As draft nears, eight former Commodores look to continue playing careers

April 27, 2016

Azubike Bio Bernstein Bio Herring Bio McIntosh Bio

Pulley Bio Scheu Bio Weatherly Bio Williamson Bio

Opportunity is knocking for eight former Vanderbilt standouts looking to further playing careers in the National Football League.

The former Commodores, like hundreds of prospects across the country, will be waiting for NFL teams to call with the opportunity to continue chasing their dreams of a professional career.

The NFL Draft, which opens with first-round picks Thursday in Chicago, starts the clock for defensive end Caleb Azubike, offensive linemen Jake Bernstein and Spencer Pulley, linebacker Darreon Herring, safeties Jahmel McIntosh and Andrew Williamson, tight end Steven Scheu and linebacker-defensive end Stephen Weatherly.

While draft analysts list Weatherly, Scheu and Williamson most likely to get selected in the draft, all eight players have worked out for NFL teams looking to hook on through the draft or rookie free agency.

Hopefully, this draft will be more kind than the 2015 edition when no Vanderbilt players were picked. In 2014, three former Commodores were selected: wide receiver Jordan Matthews (Philadelphia, Round 2), offensive lineman Wesley Johnson (Pittsburgh, Round 5) and Andre Hal (Houston, Round 7).

Weatherly is ready for the draft to arrive, and plans to watch the event with family and friends in Atlanta.

“I’ve really enjoyed getting to meet with several teams and letting them see know who I am, on and off the field,” Weatherly said. “I feel like I’ve done a good job showing teams that I’m continuing to grow and that my best football is yet to come.”

Since the 2015 season finale, Weatherly has been actively preparing for this week. In February, he impressed scouts at the NFL Combine with his athleticism. In recent weeks, he’s worked out for seven teams.

Scheu joined Weatherly and other draft prospects for January and February workouts at Chip Smith’s Performance Systems. While Weatherly used the conditioning to add bulk, Scheu gained confidence by strengthening a lower leg that needed surgery prior to the 2015 regular season.

“(The injury) was a question mark teams had, and it’s one of the reasons I had a lot of private workouts,” Scheu said. “I definitely feel 100 percent now and showed teams that I’m healthy.”

Scheu has plenty of nerves with the draft nearing, but knows he’s done his best this winter to impress teams. He’s also enjoyed the journey.

“I’m excited, no matter what happens. It’s been a long process, but it’s been fun and I’ve done my best to enjoy it. Really, I just want a chance to play,” Scheu said.

Vanderbilt — NFL Draft Facts

• Since the draft was reduced to its current seven-round format in 1994, the most Vanderbilt players selected came in 2001 when four Commodores were taken: LB Jamie Winborn (2nd round), LB Matt Stewart (4rd round), PK John Markham (5th round), and DB Jimmy Williams (6th round).

• The only Commodore taken No. 1 overall was quarterback Bill Wade by the Los Angeles Rams in 1952. Wade, a lifelong resident of Nashville who guided the Chicago Bears to the 1963 NFL championship, died in early March at the age of 85.

• Nine Commodores have been selected in the first round. Besides Wade, others are OL Chris Williams (No. 14 by Chicago, 2008), QB Jay Cutler (No. 11 by Denver, 2005), OL Will Wolford (No. 20 by Buffalo, 1986), CB Leonard Coleman (No. 8 by Baltimore Colts, 1984), RB Tom Moore (No. 5 by Green Bay, 1960), RB Phil King (No. 12 by N.Y. Giants, 1958), RB Charley Horton (No. 11 by Los Angeles Rams, 1956) and RB Jack Jenkins (No. 10 by Washington, 1943).

• Six Commodores have been selected twice, in 1956 and 1959, when the draft extended beyond 30 rounds.

• No Vanderbilt players have been selected in just three of the last 10 NFL Drafts: 2007, 2011, 2015.

2nd Round, 42nd pick Wesley Johnson, OL Pittsburgh 5th Round, 173rd pick Andre Hal, DB Houston 7th Round, 216th pick2013 Zac Stacy, RB St. Louis 5th Round, 160th pick Ryan Seymour, OL Seattle 7th Round, 220th pick2012 Casey Hayward, DB Green Bay 2nd Round, 62nd pick Tim Fugger, DE Indianapolis 7th Round, 214th pick2010 Myron Lewis, DB Tampa Bay 3rd Round, 67th pick Thomas Welch, OL New England 7th Round, 208th pick2009 D.J. Moore, DB Chicago 4th Round, 119th pick2008 Chris Williams, OL Chicago 1st Round, 14th pick Earl Bennett, WR Chicago 3rd Round, 70th pick Jonathan Goff, LB N.Y. Giants 5th Round, 164th pick2006 Jay Cutler, QB Denver 1st Round, 11th pick2005 Jovan Haye, DL Carolina 6th Round, 189th pick Justin Geisinger, OL Buffalo 6th Round, 197th pick2003 Hunter Hillenmeyer, LB Green Bay 5th Round, 166th pick2001 Jamie Winborn, LB San Francisco2nd Round, 47th pick Matt Stewart, LB Atlanta 4th Round, 102nd pick John Markham, PK N.Y. Giants 5th Round, 160th pick Jimmy Williams, DB Buffalo 6th Round, 196th pick1999 Fred Vinson, DB Green Bay2nd Round, 47th pick1998 Corey Chavous, DB Arizona 2nd Round, 33rd pick Jamie Duncan, LB Tampa Bay3rd Round, 84th pick Anthony Jordan Indianapolis 5th Round, 135th pick1996 James Manley, DT Minnesota 2nd Round, 45th pick