A few weeks back, we got a chance to catch-up with former California (PA) quarterback Josh Portis as he was preparing for the NFL Combine and overall NFL Draft process. Back before the Combine, many (not us) viewed him as a small school athlete who had some potential as a professional player, but a fringe NFL guy overall.
Now, after a great workout at the Combine, Pro Day, and one workout with an NFL team, we caught up with Josh to see how the Combine, Pro Days, and workout went and much more.
Check out the full interview here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9W0dZxm-0vA
Check out his previous interview here: http://optimumscouting.com/draft/interviews/interview-josh-portis.html
Josh came into the NFL Combine being one of the few non-FBS quarterback prospects invited to Indianapolis to workout in front of NFL scouts. However, Josh isn’t untested the in the limelight and didn’t feel overshadowed with the more notable, big time NFL Draft prospects. Josh had transferred down from Florida, then Maryland, and then California PA thanks to some NCAA issues as well as playing time concerns. So while he’s played against Division II talent the past two years, he’s no stranger to the elite athletes in the country that he matched up against in Indy.
“I got a chance to meet up with old guys I used to play against. I got to enjoy myself with many great players. The whole experience was kind of like the NFL life.”
And even though Portis was among the best in most Combine drills for his position, he wasn’t complacent in what he felt his abilities are.
“I thought I did solid, but there’s always room for improvement. I’m never satisfied with what I do.”
After the Combine process was over and teams got a chance to pick and pry into his workouts, throwing ability, and into his history as a player both on and off the field, Portis was able to come away from the Combine with solid interest. At least a handful of teams scheduled interviews with Josh. The next step was his Pro Day workouts.
He got the priviledge to workout at Pittsburgh’s pro day with the likes of talents like Jonathan Baldwin, and even though he said it was a bit of a challenge because he never threw to them before, he thought he did well.
“I thought I had a good workout. I think I went 30 for 33 or 34. There were a lot of teams there.”
Then, just earlier this week, the Miami Dolphins had scheduled a workout with Josh.
“I felt strong, solid overall. They mainly focused on getting more information. It was a lot of throwing, then running routes, then throwing, then running routes. It’s a long process, but I’m looking forward to hopefully having more soon.”
That running routes part of the workout is no surprise to me and to most teams across the NFL. At least two teams I’ve heard have Portis as a potential receiver prospect as well because he’s so athletically gifted.
“Wide receiver is a great position. Quarterbacks generally have good hands, so it’s not a hard position to learn. I have no problem doing that, it’s all about helping the team. But, I think of myself as a quarterback first and foremost.”
Josh will continue to train for the draft process and for more potential workouts but “continuing to work, on the field and in the film room.”
He’s a great athlete who’s stock is only in the lower tier of the draft because of the level he played at and some off the field issues he’s had in the past. Still, come draft day, with so many teams in need of starters and backups, don’t be shocked if a team snatches up Portis in the 6th or 7th round and groom him to be their potential quarterback project and the coveted “quarterback of the future”.
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