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There's no doubt University at Albany offensive tackle Raphael Nguti has the size to play in the NFL.

He's 6-foot-6 and weighs 330 pounds. His arms are 341/8 inches long, which ranks among the top 10 prospects at his position entering the NFL Draft April 25-26.

And yet his agent, J.R. Rickert, said opinions are all over the map on whether Nguti is good enough to play at the next level and whether he might be selected in the seven-round draft.

"It's interesting," Rickert said. "There are a wide range of ratings from different scouts. Some people think he's good enough to be (picked) in the fifth round. ... Some are a little slow to think he can even make it to (training) camp. That's a pretty wide range on a kid."

There are the usual concerns about whether a player from UAlbany, which belongs to the Football Championship Subdivision, can play against higher-level competition from the Football Bowl Subdivision.

In addition, NFL teams wonder whether Nguti has the athletic ability and the quick feet needed to block pass-rushing defensive ends at the highest level.

http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/st ... ory=SPORTS

I think the kid will end a free agent somewhere.

He is an amazing testament to Bob Ford's coaching and nurturing ability. The kid came in as a freshman at over 400 pounds and was literally tripping over his own feet when he walked. Fordie put him on a strict diet and specific coordination and agility training program and drilled his footwork hard in practice and the offseason. Voila - 5 years later the kid is an NFL prospect.