I think Rhaney will be a big suprise this year. I really liked him coming out of college.
Demetrius Rhaney the Dark Horse
Exerpted from: College 2 Pro
C2P - What is your best quality at your position?
DR - At the center position, I feel my best quality is my speed and being able to climb to the second level to get hands on linebackers and being able to reach 2 and 3 tech defensive tackles. Also, I feel another quality that I have is how aggressive I play and the fight I have in me to always win.
C2P - What offense/defense did you play mostly in college?
DR - I played in both spread and a pro style offense running inside and outside zone.
C2P - What will be your biggest adjustment moving forward?
DR - Adapting and playing to the tempo of the NFL game. I know the competition will be a lot bigger and faster than in college, and I look forward to the adjustment.
C2P - What pro player would you remind us most of with your style of play?
DR - I would say Alex Mack. He's not the biggest player but he gets the job done on both run and pass plays and he can also get out front on screens and make an impact, and those are the things that I believe I do well with.
C2P - How many positions can you play or have played?
DR - I have played all positions on the offensive line.
My freshman year at Ellsworth Community College, I started all eleven games at right tackle. My sophomore year, I moved to right guard and started all eleven games. I then transferred to Tennessee State and started at right guard for eleven games. Coming into the spring of my senior season, I made an adjustment to play center and started all fourteen games into the playoffs.
C2P – The system you played in college. Is there an NFL team that comes to mind that resembles in the most?
DR - There isn't a system that just pops out, but I know where ever I land I will work hard as possible to do whatever it takes to help my team win whether its at
Center, Guard, Tackle, Special teams or just on the sideline taking mental reps and being ready to step in.
C2P - What makes you unique to another player at the same position? DR - My speed and the fight I have in me to never loose. I can pull, get out front on screens, win the one on one battle at the line of scrimmage, take control of the offensive line and be a guy that the rest of my teammates can depend on.
C2P – What is your most memorable play in your college career?
DR - My junior year playing in the Southern Heritage Classic against Jackson State running an outside zone; I got out front to lead the play and decleated the safety and our running back Trabis Ward took it all the way for about sixty yards, instead of the team running to him for the celebration they ran to me. It was pretty neat.
C2P - What other schools showed interest in your leaving high school? DR - Leaving high school, I was not highly recruited. I am used to being the underdog for whatever reason that comes along and working my way to the top. I was offered by a few Division 1 AA Colleges and signed to Alabama A&M but I was not cleared by the clearing house, and I needed to a JR College in Iowa to pursue my dream of playing football.
C2P - If you are small school prospect. Why do you feel you slipped through the cracks coming out of high school? I would say because my high school wasn't a powerhouse football program in Florida, so there wasn't many college scouts coming to our school. Although, my senior year, we went to the second round playoffs and lost to Dywer High School.
For NFL Scouts
C2P - Have you ever been arrested or have a criminal record?
DR - I was arrested once when I was thirteen years old for getting into a fight at the basketball court.
C2P - Where you a team captain in college?
DR - Yes, my senior year spring 2013, I was voted by the coaches to be a captain.
C2P - Are you married, engaged or single?
DR - Single
C2P - Have you ever belonged to a gang?
DR - No
C2P - How many games did you miss due to injury (College)?
DR - None, I have never missed a college game at Ellsworth Community College or Tennessee State.
C2P – How many concussions have you had or known of?
DR - I have never had a concussion.
C2P - How many games did you start?
DR - I started every year so I would say about 47 games.
C2P – What’s your 40 time, vertical jump, and short shuttle?
DR - I ran my 40 in 4.9 second a 4.7 short shuttle and a 29.5 verticle jump
C2P – When is your Pro Day and where?
DR -March 20th, Tennessee State, Nashville, TN
C2P – Pro Day results if you have already performed the drills?
DR - 40 4.92 4.96; 29 Vert, 9 2 broad, 4.72 short shuttle, 7.59 3 cone
DRAFT ANALYSIS:
STRENGTHS Very good quickness, agility and balance. Gets into blocks quickly and keeps battling through the whistle (see fourth play of second quarter vs. Bethune when loses helmet). Runs his feet on contact. Good lower-body power. Can wall off and seal short areas. Efficient working up a level. Solid anchor in pass protection.
WEAKNESSES Average arm length and overall athletic ability. Could do a better job gauging his power on the move and connecting with moving targets.
DRAFT PROJECTION Rounds 5-6
BOTTOM LINE A compactly built, light-footed pivot who elevated his draft standing after clocking sub-5.0 40 times at his pro-day workout. Has the size, power and agility to eventually compete for a starting job.
I wonder if Rhaney is being considered at guard? He certainly adds depth at center and guard. He maybe could even fill in at RT, but having only 32 inch arm length does not bode well for tackle. Rhaney is a small school guy who mostly slipped off the radar, but the Rams did seem to really like him prior to his being injured.
What a huge bonus it would be for both Jones and Rhaney to pan out. Tim Barnes does not thrill me, and may not make the final cut.
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