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Vicheal |
By TAFT COGHILL JR.
The big kid with the colorful personality is preparing to step into a world where it's all business.
But that's just fine with Caroline High School graduate and Virginia Military Institute senior Vicheal Foxx.
Foxx is working out at VMI--where he enjoyed a standout football career as a defensive tackle--with hopes of joining a professional team during or after this weekend's NFL Draft.
While Foxx and his agent Jeff Jankovich said it's more likely that Foxx will be an undrafted free agent, they're both not ruling out the possibility of him being selected.
"You never know," Jankovich said. "If a particular team latches on to him, he might get drafted. But realistically, we're looking at him being an undrafted free agent."
At 6-foot-4 and 321 pounds, Foxx certainly has the size to keep NFL teams interested.
He said the one negative that's been pointed out to him by scouts is his propensity to play too high.
He's rated the 62nd best defensive tackle prospect in the Great Blue North Draft Report. However, only 12 players were drafted at the position in 2005 and 18 in 2004. Foxx has also worked out at guard for NFL scouts.
"I've been told that if I get drafted, don't be surprised," Foxx said. "But I seriously doubt it. I'm looking more towards being an undrafted free agent. If you don't get drafted in the first four rounds, it's better to be a free agent so you can pick where you want to go."
Jankovich represents 14 draft hopefuls, including George Mason University basketball standout Jai Lewis, who is looking to change career paths.
Jankovich said he's received inquiries from several NFL teams about Foxx. Some have asked for his draft-day phone number.
Foxx said representatives from the New York Giants called him over the weekend to ask if he'd be available for an early May mini-camp.
Scouts from nine teams got an up-close look at Foxx during the East Coast Bowl game in Petersburg. The exhibition featured seniors from Division I-AA, Division II and Division III colleges.
After that game, scouts from the Philadelphia Eagles, New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts decided to make the trip to VMI to see Foxx and a few other potential draftees work out for pro day on March 21.
There, Foxx said he did 25 repetitions of 225 pounds on the bench press, displayed a vertical jump of 34 inches and ran the 40-yard dash in 4.85 seconds.
"Vicheal has pretty good speed and quickness for his size," Jankovich said. "He's an athlete. He just needs to work on being more of a playmaker instead of showing bursts here and there."
VMI hasn't had a player drafted since 1989 when the Pittsburgh Steelers took wide receiver Mark Stock in the sixth round.
Foxx's best season for the Keydets was 2003 when he was named to the All-Big South Conference first-team after collecting 60 tackles and seven sacks as a junior.
He sat out the 2004 season and worked at a furniture warehouse in Caroline after he was suspended from VMI for an undisclosed violation of school rules.
He said teams have posed questions about his character because of the suspension, but Foxx has no problems finding people to say that his troubles were an isolated incident.
"[Scouts] study everything about you," Foxx said. "They're like mini-psychologists. But I think I have pretty good character. I won't make the same mistake again."
Former Keydets defensive line coach Keith Braxton said the program was glad to welcome Foxx back after he served his punishment.
"It wasn't just the football team or the athletic department, but the whole VMI community hated that we had to [suspend Foxx]," Braxton said. "But we were glad he came back."
Foxx took on a decreased role in his final season, playing about 40 plays a game. The Keydets went 3-8 and head coach Cal McCombs was fired.
"I definitely didn't put up the same numbers as before I left," Foxx said. "The scheme changed and we had more depth at the position."
Foxx played this past season at 305 pounds, but quickly gained weight in the offseason.
He said his primary goal is to earn his way onto an NFL roster, but he also has backup plans.
He's fielded calls from Arena Football League teams and has thought about the possibility of playing in the Canadian Football League.
If a pro football career doesn't work out, he said he wants to continue his education and become a physical therapist.
Foxx will graduate from VMI on May 16.
"I think he's got a real good chance of being picked up as a free agent," Braxton said. "If somebody is willing to take a chance on him, they'll be pleasantly surprised."
To reach TAFT COGHILL JR.:
Email: tcoghill@freelancestar.com
