Throughout the pre-draft process, there are several ways a player can get onto a team’s radar. For wide receiver Dezmon Patmon and the Indianapolis Colts, that came at the East-West Shrine Game.
Like the Senior Bowl, the East-West Shrine Game is an All-Star game of sorts that allows coaches, scouts and executives to see prospects play, compete and run through drills up close.
Patmon had a strong week at the East-West Shrine Game, and the Colts took notice for the remainder of the pre-draft process, according to Colts’ assistant director of college scouting Matt Tarpening.
“So Dezmon went to the East-West Shrine Game, and that’s a pretty big all-star game, and he had a really good week,” Tapening said, via Colts.com. “And we saw him during the year, I actually saw him play live against Arizona State, which is probably his best game from this season. But Dezmon’s got size, he ran really well at the Combine, he tested well, he’s got good makeup and he’s smart.”
The Colts had seen Patmon play during his career at Washington State, and his combination of size, speed and athleticism played in his favor during the NFL Combine.
During those two big offseason events, the Colts really spent time with Patmon. It wound up leading to him being a selection in the sixth round of the draft.
“Dezmon, he had a great week at the East-West Shrine Game, and then he had a great career up at Washington State and he was a guy that performed really well at the Combine. And we spent a lot of time with him at the East-West and at the Combine,” Tarpening said. “And he’s got really good makeup and he’s got good physical traits. He’s got size. He ran well, plays fast on tape. And we like his upside too. We think that there’s some things that he can work on, but our coaches are excited that he can get there.”
Patmon will be competing for the final spot in the wide receiver room and while there are some deserving players battling for the same spot, his upside and makeup could be enough to get him on the roster following the preseason.
