The NFL Draft is being held at Campus Martius Park and Hart Plaza in Detroit, Michigan this weekend, but Long Island could be pretty well represented as well. The Island has ties to quite a few NFL draft prospects who are looking to be taken in this year's selections.
The first name that seems to come to scouts' minds when talking about Long Island prospects is University of New Hampshire running back Dylan Laube. Laube starred at Westhampton Beach High School. He ran for 2,680 yards as a senior and co-won the Hansen Award in 2017, which is given out each year to the football player that receives merit of the most outstanding player in Suffolk County. Laube turned heads at the Senior Bowl this off season where he was among 140 prospects looking to stand out. It was Laube's first chance to show what he could do against power 5 competition and he certainly made a statement. His game brings up comparisons to some of the NFL's greats. "I've heard Christian McCaffrey, Austin Ekeler, Danny Woodhead, James White, all versatile guys and threats in the receiving game," Laube said. "I think I've molded my game around that."
Laube stands at 6-1, 225, so he is bigger than some of those comparisons, but still as elusive. He averaged 4.5 yards per carry for 715 yards and nine touchdowns and showed excellent receiving skills with 68 catches for 699 yards and seven TDs. The year prior to that he averaged 4.9 yards per carry for 1,205 yards and 15 touchdowns, while catching 49 passes that season for 464 yards and two scores. The Jets have been connected to him this offseason, and it is looking like a pretty perfect fit.
Laube is not alone among Long Island hopefuls this weekend. Pitt offensive lineman Matt Goncalves of Manorville has also been mocked to go as high as the 5th round by some analysts. Gonclaves played at Eastport-South Manor High School, and despite the fact he had an option to play another year at Pitt, he opted for the NFL Draft to "fulfill a lifelong dream."
Goncalves spent five seasons with Pittsburgh after red-shirting his freshman year. He has been part of a very good line now for 4 seasons and was named a team captain this fall. His draft stock fell a little though as a leg injury forced him to miss all but the first three games of the season. That didn't deter Pitt offensive line coach Dave Borbely from saying he thought Goncalves was ready for the NFL. The 6-foot-6, 330 pounder played in 35 games, with 24 starts and was an All-ACC third-team selection in 2022.
While with Eastport-South Manor, Goncalves was the consensus No. 1 offensive line prospect in the state of New York, according to scouting services.
A Nassau County player, Owen Glascoe is also on draft boards. The tight end from Massapequa is a jack of all trades. While with Massapequa he even played some wildcat QB in addition to H-Back. When he went to the College Gridiron Showcase, he was able to showcase his talent as a pass catcher and route runner, which most scouts see as translating well to him becoming an NFL tight end.
Finally, Davon Wells might be from Ft. Lauderdale, but he played his college ball at Long Island University, so his Long Island ties are deep as well. Wells is a 5-10, 175 pound receiver in a loaded WR draft class. He models his game after Justin Jefferson and his sure hands and speed can certainly play at the next level.