DT Cameron Heyward (6x Pro Bowl, 3x All Pro, Pittsburgh Steelers)

[OregonBuckeye]

A lot of scouts I talked to after the Ohio State workout weren?t real pleased with the 4.95 40 time of Heyward.

What does it matter as long as it isn't above a 5.1? He's 295 lbs and he ran a sub-5.0 40. Not bad. His 10 yard and shuttle times correlate more to what he'll be doing on the field.

 

[bucknut502]

In Cam's entire career at Ohio State, I can only remember one play where a 4.7 40 would have benefited him. That was the interception against Miami.

 

[OregonBuckeye]

In Cam's entire career at Ohio State, I can only remember one play where a 4.7 40 would have benefited him. That was the interception against Miami.

I think a good mile time would've helped more. Looked like he was about to faint.

 

[ginn421]

Heyward's work ethic has been criticized, and he doesn't bring it every play. There is no doubt that Heyward has the talent to be a top-10 pick, but he doesn't play at that level often enough because of his desire.

 

[Buckskin86]

Cameron Heyward declines invitation to the draft
Ohio State defensive end to spend time with family
Aaron Wilson
April 06, 2011

Ohio State defensive end Cameron Heyward has declined an invitation to attend the NFL draft at Radio City Music Hall, preferring to spend the weekend with friends and family.

"I have been invited and I've chosen to stay home with my family," Heyward told National Football Post in a telephone interview today. "That's the right decision for me. I want to enjoy the process and be with the people that got me to this point, my friends and family. I want to celebrate with them. That's what's right for me. I appreciate the invitation, but this is what I want to do."

The son of the late former New Orleans Saints running back Craig "Ironhead" Heyward, Heyward is one of the top defensive line prospects in the draft and a first-round prospect.

The four-year starter said he has recovered from elbow surgery.

The Buckeyes' team captain recorded 48 tackles last season, 13 for losses and 3 1/2 sacks, and was named first-team All-Big Ten Conference.

Heyward was named second-team All-Big Ten Conference as a junior when he recorded 46 tackles, 10 for losses, and 6 1/2 sacks.

He finished his career with 157 tackles, 34 for losses and 14 1/2 sacks.

http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Cameron-Heyward-declines-invitation-to-the-draft.html

Defensive lineman Cameron Heyward, a projected first-round pick, also was a subject of conversation.

"Cameron Heyward is a real, real good 3-4 defensive end," Kiper said. "I think he'd fit the New York Jets and certainly the Green Bay Packers. He would fit the Pittsburgh Steelers ? the New England Patriots, any of those 3-4 teams is what Heyward would fit ideally."

The Jets, Steelers, and Packers pick 30th, 31st and 32nd respectively, while the Patriots hold the 17th and 28th overall selections.

Kiper said Heyward is not an ideal fit in a 4-3 defensive scheme, but Heyward disagrees.

"I think over my four years here I have enjoyed so many different positions and it's made me more versatile," Heyward said in a press conference on March 30 after working out for NFL scouts. "I think I can play any position you put me at."

http://www.thelantern.com/sports/mel-kiper-jr-weighs-in-on-buckeye-draft-hopefuls-1.2145672

Cameron Heyward, DL, Ohio State. Heyward is a smart young man with excellent character and work ethic. He does an outstanding job of preparing himself for games and has shown great maturity through his rehab from an elbow injury. This spring, he has done everything he can to prove to teams that he will be healthy and ready for his rookie season. Heyward has the size, strength, athleticism and sound technique to secure playing time right away.

Read more: http://aol.sportingnews.com/nfl/sto...rookies-will-contribute-quickly#ixzz1IpqWkSEx

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfuNKQaVEH4"]YouTube - Cameron Heyward Draft Profile[/ame]

 

[Buckskin86]

DE Heyward out to blaze his own trail
By Chris Brown, Lead Journalist

He?s been immersed in the NFL atmosphere from the time he was a young boy. With a father as an NFL running back he had no choice. What could prove more difficult for Cameron Heyward is stepping out from behind his late father?s NFL shadow to make a name for himself.

Heyward?s dad wasn?t a perennial Pro Bowl performer, but he had an 11-year career and an unforgettable nickname of ?Iron Head.? Craig ?Iron Head? Heyward was a former first-round pick of the New Orleans Saints in 1998, something his son aspires to be in a couple of weeks after a solid career at Ohio State as a defensive lineman.

Heyward?s father earned that well known nickname cracking helmets coming out of the backfield at Pitt, but from the time he was a teenager, the junior Heyward wanted to chart a different course when it came time to start his college career.

?It's my dad's school,? said Heyward of Pitt. ?My mom went there as well. I have a bunch of family there, but I wanted to branch out a little bit and try something new."

Cont...

http://www.buffalobills.com/news/ar...wn-trail/600ffd40-9c90-44ee-ad8c-c0a25ec11cab

 

[Buckeye86]

The Jets, Steelers, and Packers pick 30th, 31st and 32nd respectively, while the Patriots hold the 17th and 28th overall selections.

This may be a bit homerish of me, but if any of those teams end up drafting Heyward I think it would seriously boost their chances of winning the Super Bowl.

If I was Heyward or those teams, I would be pretty fucking pumped about talk of him dropping that far, but that's just me.

 

[Buckskin86]

Heyward lacking as OSU's big name
Draft class for Buckeyes not turning NFL heads
By Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal sports columnist
Published on Sunday, Apr 10, 2011

Pro Football Weekly draft analyst Nolan Nawrocki came under fire recently for relaying the scathing criticism he's hearing from NFL personnel people about Auburn quarterback Cam Newton.

But the Heisman Trophy winner is not the only Cam whom Nawrocki is knocking.

On conference calls the past two weeks, Nawrocki spoke negatively about Ohio State defensive end Cameron Heyward, who headlines a large Buckeyes draft class made up of mainly day-three picks.

Nawrocki acknow-ledged that the son of the late Craig ''Ironhead'' Heyward will probably be selected in the top 50 in the April 28-30 NFL Draft, but he believes that Heyward has third-round talent.

''I think that's truly where he should go,'' Nawrocki said March 30. ''Whether a team reaches up and overdrafts him is a question to be determined. In the long run in the pros, I don't think he's going to turn out to be more than a serviceable stop-gap player.''

Writing PFW's highly regarded draft guide since 2004, Nawrocki questioned Heyward's athletic ability, calling him ''very clumsy and oafish.''

''I question the movement skills,'' Nawrocki said. ''The calling card is definitely the strength. I think he's got the size and the ability to play the position. But you watch the tape and too often you're just left wanting more. He's got natural power in his body, but you don't see him use it enough.''

Cont...

http://www.ohio.com/sports/119556439.html

Interview with Cameron Heyward: "After Coach Tress, I think He's Next in Line"
by Tyler T. on Apr 8, 2011

In February, Cameron Heyward took part in a Gatorade program designed to maximize his athletic potential. Dallas Cowboys linebacker DeMarcus Ware watches Heyward as he goes through an exercise.

Gatorade contacted us with a chance to interview Cameron Heyward, and we jumped at the opportunity. Please visit their "Everything to Prove" website, linked below, for video features on Heyward and other prospective NFL players. And, of course, we give our biggest thanks to Cameron Heyward for agreeing to the interview and providing thoughtful answers.

About "Everything to Prove"

Cameron Heyward is one of 14 incoming NFL rookies featured in the new Web series "Everything to Prove." Created by NFL Films and Gatorade, "Everything to Prove" follows these elite athletes on the road to the NFL - capturing all the action on and off the field. Episodes air weekly all offseason on NFL.com/ProveIt. Other athletes featured include: Blaine Gabbert, Jake Locker, AJ Green, Julio Jones, Kyle Rudolph, Stephen Paea, Mark Herzlich and more.

INTERVIEW

Q: During the offseason, NFL Films and Gatorade are following you and other top rookies for the original Web series, "Everything to Prove." What has that been like?

Cameron Heyward: Well, I think the title proves it - "Everything to Prove." We're going into our rookie year, and Gatorade has given us this great opportunity to show people what we're going through - the stresses, the ups and the downs, and everything that goes along with it. With 13 other rookies, we're learning so much about each other, and we're learning what we need to do to take that next step. We know this is just the beginning, but we're going to keep improving.

Q: You mentioned Gatorade scientists have worked with you, what have they helped you with?

Heyward: About how sports nutrition really impacts my performance. The scientists at Gatorade helped me understand what I put in my body is as important as what I put on my body. And Gatorade has given us the product to help our bodies mature and take it to that next level. The scientists showed us what we need to do to improve our performance, and, with that said, they get to see our whole process through.

Q: What is your fondest memory of Ohio State?

Heyward: The fondest memory of Ohio State, I would have to say beating Arkansas in the Sugar Bowl. You know, for our team to go through as much adversity as we did, and to come up on top - and beat an SEC team - it's an unbelievable feat. It took everybody around us.

Cont..

http://www.alongtheolentangy.com/20...heyward-after-coach-tress-i-think-hes-next-in

 

[Buckskin86]

No. 24 pick might yield familiar name for New Orleans Saints
Published: Sunday, April 10, 2011
Mike Triplett, The Times-Picayune
NOLA.com

The last time the New Orleans Saints held the No. 24 pick in the draft was 1988, when they selected one of the most memorable players in franchise history -- fullback Craig "Ironhead" Heyward.

Eliot Kamenitz/The Times-Picayune
Cameron Heyward brings size, versatility and ability as a pass rusher and run defender and could bolster the Saints' defensive line, which needs youth and athleticism.

How fitting it would be, then, if The Times-Picayune mock drafts come to fruition three weeks from now. Both James Varney and I project the Saints will use the 24th pick on Ironhead's son, Ohio State defensive end Cameron Heyward.

We didn't just make those picks out of sentimentality, or because Varney is a die-hard Buckeyes fan. We both believe the younger Heyward would be a perfect fit in the Saints' front seven, where they need to add youth and athleticism.

At 6 feet 5, 294 pounds, Heyward has the size, versatility and savvy the Saints covet in their 4-3 alignment. He can help as a pass rusher and run defender and could eventually start at the end from fellow Buckeye Will Smith.

It's just an added bonus that Heyward has black-and-gold blood running through his veins, having spent the first four years of his life in New Orleans.

"Ironhead" Heyward played five seasons with the Saints, from 1988 to 1992, where he became a fan favorite because of, and in spite of, his legendary girth. The fullback/tailback was a remarkably athletic runner for his size, and he became famous for bowling over defenders as he rumbled down the field. Heyward was listed at 265 pounds, although he pushed past the 300-pound barrier at times and was constantly battling his weight.

Cont...

http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2011/04/young_heyward_could_be_saints.html

 

[Buckskin86]

Ohio State's Cameron Heyward the best of draft's 'hybrid' ends
Vinnie Iyer Sporting News

Among all the defensive end prospects in the 2011 draft, Cameron Heyward is the most impressive hybrid model. Stamping his fine college career at Ohio State with a dominant performance against Arkansas at the Sugar Bowl in January, his fully loaded skill set is about to make a 3-4 NFL team very happy at the end of April.

With just more than two weeks until the first round, Heyward is near the end of a preparation process that he's loved. Now that he's patiently stayed on track to come back strong from postseason elbow surgery, he's ready to show his strength back on the field.

Cameron Heyward tops the list when it comes to hybrid defensive ends available in the NFL draft. (AP Photo)

"I'm eager to play again, and take advantage of an opportunity I've wanted so bad," Heyward said.

With his dream of playing in the NFL about to come true, Heyward likely will get a chance to excel at a position where several teams have a need.

Although pass-rushing outside linebackers and massive nose tackles are higher-profile 3-4 positions, the success of that alignment also depends on ends with a special balance of abilities.

Heyward is a prime example of being big enough to play the run well while also being agile enough to pressure the pocket. In a passing league, that second ability is critical as defensive coordinators formulate all the ways they can rush the passer with such versatile linemen.

"They're like great chess pieces," said NFL Network analyst Charles Davis. "They can start for your base at end, and then slide inside to rush on passing downs when teams go to their 'rocket or jet' sets."

When he makes his move to get in the quarterback's face, Heyward shows that kind of quickness and pop. His father, the late Craig "Ironhead" Heyward, delivered plenty of punishment to defenders as a bruising running back in the NFL. Likewise, Cameron, at 6-5 1/8, 288, is a physical force on the other side of the ball, an equal opportunity abuser of ball-carriers and quarterbacks. .

In scouting his own great talent, Cameron Heyward prides himself on his combination of size, power and explosiveness. As a strong, versatile lineman who can play either end or tackle in a 3-4 or a 4-3, his stock continues to rise.

"They'll get a player who likes to attack and not sitting back," Heyward said. "He also packs what he calls a "violent punch" needed to consistently push and knock down blockers out of the way.

Here's another scary thought for offensive linemen: Heyward, who already thrives in driving back the opposition, also is driven to build on his assets.

"They'll see a guy who's ready to work hard everyday," Heyward said. "I want to keep getting better."

Read more: http://aol.sportingnews.com/nfl/sto...-the-best-of-drafts-hybrid-ends#ixzz1JJD3hg6I

 

[Buckskin86]

Cameron Heyward to the Ravens: yay or nay?
April 12, 2011
By John Eisenberg
Ravens Insider
CSNbaltimore.com

According to various draft experts, the Ravens are either selecting a defensive end, cornerback, receiver or offensive tackle with their first-round pick on April 28.

Some two weeks before the decision comes down, I?m thinking defense. This draft class is deep in ends and cornerbacks, so several of the right quality will be available when the Ravens pick, while the speed receiver they want probably can be obtained in the second round.

The Ravens aren?t about to tip their hand, of course, but several names are circulating more intensely as possible fits. Cameron Heyward is one.

A 6-5, 288-pound defensive end from Ohio State, Heyward could probably step right in and help the Ravens? third-down pass rush ? one of their main areas of need ? but also eventually play on first and second downs, too.

ESPN.com draft analyst Todd McShay had the Ravens taking him in the first round in a March mock draft before switching to Miami cornerback Brandon Harris more recently.

Heyward is the son of former NFL star Craig ?Ironhead? Heyward, a bruising running back who gained 4,301 yards for five teams over 11 seasons, earned one Pro Bowl selection and passed away in 2006 from a brain tumor.

A four-year starter at Ohio State, the younger Heyward is athletic and versatile enough to play tackle and end in a 4-3 defense and straight end in a 3-4. (The Ravens run a base 3-4 but also use other alignments.)

?I?m not just going to be set in one thing,? Heyward said at the scouting combine in Indianapolis in February. ?I?m able to help a lot more, and there are a lot of teams that do both. It?s only going to help me.?

Cont..

http://www.csnbaltimore.com/04/12/1...r-nay/landing.html?blockID=502278&feedID=6818

 

[Buckskin86]

Blogger's perspective: Cameron Heyward
April, 13, 2011
By James Walker

The AFC North blog continues its series with ESPN.com's college writers to take an in-depth look at potential prospects for the division.

On Wednesday we check in with Big Ten blogger Adam Rittenberg to get a scouting report on Ohio State defensive end Cameron Heyward, who is a potential target of the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Adam, after watching Heyward closely the past few years, how would you break down his game?

Adam Rittenberg: There's a lot to like about Heyward even though he didn't have monster numbers his senior season. He boasts excellent size and can play both defensive line positions, as he showed for much of his college career. Heyward is a big-game player, as he showed with dominant performances against both USC and Penn State in 2009 and again in the Sugar Bowl against Arkansas, which was his best performance with the Buckeyes. Pro teams will be looking for more consistency out of him. Heyward understands the NFL life. His father Craig played in the league, and he has a definite maturity about him. He'd be a good pick for a team that uses a 3-4 scheme.

Should Heyward's late-season injury be a concern?

Rittenberg: The elbow injury isn't a concern to me. He suffered it in the second quarter of the Sugar Bowl and still went on to have his best game as a Buckeye.

Heyward has drawn some pro comparisons to Vernon Gholston, who was a star at Ohio State but a bust in the NFL. Fair or unfair?

Rittenberg: The Gholston comparisons are a little unfair. Heyward is more than just a pure pass rusher and played quite a bit on the inside at Ohio State, which does a nice job of moving around its linemen. Heyward can affect games without solely pressuring the quarterbacks.

http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/26431/bloggers-perspective-cameron-heyward

 

[Buckeye86]

Heyward has drawn some pro comparisons to Vernon Gholston, who was a star at Ohio State but a bust in the NFL. Fair or unfair?

That has got to be the worst comparison in the history of draft scouting. Must have been a Browns or Bengals talent evaluator, and they must be looking at him as an outside linebacker... what a joke.

"I don't know, 6'6" 290 lbs. Cameron Heyward looks like a perfect end for a 3-4 system, but we want him at outside linebacker, and in that case, he reminds us too much of 6'3" 260 lbs. Vernon Gholston in that they were both very successful players for Ohio State and outside of that have almost nothing in common."

 

[osucollegebuck]

Did cam do any signings? I must have missed him :( I had some Rose Bowl stuff I was hoping to get signed.

 

[Buckskin86]

Cam interviewed ESPN Radio- April 14, 2011