Archives for April 26, 2020

‘“It was awesome,” Fromm said in a zoom call with reporters in Buffalo. “I thought it was a prank call. I thought my phone was broken. Man, just super thankful to get that phone call. It was amazing. It was just surreal. Just really thankful for my family. They’ve been hanging with me for a lot of hours here recently.”’

‘Fromm’s accuracy numbers dipped as a junior this past season, when his receivers battled injuries and inconsistencies, but ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay still pegged him in January as the 28th-best prospect.’

‘Fromm’s measurables have long been a debated topic, with some projecting him to fall in the draft to his small stature and below average hand size. However, Fromm reportedly placed third among the 2020 quarterback class with a score of 35 on the Wonderlic test, an intelligence test used by NFL teams when evaluating prospects.’

‘Perhaps the Bills have the same philosophy as the Eagles, who stunned most experts by taking Jalen Hurts in the second round. ESPN insider Adam Schefter said during the draft that teams have told him it’s more important to have a quality backup during the novel coronavirus pandemic.’

‘Bass caught the attention of NFL teams from his performance at the Senior Bowl and NFL Combine. At the Senior Bowl, he shined in practices, booting a 55-yarder that would have been good from 60 yards-plus. In the game, he kicked field goals of 41 and 50 yards and was 4-of-4 on extra points.’

‘”In Tyler Bass, you’re going to get a guy that’s obviously a hard worker, who loves what he does and is clutch,” said Georgia Southern head coach Chad Lunsford. “He’s a guy that is ready for every moment and he’s a guy you can send out there whether it’s the last kick of the game or the first kick of the game and he treats it the same.Tyler is a very focused individual who is mentally strong and is very confident in what he does. Buffalo is getting a great Georgia Southern man in Tyler Bass.”‘

‘Hodgins becomes the latest player to join his father in the NFL. James Hodgins played eight years in the NFL as a fullback, including four years for the St. Louis Rams.’

‘He’s clearly more skilled than opponents when the ball is in the air, but the catch space will be tighter and the challenges more fierce as a pro. He needs to refine his route-running and may need to be moved and stacked in bunch sets for release freedom, but Hodgins has the ability to see the field in multiple-wideout sets as a middle-round pick.’

‘“He showed on the field this past season, as well as at the Senior Bowl, that he’s a disruptive corner and a big-time competitor.”’

‘A graduate of Cornell who played football as part of a co-op with Quaker Valley, Jackson will join another Beaver Valley native in Buffalo. Central Valley graduate Robert Foster, a wide receiver who played collegiately at Alabama, is entering his third year with the Bills.’

‘Jackson went to high school at Cornell High School, but since it did not have a football program, he competed for Quaker Valley where he was a dominating dual-threat quarterback in the WPIAL. When he was a junior, he had a season in which he had 1,111 rushing yards and 975 passing and scored 23 touchdowns, with 10 coming on the ground and 13 through the air.’

‘“I talked about that with a Bills coach and he was saying, ‘I know it’s disappointing to not get drafted, but this is one of those things where for your position it’s better for you because you get to choose where you can go’,” Gilliam said. “You don’t get put into a situation where you may not play or you go on the practice squad for a couple years. You are coming in now and we are expecting you to compete for a spot and possibly be on the field your first season. It was disappointing at first, but it’s kind of a blessing in disguise because I ended up getting a great deal and I’m going to a place where they really want me there.”’

‘“I was looking forward to possibly being a first-round draft pick, but I just needed one team to give me an opportunity,’’ Epenesa said. “That’s what the Bills have done and I’m looking to make the most of it. I’m starting from the bottom and I will try to work my way up.’’’