2071 Las Vegas Rounders Draft Review
1-30
Avery Kelly DT South Carolina State
6'3" 318 lbs
Heading into the 2071 draft, the pundits fully expected the Las Vegas Rounders to be targeting wide receiver and secondary help. However, what seems to be a trend in recent drafts for the Rounders is that someone slides and just happens to land in Vegas. This year, DT Avery Kelly had the uncomfortable wait as big men went throughout the first with Vegas finally calling his name at the end of the first. Kelly steps into a good situation in Vegas with quality linemen everywhere except at his ideal spot as a 1-tech. Kelly should get starting reps next to some of the best in the business (DT Hardy, DE Coles) right out of the gate.
Camp Notes: The defensive front remains the perennial fan favorite at Rounders' training camp and the fans were brimming with excitement again this year with 1st round selection, DT Avery Kelly, added to the mix in the Rounders' front seven. While all eyes were on Kelly, DT Marlon Hardy once again stole the show. Kelly fed off of Hardy's performance, as did the rest of the line, but Kelly showed solid improvement throughout camp. He's still a raw player but he looks poised to contribute right out of the gate in 2071.
Training Camp:
+7/
+1
Judgment Day: 0/
-2
2-28
Nolan Scheffer G Toledo
6'4" 336 lbs
After happily snagging Kelly in the first round, Vegas was greeted with another sliding star in G Nolan Scheffer. The weakness of the offensive line in Vegas has to be the pair of aging Guards (Rottinghaus, LeFavor) with only one spot left to backfill and this prototypical guard falls right into their lap at 2.28. Third-year man Avery Thames got some spot starts last season due to some injuries and is ready to step in Week 1, with Scheffer filling Avery's spot as the swing guard getting groomed to start next season. Vegas may need safeties and receivers but made major upgrades on both sides of the trenches with their first 2 picks.
Camp Notes: The Rounders faithful were buzzing about the other trench acquisition in this year's draft; however, G Nolan Scheffer didn't quite deliver the way Avery did. The entire offensive line seemed to have a sub-par training camp after the departure of long-time workhorse Bart LeFavor. LeFavor was known for setting the tone on Vegas' front line who will now be looking to the next generation of road graders like C Gillespie and G Thames. Coaches and fans will be looking to see what Scheffer can bring to the mix in 2071, as he looks to get some decent PT as the swing Guard behind Rottinghaus and Thames.
Training Camp:
+3/
-7
Judgment Day:
-1/
-4
2-30
TJ Wilkins WR Wisconsin
6'0" 193 lbs
Vegas' biggest need was probably wide receiver, but TurfToe is known for taking the best player available at every spot. Some experts think there were quite a few better players available here at 2.30, but the Wisconsin product has sub-4.30 speed and a host of other combine results that suggest he is better than advertised. The Rounders may have gambled here, but anything is possible. Third-year quarterback Kaesviharn is starting to mature, and he needs some talented pass catchers if he is to reach his full potential.
Camp Notes: It's been a hot minute since McSwag McSwain and his larger-than-life personality graced the Vegas practice fields, but T.J. "The Jet" Wilkins slid into that role like Cinderella's size 9's into a glass slipper. Wilkins hit the ground running in Vegas, both literally and figuratively, and so did his mouth. Wilkins spent all camp talking his way under the skin of the Vegas defense and into the hearts of the Rounders' fans. The coaches seemed to tolerate the friction and let him do his thing, especially as he showed steady growth through camp and into pre-season action spurring the offense with positive energy. When asked about the volatile nature of some of the training camp sessions, TurfToe had this to say, "These are grown men playing a child's game, supervised by men who are unaware of this reality - this shit works itself out naturally on the field. Always has, always will.". Some think Wilkins was a reach at 2.30, but TurfToe and his staff seem steadfast in their opinion that The Jet was exactly who they needed at that spot.
Training Camp:
+2/
+1
Judgment Day:
+2/
+6
5-09
Roman Thai S Notre Dame
6'1" 213 lbs
Roman Thai boasts both man and zone skills that Vegas currently needs. After snagging the fastest receiver in the 2nd, the staff couldn't help but fall in love with the fastest defender in the 2071 class. Thai is fairly developed and can run with the best of them, it's just a matter of him separating himself from the rest of the Safeties brought in to compete for a roster spot.
Camp Notes: Thai had a solid showing in camp and beat out quite a few other options at Safety, but he's not out of the woods yet. Thai's size and speed combination are still intriguing to coaches, but he needs a solid showing in the pre-season to make this Vegas roster. As long as Willie Covington continues his holdout, Thai is on the right side of the bubble but he's an agent's phone call away from being on the outside looking in.
Training Camp:
+5/
-1
Judgment Day:
+1/
-1
6-13
Vincent Zigler TE Nebraska
6'6" 266 lbs
Zigler caught the Rounders' scout staff's attention with his pass-catching abilities as a big-bodied TE. Vegas has some blockers at the TE spot, but they are lacking receiving weapons for Kaesviharn. Zigler brings solid route running and YAC capabilities to the TE room, where blocking has been the key priority for several years now. There are some lofty expectations for this kid but hopefully not too much for a 6th rounder to achieve.
Camp Notes: Zigler had a decent camp but is still the 4th TE on a roster that also contains a fullback. A fullback who doesn't carry the ball but averages 33 targets a season, so this could be a longshot for the hulking Husker. The pre-season will determine whether there's room for guys like Thai and Zigler.
Training Camp:
+3/
-1
Judgment Day: 0/
-1
7-12
George Terrell WR Texas Tech
5' 9" 191 lbs
When you are a 5'9", 191-pound wideout who doesn't make it to the combine, you are starting out behind the 8-ball in this league. Terrell is a raw talent with unproven skills who made a name for himself at Texas Tech as a special teams contributor. Being selected in the 7th round is sometimes the best a guy like that can hope for, but now that hope has delivered, it's Terrell's turn to deliver and see if he can make a CFL roster.
Camp Notes: Terrell didn't seem to have a passion for the game. While he looked legit during special teams drills, his lack of desire to participate in the combine carried over to the daily grind every CFL player must embrace to pursue such a demanding profession. Terrell may land another opportunity in the league and can maybe latch on if all they need is a gunner and nothing more.
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