Arizona State OL Cohl Cabral
pre-draft article:
As a youngster Cohl Cabral used to look forward to the NFL draft. He had a passion for football and couldn't wait to see who his favorite team, the Raiders, would select.
A decade or so later Cabral is just excited about one of the annual rites of the spring for all football enthusiasts. But this year he is even more invested in what could happen a month from now.
Cabral (6-foot-5, 305-pounds) wrapped up a stellar career at Arizona State where he started 39 games. He is one of four Sun Devils who attended the NFL combine Feb. 27-March 1 in Indianapolis and hopes to hear his name called on one of the three days in which selections will be made next month.
"It's exciting, nerve-wracking. A lot of anticipation — All of those things," he said. "If you're a football fan those were the days you couldn't wait for. As a kid that always loved the sport I always hoped it might be me some day."
Cabral, 22, expects to graduate in May with a degree in liberal studies. Like all students, he is finishing up his classes on-line. But he was doing so even before the COVID-19 virus caused a disruption in everyday activities of student-athletes.
Shortly after the Sun Devils defeated Florida State in the Sun Bowl, Cabral relocated to Texas where he has spent the last two months training under Duke Manywearther, an offensive line scouting and development consultant.
There was the normal work on technique and conditioning as well as a mini-combine in which Cabral was tested in all the drills that are also held at the more publicized, larger scale combine.
Manyweather also brings in NFL players, past and present, to talk about their experiences in hopes of preparing the next wave of professional hopefuls for what lies ahead.
"It was a great experience being there with those guys, getting to hear their experiences and what it takes to get where they have been," Cabral said. "It was a great environment and I really just tried to take it all in."
He thought about declaring for the NFL draft following his junior season. After doing his homework and taking in everything head coach Herm Edwards and his myriad of assistants with NFL experience had to say, he opted to return.
Cabral, a three-year starter and two-year team captain, came to ASU as a left tackle and played there for two years before moving over to center as a junior, his desire to get more experience at that position another of the factors that prompted him to return.
When the Sun Devils starter at left tackle Zach Robertson left for personnel reasons before the season started, Cabral moved back there. But issues at center resulted in him shifting back for the third game of the season, the Sun Devils road game at Michigan State.
"It's like riding a bicycle, you never forget how to do it so I was comfortable there," Cabral said, about the brief move back to the left side. "I was willing to lineup where ever they needed me. It didn't matter."
One of the things for which Cabral is most known is his work ethic. Beyond the normal time spent on the practice field, Cabral spent countless hours breaking down film with offensive analyst Kevin Mawae, a Hall of Famer at the same position at which Cabral is looking to play at the next level, as well as offensive line coach Dave Christensen.
"He definitely put the time in to get where he is," Christensen said. "He really worked on everything and was better because he came back and gave it one more year. We had some young guys around him so he had a lot of responsibility in helping bring those guys along too. "
But like every other avenue of the sports world, his plans have been disrupted by the coronavirus. Cabral was supposed to have a private workout for the Houston Texans on Friday but that won't happen because that organization isn't allowing its scouts to travel.
Since the ASU campus is closed he can't use those facilities and has had to utilize a nearby gym that he frequents.
Cabral strained a hamstring while at the combine so he only did the bench press while there. He planned to take part in the other drills in front of NFL scouts at ASU's Pro Day which was scheduled for Monday but has been postponed.
The NFL draft is slated to go on as planned but will not be held in Las Vegas on a grandiose scale like it was last spring in Nashville, Tenn.
Cabral considered a gathering in Tempe in the home he is sharing with a handful of other players but has decided to return to his native Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. where he'll spend that time with his family and closest friends.
One of his biggest goals was to help the Sun Devils to a Pac-12 title and that didn't happen but he is content at having contributed to an improvement in the win column as well as the school's first bowl victory since 2014.
He doesn't regret the decision to return and is happy to turn over the leadership role to a couple of grad transfers in Henry Hattis and Kellen Diesch, both of whom he hosted when they made visits to Tempe.
"It was the right decision," he said. "It was another year to learn and be around Coach Edwards, Kevin Mawae and all the other great coaches that are on the staff here. I know I'm a better player because of it."
He is also refraining from overthinking where he might land or by whom he might be chosen.
"I've heard everything from late the second day to undrafted so I'm not dwelling on it. Whatever is going to happen, will happen. I know I have put in the work and done everything I can do so I have no regrets."
https://www.azcentral.com/story/spo...res-nfl-draft-despite-uncertainty/5069063002/
