Skip to content
Eagles
Link copied to clipboard

Former Oregon QB Bennett touts leadership skills

After losing starting job to Marcus Mariota, Bryan Bennett had success after transferring to Southern Louisiana.

Bryan Bennett of Southeastern Louisiana (13). (Glenn Andrews/USA Today)
Bryan Bennett of Southeastern Louisiana (13). (Glenn Andrews/USA Today)Read more

INDIANAPOLIS - Southeastern Louisiana quarterback Bryan Bennett doesn't think about what might have been, he said yesterday at the NFL Scouting Combine, doesn't think how much higher his draft profile might be today had he won the 2012 Oregon starting quarterback competition with Marcus Mariota.

"When the question comes up, you could think about it and wonder, but I don't want to spend too much time thinking about what could have happened, and really focus more on what I can do with my opportunity now," said Bennett, who transferred to Southeastern Louisiana and played 2 years there after backing up Mariota in Chip Kelly's final Oregon season. "It's not something that's really crossed my mind much."

Bennett, 6-3, 215, is hard to peg in a year when the QB draft class doesn't have much depth. He began the evaluation process as a projected late-round selection, but he showed a good arm after being invited late to Senior Bowl week, and if Bennett shows a good football mind when asked to work at a white board during interviews here, who knows? Beyond Mariota, Florida State's Jameis Winston and then, a round or two later, UCLA's Brett Hundley, no quarterbacks seem assured of being drafted in the first four rounds.

Bennett certainly ought to be able to show a grasp of the Eagles' offense. He said yesterday he spoke briefly with Kelly at the Senior Bowl, but hasn't had any contact yet here.

"I think coach Kelly did a great job of preparing us, just kind of his analogies on life and football and the similarities and how much it can help you," Bennett said. "I think he did a great job with that. What I think he's looking for is probably what any coach is looking for - someone who is going to show up and be on time, work hard, do what they're told and compete."

Bennett said narrowly losing the chance to start to then-redshirt-freshman Mariota, and then starting over and thriving, is something he is proud to have on his resumé.

"I think what separated me [from other QB prospects] is I got to go through the experience and be close with who a lot of people might say is the No. 1 or 2 quarterback in this draft. I think going through the experience of not winning the battle and having to live with that chip on my shoulder of wanting to be great . . . I know I'm going to keep working toward that goal . . . [I've] been put in a place where it's a whole new place, new culture, new people, and been able to still succeed and help build a team, become a leader of that team. I think my leadership there, my want-to and trustworthiness, is what I'll bring to the table."

Big leap

One of the more intriguing Senior Bowl sagas was that of Hobart College guard Ali Marpet, who showed poise and athleticism in his first taste of competition against actual scholarship athletes.

Marpet is in Indianapolis; he is the sort of out-of-nowhere prospect this part of the process helps the most.

"This is awesome, walking around with the best players in the country," said Marpet, who was even appreciative of the free Under Armour workout gear.

Hobart was "an academic decision," he said, for a player who attended a small high school and graduated weighing 255 pounds. He's now listed at 6-3, 307.

Hobart last produced an NFL player in 1937. No one has been drafted from Division III since 2012. Marpet could end both streaks.

Marpet said he hadn't thought about the NFL until his junior year, when the NFL's BLESTO scouting service came to Hobart to check him out.

"I ran the 40 for them, I took the Wonderlic and they measured me, and I discovered that I had the same physical tools as some of the other offensive linemen. So I said, 'Why not me?' I ran a sub-5 40 at 300 pounds, and I thought, 'I can play football.' "

As the Worilds turns

Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert was asked about outside linebacker Jason Worilds, a player who could interest the Eagles in free agency, especially if they move on from Brandon Graham and/or Trent Cole.

"We've talked. He understands that if he doesn't get tagged, which we could still do, he will explore the market and see what's out there," Colbert said. "We'll stay in communication. Maybe he comes back, maybe he moves on. He's been a good player for us, and we'd like to have him back if it all fits."

Worilds, who turns 27 next month, played for $9.74 million last season, under the transition tag, which meant he got the average of the top 10 outside linebackers in the league. That would be at least $11.7 million under the same tag this year.

Worilds managed 7 1/2 sacks in 2014, one more than Cole, who has an $11.65 million cap number this year, and turns 33 in October. Graham, who turns 27 in April, managed 5 1/2 sacks as an Eagles backup last season, and can join Worilds on the free-agent market next month.

Birdseed

The Eagles hired former Jets assistant Brian Smith as an assistant linebackers coach. Smith, 35, from Wilmington, played and coached at Massachusetts when Chip Kelly was at rival New Hampshire . . . 49ers general manager Trent Baalke said he is glad to reacquire personnel exec Tom Gamble, whose 2-year tenure with the Eagles ended abruptly on New Year's Eve. "He's a heckuva scout, heckuva football guy, and great to have back in the building," Baalke said.

Blog: ph.ly/Eagletarian