Loyalty Posted May 4, 2014 Report Share Posted May 4, 2014 Quite an article... This guy is a freak. LINK Here Comes The Next NFL Superhero Comment Now Follow Comments Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson, aka “Megatron” and Seattle Seahawks corner Richard Sherman, the self-proclaimed “Optimus Prime” have taken the National Football League by storm. With the NFL Draft approaching, a young prospect has been given an alias that showcases his superhuman athleticism. Jerome Couplin III, a former safety from the College of William & Mary has been dubbed the “Osprey” for his wingspan and his liftoff capabilities. Like the large bird of prey and the vertical takeoff military aircraft which he is named after, Couplin shares a number of their impressive attributes. Physically, Couplin is a freak of nature. Standing at 6’2 and 215 lbs. he is in the mold of new big and quick defensive backs such as Seattle Seahawk Kam Chancellor. At his Pro Day on March 18, Couplin ran the 40 yard dash in 4.5 seconds. He also had a vertical of 41.5 inches and a standing broad jump of 11 feet 2 inches, all accomplished outside in rainy, 32 degree conditions. But it’s when the ball is in the air that Couplin earns his nickname. Much like the “Osprey,” Couplin has an 81 inch wingspan, which means that he can practically touch his knees when standing straight up. Coupled with his jumping ability, Couplin’s physical attributes are a defensive coordinator’s dream. To put it into perspective, Couplin can catch a football 13 feet in the air (the top of a basketball backboard), or dive for a football a car length away. His Pro day results in the 40 yard dash, three cone drill, and bench press numbers tied or beat the projected top two safeties in this year’s draft (Alabama’s Ha‘Sean “Ha-Ha” Clinton Dix and Louisville’s Calvin Pryor ). Couplin’s results in the standing broad jump are the best for a safety in the last 10 years at the combine and his vertical would have been first among safeties at this year’s combine. Jerome Couplin Couplin racked up 113 tackles last season (his 5.8 solo tackles per game ranked 11th nationally and first in the Colonial Athletic Association League), and received first team All- American honors from The Associated Press, The Sports Network and the Walter Camp Football Foundation. He was also named as a finalist for the esteemed Buck Buchanan Award (given to the top defensive player in the nation). Despite this he was not invited to the NFL Scouting Combine. That’s just fine with Couplin, as not much seems to faze him. He says “the doubters have always motivated me and I just love to prove people wrong.” Despite his superhuman attributes, the teasing started in high school and got progressively worse in college. “People really started noticing that I was this guy who was pretty tall, but then I had these extremely long arms,” Couplin mused. He never took the jokes or insults to heart; it was nothing to be self-conscious about. Couplin attributes that to the fact that he had a strong family support system. Even though his parents, Jerome Couplin II & Adrienne Montague, never married or lived together he says, “It made me feel blessed to know that that no matter what, they were willing to put their differences aside and do what was best for me.” His grandparents, Floyd and Denise Montague, have also played an integral role in his upbringing and have stressed the value of obtaining a good education and giving back to community. That philosophy played a vital part in Jerome’s decision to select a top academic institution in William & Mary at the same time taking on the full time job of playing college football. “I knew that it was going to be challenging, but that’s what you want… something that is going to push you.” Couplin’s hard work translates off the field and outside the classroom as well, as he has participated in numerous fundraisers for charity, feed the homeless programs and events for at risk youth. Jerome Couplin – William & Mary Tribe Athletics 2013 Scouts from the Pittsburgh Steelers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Washington Redskins were all in attendance for his Pro Day and have had communication with him as well. As a result of his measurables, Couplin is now on the radar of other of NFL teams. The Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals have shown interest and he has had workouts with the Kansas City Chiefs, Detroit Lions, Indianapolis Colts, and Baltimore Ravens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Buffalo Posted May 4, 2014 Report Share Posted May 4, 2014 Holy hell. I want that guy and his freakishly long arms. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miktoxic Posted May 4, 2014 Report Share Posted May 4, 2014 long arms doesn't mean he can play. there's a reason the other safeties are ranked above him. just keep feeding us more bullshit before the draft so we can't sleep. thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MLD Woody Posted May 4, 2014 Report Share Posted May 4, 2014 Damn that dude has long arms. I thought I had long arms, shit. Surprised anyone would insult him to his face though. Late round pick to develop, why not? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flyin J Posted May 4, 2014 Report Share Posted May 4, 2014 Id draft him 5th round Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MLD Woody Posted May 5, 2014 Report Share Posted May 5, 2014 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ballpeen Posted May 5, 2014 Report Share Posted May 5, 2014 I'd draft or sign a guy like that if for no other reason try to make him a kick block specialist If you could train the guy to time his leaps and play the angle the kicker is going to use...he might alter some field goal attempts. That could win a game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Gipper Posted May 5, 2014 Report Share Posted May 5, 2014 Maybe a late rounder or UDFA. No harm in giving a guy a tryout. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D Bone Posted May 5, 2014 Report Share Posted May 5, 2014 Pair this guy with him, and no one will throw on us Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Make-Believe Posted May 5, 2014 Report Share Posted May 5, 2014 Hells yeah, says I. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flyin J Posted May 5, 2014 Report Share Posted May 5, 2014 Any picks after the 4th should always be used on high upside projects like this. You can coach technique, but you cant coach up athleticism. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoorta Posted May 5, 2014 Report Share Posted May 5, 2014 Holy hell. I want that guy and his freakishly long arms. FWIW, I'm almost exactly this guys height, and his arms are 5" longer than mine. long arms doesn't mean he can play. there's a reason the other safeties are ranked above him. just keep feeding us more bullshit before the draft so we can't sleep. thanks. True but..... Maybe a late rounder or UDFA. No harm in giving a guy a tryout. Right- level of competition. For sure worth one of our low round picks- Hell, once you get into the 4th round, it's a real crapshoot anyway, and we have 2 fourth rounders. The percentage of third day guys who stick on an NFL roster is mighty low. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miktoxic Posted May 5, 2014 Report Share Posted May 5, 2014 You can coach technique, but you cant coach up athleticism. or god-given neanderthal arms. i wonder if he can regenerate his own limbs? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miktoxic Posted May 5, 2014 Report Share Posted May 5, 2014 FWIW, I'm almost exactly this guys height, and his arms are 5" longer than mine. True but..... Right- level of competition. For sure worth one of our low round picks- Hell, once you get into the 4th round, it's a real crapshoot anyway, and we have 2 fourth rounders. The percentage of third day guys who stick on an NFL roster is mighty low. no, i get it. we can use help at his position. i'm all for any benefit someone might have to do that. i like his overall size....but when i look at those arms i see flags, yellow ones. it's not like he can reel those babies in like a fishing line. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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