in the vertical jump, displaying a balance
of quickness, strength and leaping ability that is a real asset for him as a
receiver.
Cedric Peerman at the Combine
Scott Boehm/Getty Images |
"I was thankful to the Lord that he came out there and blessed me that
day so much. I knew that I was going to be able to run a good time, but I didn't
know that I was going to be able to run the best time out of all of the running
backs," Peerman told Scout.com.
The 5-foot-10, 216-pound back noted that he learned a lot about the impact of nutrition as he prepared for the Combine
and his school's Pro Day.
"It was a very big change for me. No fried foods—and I've
continued to be really
good about that," he said. "A lot of shakes to make sure you get protein, a lot of grilled
food, low-fat food. It was really good being able to make the right choices,
because what you eat really helps you out."
One favorite treat that Peerman had to cut out of his diet while training was
buttermilk
pancakes.
"I actually had some at IHOP a few nights ago, and I redeemed myself in
that area, to say the least," he said with a laugh.
The mature and focused running back has been hearing plenty of good comments
from NFL talent evaluators over the past few months, and what is obvious is that
everyone has noticed how he can contribute on so many fronts.
"They've noticed that I'm able to play special teams, that I'm able to catch the ball
well out of
the backfield or on screen passes," he said. "And they've seen that
I'm able to pass block and be a guy that they can
keep on the field on third downs—in addition to being able to run the ball."
While the whole process has involved long days and plenty of hard work,
Peerman has maintained a refreshing perspective that's going to serve him well
in the NFL and in life.
"I'm just happy to be able to be part of this whole process, really
thankful and humbled by it," he said.
Click the player names to learn more about Andy Levitre and Cedric Peerman at their Scout.com player profile pages.
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A member of the Pro Football Writers of America, Ed Thompson's player interviews and NFL features are published across the Scout.com network and at FOXSports.com. You can follow him on Twitter or Facebook. Or contact him by email
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