Baltimore Ravens/Morehouse College OT Ramon Harewood on the mend

OWINGS MILLS, MD – Baltimore Ravens rookie offensive tackle Ramon Harewood’s patience has been tested as he continues to recuperate from an injury to his right knee suffered last month during Mini-Camp. The sixth-round draft pick from Morehouse College incurred soft tissue damage. Although Harewood has returned to individual drills, he hasn’t been cleared medically for the passing camp.

“I feel a lot better,” Harewood said. “I have decent range of motion back. I can put weight on it now. We’re just waiting until it’s 100 percent. I don’t think it’s quite there yet.” The 6-foot-6, 341-pound Barbados native has been putting in extra time rehabilitating his knee and studying his playbook, remaining at the Ravens’ training complex until 5:30 p.m., every day to go over the plays with offensive line coaches John Matsko and Andy Moeller.

Harewood is the first NFL player from Barbados.

“It’s easy to learn it in the classroom,” said Harewood, an honors student at Morehouse. “It’s different under fire on the field. I guess that’s what the biggest setback for me. I’ve been in the books. I’m doing what I need to do. Right now, it’s a little bit of hard work and perseverance."

“Ramon Harewood is a huge man,” said Ravens director of college scouting Joe Hortiz. “He’s a giant. He can knock down his side of the line of scrimmage. He’s raw, and he needs a lot of developmental work with technique, but he’s got foot speed – he ran a 5.08 [40-yard dash] at his pro day. He’s got a lot of work to do, but he’s got the passion and drive to get better.”

See the incredible CNN story of Ramos Harewood, who came to Morehouse College on an academic scholarship, majoring in Engineering--having never played American football to becoming a 6th round NFL draft pick from the Division II, Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and Morehouse honors student.

Southern WR Stewart waits for call

Southern University's star receiver Juamorris Steward shakes off tackle by Florida A&M's Jason Beach.

Think Brandon LaFell had a long wait? Think about this. LSU’s star receiver didn’t go in the first round of the NFL draft on Thursday night, like he hoped. But he got a call the very next night, when the Carolina Panthers let him know they’d take him with their third-round pick. Meanwhile, Southern wideout Juamorris Stewart waits. And he waits. Realistically, he didn’t expect a team to take him during Thursday’s first round. That was a pipe dream. Friday’s second and third rounds weren’t likely, either. But today, he waits.

He’s gunning to be the first Southern player taken in the draft since 2004, when cornerback Lenny Williams went to the Buccaneers in the seventh round. If the forecasters are right, he might be a fifth-round pick. Or sixth. Or seventh. Or not at all. But if he’s worried about his NFL fate, the laid-back, joke-a-minute Stewart has done a fine job of hiding it. “I don’t get too much sleep, but that’s not because I’m nervous. That’s just how I am,” he said. “But I’ve been talking with a lot of teams, and I’m just looking for an opportunity.”

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FAMU's Vann works out for scout for the Jacksonville Jaguars

All-American Rattler LeRoy Vann completed a workout with Jacksonville Jaguars yesterday, sporting a new hair cut. San Francisco, Detroit, Green Bay and Tampa Bay have expressed interest in Vann and expects to be among 20 NFL teams present for FAMU Pro Day Drills on Thursday, March 18.

Nate Koczor, an assistant special teams coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars, had a single focus Monday morning inside Bragg Stadium. He watched former Florida A&;M punt/kick returner LeRoy Vann chase balls for almost 90 minutes. The unannounced workout exclusively for the Jaguars was the first with a pro team for Vann, who wasn't invited to the NFL combine but has since been on the radar of several teams.

As fast as the ball machine pumped them out, Vann snagged one ball after another. He even caught those that he had to pursue after getting up from a laying position, dropping only a couple during the rapid-fire segment of the drill. Koczar wouldn't give his assessment of the workout, but Vann thought he was impressive. "It went well," said Vann, who no longer wears the long locks that he'd worn last season when he was setting NCAA and school records for the Rattlers. "My goal was not to drop any ball but eventually I dropped two. Out of 60 balls, that's good so I feel I did a good job."

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NFL Jacksonville Jags will conduct private workout today with FAMU's LeRoy Vann

Folks know about all the big dogs entering this year’s NFL Draft. But a name Jags fans should file into their mental Rolodex as April approaches is LeRoy Vann, a former standout at Florida A&M, who will conduct a private workout today in Tallahassee for the Jaguars, according to an NFL source. Originally scheduled to work out for Tampa Bay later this week (with Jacksonville set to help guide the session), Vann had also planned to perform for the Jaguars shortly after the session with the Buccaneers. But the plans quickly changed thanks, in part, to a buzz beginning to build concerning Vann, who holds the NCAA record for career returns for touchdowns (eight punts – including five last season – and three kickoffs for TDs).




Instead of waiting until later this week to conduct the session they’d originally planned for Vann, the Jaguars contacted his representatives and asked for the workout to be moved up to today. Vann plans to conduct his pro day at FAMU next month. According to the league source, the Jags also plan to attend that session, despite conducting the private workout today with Vann.

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