Professor

Carroll County Times: Westminster, Maryland

excerpt:

Scouring the nation for obscure football talent, the Baltimore Ravens’ scouts tend to observe a lot more suspects than prospects.

Perhaps a few times per year, a true sleeper is actually discovered.

Often, it’s a raw, albeit gifted and fairly unknown free agent from a small school. Sometimes, the college name contains a directional prefix.

Rookie outside linebacker Edgar Jones personifies that description.

Undrafted out of little Southeast Missouri in Cape Girardeau, Mo., (population 36,621), the converted defensive end is building a reputation as a promising young pass rusher and has begun to create a buzz among the diehard followers of training camp at McDaniel College.

“A sleeper?” Jones said following practice earlier this week. “I’ve heard that a ton. I want to be one of those.”

Jones began making team officials take a closer look at his No. 64 jersey on game film following a scrimmage against the Washington Redskins.

Jones, 23, sacked Redskins veteran quarterback Mark Brunell, sprinting past blockers to tag Brunell before he could glimpse downfield. And he excelled in pursuit, hustling to chase down a running back in the open field.

Most impressively, the Rayville, La., native never left the field despite the 141-degree, foot-burning heat at field level last weekend at M&T Bank Stadium. He lined up with the first, second and third units without complaint despite the sauna-like conditions.

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