When it comes to the NFL, player talent and player connections matter. Coaches will often bring players in who have worked with them before. There are a number of NFL draft prospects this year with connections to the new Cardinals coaching staff, as head coach Kliff Kingsbury and a few assistants come from the college ranks in 2018.
Who are these players?
Ohio State DE Nick Bosa
Bosa, who might just be the No. 1 pick in the draft, has two connections to the Cardinals coaching staff. Linebackers coach Bill Davis coached linebackers at Ohio State the last two seasons while Bosa played there. Davis didn’t coach him directly but would with Arizona, as Bosa would play OLB.
But the connection to the Cardinals doesn’t end with Davis. Newly hired assistant wide receivers coach Peter Badovinac. Badovinac was a defensive graduate assistant at Ohio State last year as well.
Ohio State DT Dre’Mont Jones
Jones played for the Buckeyes, giving him the same connections to the Cardinals staff as Bosa has. Jones gets some first-round discussion but might go on Day 2 of the draft.
Texas Tech WR Antoine Wesley
Wesley was coached by new Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury. Wesley is 6-5 and was one of the most productive receivers in college in 2018. He caught 88 passes for more than 1,400 yards and had nine touchdowns.
Massachusetts WR Andy Isabella
Isabella was hugely productive last season for UMass, catching 102 passes for 1,698 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns. He was a standout at the Senior Bowl. New Cardinals offensive quality control coach Spencer Whipple was the passing game coordinator and QB coach last year at UMass and was receivers coach from 2015-2017.
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