By Jeff Rice, NN Senior Writer

jrice@nittanynetwork.com

Feb. 10, 2009

Next week is a big one for seven former Nittany Lions, who will look to impress scouts with their strength, speed and personality during the NFL Combine, held Feb. 18-24 in Indianapolis. Nittany Network Senior Writer Jeff Rice talked with one of those Lions, offensive tackle Gerald Cadogan, about his preparations for the combine and April’s NFL Draft.

Q: Where have you been training?

A: I’ve been down in Pensacola, Fla., at the Athletes’ Performance Florida, part of the Andrews Institute campus. After the Rose Bowl, I spent two days at home, came down here on the third day. I’m heading to the combine next Wednesday.

Q: What are you doing as far as preparation for the interviews?

A: I’ve been taking practice tests for the Wonderlic, and going through mock interviews that I’ll encounter. There’s a team of people here – strength coaches, nutritionists, trainers – and they have a team that comes to prep you for the interviews.

Q: Do you feel any extra pressure knowing that all of your work for the last few years could be dependent on the next few weeks or months?

A: There is added pressure. The closer you get to your goal, the more exciting it is, but you have to be able to perform at the drop of a hat. I’m looking at it as a process that I have to go through before I can attain my goal, a process everybody goes through. But mentally, physically and emotionally, you’re really putting all your eggs in one basket.

Q: In which drills do you think you’ll really have to shine at the combine?

A: Down here, I’ve been working on my bench press. I have some goal numbers in my head for that. Also my 40 time as well as the shuttle. I think those three things, as far as linemen are concerned, have a big pull.

Q: In what ways did you improve during your time at Penn State? How is Gerald Cadogan now different from an 18-year-old Gerald Cadogan?

A: The Gerald Cadogan now has gone through a lot of ups and downs at Penn State. I have to give a lot of credit to my strength and conditioning coaches, John Thomas and (speed coach) Jeremy Scott. They teach you how to push yourself past your breaking point. The 300-yard sprints, the treadmill test, a lot of different running and fitness tests you have to push yourself mentally.

They always harp that most of football is 90 percent mental and 10 percent physical. At game time, you carry over what you did in weight room to what we do on the field. Coach (Bill) Kenney taught me technique, helped me with my hand placement. And Coach (Joe) Paterno taught me discipline and self control. My work ethic is what I’ll take away from Penn State.

Q: What were the highlights from Texas vs. Nation all-star game you played in last week?

A: Some of the highlights for me came when we were able to scrimmage the other team. We scrimmaged the Texas team in one-on-ones and a live scrimmage as well. You got to see where you stand in comparison to teams outside the Big Ten … Cal, Texas, UConn.

The highlight for me was to see how I compared with players from those conferences, how I would stack up against different defensive ends, and I think I was able to handle my own.

Q: Where will your brother (recently signed recruit Nate Cadogan) wind up playing at Penn State?

A: I think he’ll be an offensive tackle (laughs). If he redshirts this year they might let him try a different position, but I think he’s realizing it as well. I’ve been teaching him everything I’ve learned – hand placement, footwork, everything. I’m playing the big brother role as far as helping him to develop.

Q: Based on feedback from the league, where are you or people around you projecting you to go in the draft?

A: There are so many variables. I would love to say third round, fourth round, but it will be predicated on my numbers at the combine, there’s still (Penn State’s) Pro Day, a lot of interviews, a lot to be done. I don’t want to say where I’m projected now.

Q: So would you say you think you can improve your stock between now and the draft?

A: Once I’m able to show the scouts my work ethic and how passionate I am about football, and let everybody see it versus just verbally telling them, I think I’ll be able to do that.