The Tampa Bay Buccaneers worked out four local athletes on Wednesday, continuing their history of always keeping an eye out for hometown talent. Represented by the Elite Sports Agency , players Patrick Hampton, Chaz Hine, Colin Boss and Matt Brevi all took part in the workout. Two of the players will be familiar to USF football followers. Both Hine and Hampton were part of the 2011/2012 Bulls team, each also 12 game starters.
Chaz Hine played center for the Bulls last season, but has 25 games under his belt at offensive guard. Center is a position the Bucs will be looking to add depth at in the coming draft after releasing Jeff Faine and moving Jeremy Zuttah over to replace him. The 6’4-295 lb. Florida native assisted the Bulls in allowing only 1.3 sacks per game, best in the Big East conference. His physical stature and style are similar to Wisconsin center Peter Konz, a player Bucs offensive line coach Bob Bostad groomed. Per ESA head Glen Lansky, Chaz Hine was taken some extra time with after the workout to talk with the offensive line coach. Assuming that person is Bob Bostad, the session couldn’t have gone better for the young center. In addition to his play, Hine is also a quality character player, involved with USF’s student coalition against homelessness and poverty. Hine’s character and work ethic fit right in with Greg Schiano’s vision of quality players, so don’t be surprised to see Hine at Bucs training camp. Schiano will also be familiar with both he and Patrick Hampton, facing the Rutgers yearly during Schiano’s tenure there.
USF defensive end Patrick Hampton also worked out for the team, another full season starter who racked up 23 tackles, 2 forced fumbles and a half sack on the year. In 2010, Hampton recorded 20 tackles, 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble. Hampton was considered one of the leaders in the Bulls locker room, but his size may be a factor which plays against him. Depending on where you look, he is listed between 6′ feet to 6’2″ in height. Also, the upcoming draft will have some nuggets to be found late at the position. Still, Hampton is another player Schiano will be familiar with and Hampton actual had one of his best games in 2011 against Rutgers.
The Bucs also worked out Stony Brook wide receiver Matt Brevi and Middle Tennessee State offensive lineman Colin Boss. Both players would likely be looked at for depth at the position, most likely camp invite candidates. Matt Brevi was an Armwood H.S. all-state player who played one season for Fort Hays State University in Kansas before moving on to Stony Brook. In all, Brevi has 2,025 receiving yards in his college career to go along with 12 touchdowns.
According to CBS Sports, Colin Boss was on the Rimington watch list after a 2011 season which saw him not allow even one sack. The former Berkeley Prep star was selected to the All-Sunbelt Conference first team, the third offensive linemen in school history to be selected. At 6’4″-306 lbs, Boss also displays the physical makeup needed at the position.
If nothing else, the workouts tell us some positions of need the Bucs may be content in waiting on until after the draft. Each player would be viewed as added roster depth with upside. While it was just a workout and could amount to nothing, it’s an all too familiar story in the NFL to hear of players like these whom go from obscurity to stardom. Either way, it’s good to see the organization keeping a close eye on home bred talent.
