Ryan Poles understands better than most that good players don’t come from a small collection of top schools. They can be found almost anywhere. It is about whether you’re willing to put in the effort to find them. Kansas City wouldn’t have another Super Bowl trophy without unearthing Tyreek Hill from West Alabama in 2015. The Chicago Bears GM won’t frown upon players based on the school they’re coming from. Too often, it’s been proven that almost any program can produce great players with a bit of luck.
One name that has caught the Bears’ attention is Brevin Allen. Sources indicate the team met with the Campbell defensive end during his time at the Hula Bowl. He turned heads quite often during the week, winning in drills on a regular basis. It isn’t hard to see the appeal. Campbell is 6’4 and 265 lbs, the ideal size for a defensive end. His production speaks for itself. He racked up 20.5 sacks and 38 tackles for a loss in 44 games. His quickness off the snap and ability to bend the edge are two things that stand out with him.
The Chicago Bears remain committed to this approach.
Poles proved last year that he takes these college all-star games seriously. Three of his draft picks were at the East-West Shrine Bowl (Trestan Ebner, Zach Thomas, and Elijah Hicks). Undrafted standout Jack Sanborn was also there. So rest assured, this GM will work to add players from these events if they make a good impression. Allen has the physical makeup to play in the NFL. He must prove whether he can handle going against better competition than he saw at the FCS level. That is where these pre-draft events are so vital.
This is also a reminder of how thorough the Chicago Bears will be in their hunt for pass rushers. They had 20 sacks in 2022, one of the worst performances by this franchise in its century-long history. Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus are almost sure to add multiple new bodies to the defensive line, both inside and outside. Allen could be a late round pick or an undrafted free agent option. He has ability worth exploring. Best to keep that name in mind.
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Something I very much hope Poles and Flus will consider when signing time comes around. We took demoralizing whippings this season. I’m hoping they pay a lot of attention to how intense the player played, during those losing cause situations. How much grit in the player?
Allen would be a decent pick up in the late rounds 6 or 7 or as a UDFA. The kid can play ball and with some good coaching, he could add much needed depth on this roster, and possibly compete for playing time as a situational pass rusher.
Isn’t it a pretty good Bet that anyone who moves faster than a rock is going to get noticed in these games?