I rate the chances of him getting drafted at zero regardless of what time he runs for scouts.

every opportunity in front of me. Why not? Also holding a master’s degree from VT which will land him somewhere

Don’t see anyone burning a pick on him - but good luck Cole. If you dig into these rosters there are some serious players who get drafted 5th, 6th, 7th round. I just don’t see someone using a pick on him. Try out or UDFA - yes, why not. Team can give him a try and cost impact far less and draft pick used more for position if need. Just my take. MTH

to say you were drafted there comes a point somewhere in the 5th/6th/7th round where if you have a good agent and have made the right contacts and impressions it is likely much more advantageous to be a UDFA than a late round pick.

Might as well give it a go. I’d he doesn’t land a football job, he can go on to what’s next. Virginia Tech did a good bio piece on Cole. I’d say is well on a path to success wherever he ends up.

NFL roster. You can find multiple examples of players, who played in another pro league (i.e. CFL, Arena Football League, XFL, USFL, etc.) to hone their skills before landing on a NFL roster at a later date. If Cole doesn't make it on a NFL roster this time, then I do think he could end up playing in the CFL or UFL before getting another crack at the NFL (assuming he is open to going that route).

Once you declare. I’d assume he’s been training and getting tips and training. He could easily not get drafted but La d a free agent deal this year or later. Given his ability and history, it makes sense to try. Question is if he doesn’t get drafted, does he go the CFL route or go to college. At this point though it makes sense he’s pursuing his NFL dreams

game to focus on track, do you think Cole believes he has a chance to get drafted? I ask because a player may declare for the NFL Draft in hopes he gets invited to one of the combines or wants the opportunity to showcase his skills to pro scouts in hopes of being signed as an UDFA. Neither of which he could do if he was still enrolled in a school. Another reason I am not convince that Cole believes he has a chance to get drafted is he has publicly stated (maybe multiple times) that he plans to continue his pro track career even if ends up on a NFL roster. I do think that could influence a lot/all of the GMs from using a draft pick on him unless they think he could be as good as Bo or Deion. I say that because the "pro track season" pretty much runs during the Spring and Summer months which mimics the MLB season. Also, it suggests that he doesn't consider the CFL and/or UFL as an option given that their seasons coincide with the pro track season unless he plans to compete in a Southern Hemisphere pro track league (if there is one) because that season should be Fall, Winter, and maybe early Spring.

school's pro day or speak with representatives of a pro team if the player is still enrolled with the school/considered officially apart of the school's team. At least I have not been able to find anything in the NCAA DI Manual (aka the bylaws) or any other rule book that says it would be permissible. ** Edited by VTHokie2000 at 1/4/2024, 9:40:53 AM ** Edited by VTHokie2000 at 1/4/2024, 9:41:13 AM

semester and still on scholarship, right?

they are not allowed to participate in official team activities.

Cole Beck is a senior. I believe he has a master's degree. He's declared for the draft. He can participate in the VT Pro Day. But you seem to question if he's serious about a football career. He's at least serious enough to declare for the draft. I'm sure he realize it's a flier -- but what am I missing?

still has eligibility left (which he doesn't), but that is a debate for a different day. WRT how serious he is about a football career, there are a few things that do raise legitimate concerns. First, it is public knowledge that he plans to continue his (pro) track career even if he makes a NFL roster. The reason that is a potential concern is because the Diamond League is the only pro track league in the Northern Hemisphere. The Diamond League season runs from late April to mid-September with the 15 events taking place in Africa, Asia, Europe and North America. If there are any other pro track leagues in the Northern Hemisphere, then it is very likely they have a similar schedule as the Diamond League. Second, it suggests that he plans to compete in more than just a few random pro track events. Otherwise, he wouldn't promote himself as a track star first and foremost. Depending on his level of commitment to his track career, it could scare GMS off from potentially drafting him and/or signing him as an UDFA because he may not be able to participate in the NFL's offseason program due to his track commitments. I doubt there are very many late round draft picks and/or UDFAs who skip a team's offseason program and still manage to make the 53-man active roster or the 10-man practice squad in the Fall. If the NFL does not work out for a player, then that player could still pursue a football career by going to play in the Canadian Football League (CFL) or the United Football League (UFL). Side note: the UFL is the merger of the XFL and USFL. The CFL's season pretty much mirrors the Diamond League's season. While the UFL plans to be a Spring/early Summer league. If he wants to play in the CFL or UFL and still pursue a track career, then it would likely mean he would have to join a pro track league in the Southern Hemisphere because those events would be held during the months that would fall within the CFL's and UFL's offseason (aka Fall and Winter). Plus, I would be surprised if a pro football team, regardless of the league, would allow him to compete in a pro track event during the league's regular season and maybe postseason (if the team makes the Playoffs).

reader to determine how "serious" Beck is about an NFL career. LOL.

have asked it.

You've clearly spent more time thinking about Cole Beck than virtually anyone on the planet other than Cole and his family. That's cool. You do you. I just find it odd that you're trying so hard to figure out if he's serious about football or not. He was an afterthought as a part of the VT team.

not. In Cole's case, his eligibility is exhausted and he's already graduated as well

used here. I think when most people hear a player is declaring for a pro draft, they assume the player still has eligibility left and the player has chosen not to use it for whatever reason. Also, I am trying to remember if "declaring" or "entering" is the term typically used for a 4th or 5th year SR who has decided to pursue a pro career after they are done with school.

with no NCAA eligibility remaining are draft "eligible". Seems to me the player agents are usually the ones to announce either way, as I said earlier, a publicity thing

the players who don't have any eligibility left. It may be a preferential thing on their part.

Of the options for Cole, NFL, track or otherwise

FWIW I believe the Diamond League is the only pro Northern Hemisphere track league.

** Edited by reestuart at 1/3/2024, 6:40:11 PM

makes a practice squad. 1% chance he practices with a team until 1st round of cuts. 0.5% chance he survives the 1st round of cuts.

John Wayne in 1972. So ………….. I’m saying there’s a chance !

Can he tackle well enough? He can definitely get down field. But yeah I highly doubt he makes a roster. Would his straight line speed even be a benefit to a practice squad? Doubt it.

Reverse or maybe even some type of fake punt play.

I'd wager it's more a thing of avoiding life or he wants the experience however long or short it might be. Were I him, I'd give the track a chance. No caucasian ever on the planet has ever run a faster time for 100 meters. He'd be a curiosity in Europe and Asia and could maybe leverage his speed into some money on the track circuit.

opposed to being beaten up playing football.

If so, in what role?

** Edited by Nukeman7 at 1/3/2024, 6:32:18 PM ** Edited by Nukeman7 at 1/3/2024, 6:34:19 PM