Post by elp525 on Jul 9, 2009 4:56:20 GMT -5
July 9, 2009
By Mike Casazza
Daily Mail sports writer
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- If Ellis Lankster ever had doubts he belonged on a NFL roster after being drafted in the seventh round in April, the Buffalo Bills quickly put those worries to rest.
On the former West Virginia cornerback's first day as a professional, Lankster lined up across from receiver Roscoe Parrish and anticipated a route he'd seen Parrish run many times before.
"I broke on it, picked it off and took it to the house," Lankster said.
It was one of three interceptions the Bills unofficially credited Lankster with during the spring practice sessions to go along with four pass break-ups.
"I actually had five picks and seven pass break-ups," Lankster said.
Whatever the case, the numbers were impressive enough for the Bills to sign Lankster to a non-guaranteed contract Monday.
"It's a big step for me," Lankster said. "The contract gets me invited to camp. It gets me a signing bonus. It gives me a chance to play NFL football."
Lankster said he spent most of his time with the second-string nickel backs (third cornerback), but was also used at outside corner with the third, second and first teams, which meant occasional battles with receiver Terrell Owens.
"The first time I had to stick T.O., I was so excited," Lankster said. "I was like a little kid, like, 'I'm really on the field with T.O.'"
Lankster said he jammed Owens a few times before the veteran broke through.
"About three plays later he caught a pass on a double move," Lankster said. "He got me."
Perhaps most impressively, Lankster made his mark without returning a single punt or kick, a specialty he thought he could exploit in the NFL.
"I'll do whatever they want at this point," he said.
The Bills drafted two other cornerbacks, including one who signed with Lankster on Monday. Buffalo also has Pro Bowler Terrence McGee at corner as well as veterans Leodis McKelvin, Drayton Florence, Reggie Corner and Ashton Youboty.
Lankster and all Buffalo employees are prohibited from commenting on contract terms, but it's believed Lankster signed a standard four-year rookie deal worth $2.7 million, including the signing bonus.
Last year, former WVU running back Steve Slaton was picked in the third round and later signed a four-year deal with the Houston Texans worth $2.4 million and including a $665,000 signing bonus. Lankster's bonus could be worth $300,000 more, which if nothing else is a sign of faith on the Bills' part.
When announcing the signing, the team release said Lankster "could be a major sleeper for the Bills in training camp later this month. The West Virginia product was one of the most impressive rookies this spring."
It came as something of a surprise. Lankster had a low pre-draft profile before running a 4.3-second 40-yard dash at the WVU pro day.
"All of a sudden my agent said all these teams were calling asking for my number on draft day," Lankster said.
The 5-foot-9, 190-pound native of Whistler, Ala., went 11th in the final round.
"People were telling me I didn't have enough experience and I only started one year," said Lankster, an All-Big East second team pick this past season. "Well, if I only started that one year at West Virginia and I did what I did, that shows I can play."
Lankster played two seasons at Jones County (Miss.) Junior College, where he was an All-America return man.
He was suspended at the start of his first season at WVU, but started all 13 games last year. He was third on the team with 68 tackles and tied for the team lead with three interceptions and seven pass break-ups.
He credited WVU cornerbacks coach David Lockwood for assisting Lankster in "coming into my own" and establishing some consistency.
"I'm still learning," Lankster said. "It was coaching. Coach Lockwood changed me. He came to me before spring practice my senior year and said, 'Ellis, I'm going to push you like you've never been pushed before.'
"The Buffalo Bills have great coaches, so I should be fine. I'm excited. If I take everything Coach Lockwood told me and keep learning, I'll be OK."
Contact sportswriter Mike Casazza at mi...@dailymail.com or 304-319-1142. His blog is at blogs.dailymail.com/wvu.
doubts he belonged on a NFL roster after being drafted in the seventh round in April, the Buffalo Bills quickly put those worries to rest.
On the former West Virginia cornerback's first day as a professional, Lankster lined up across from receiver Roscoe Parrish and anticipated a route he'd seen Parrish run many times before.
"I broke on it, picked it off and took it to the house," Lankster said.
It was one of three interceptions the Bills unofficially credited Lankster with during the spring practice sessions to go along with four pass break-ups.
"I actually had five picks and seven pass break-ups," Lankster said.
Whatever the case, the numbers were impressive enough for the Bills to sign Lankster to a non-guaranteed contract Monday.
"It's a big step for me," Lankster said. "The contract gets me invited to camp. It gets me a signing bonus. It gives me a chance to play NFL football."
Lankster said he spent most of his time with the second-string nickel backs (third cornerback), but was also used at outside corner with the third, second and first teams, which meant occasional battles with receiver Terrell Owens.
"The first time I had to stick T.O., I was so excited," Lankster said. "I was like a little kid, like, 'I'm really on the field with T.O.'"
Lankster said he jammed Owens a few times before the veteran broke through.
"About three plays later he caught a pass on a double move," Lankster said. "He got me."
Perhaps most impressively, Lankster made his mark without returning a single punt or kick, a specialty he thought he could exploit in the NFL.
"I'll do whatever they want at this point," he said.
The Bills drafted two other cornerbacks, including one who signed with Lankster on Monday. Buffalo also has Pro Bowler Terrence McGee at corner as well as veterans Leodis McKelvin, Drayton Florence, Reggie Corner and Ashton Youboty.
Lankster and all Buffalo employees are prohibited from commenting on contract terms, but it's believed Lankster signed a standard four-year rookie deal worth $2.7 million, including the signing bonus.
Last year, former WVU running back Steve Slaton was picked in the third round and later signed a four-year deal with the Houston Texans worth $2.4 million and including a $665,000 signing bonus. Lankster's bonus could be worth $300,000 more, which if nothing else is a sign of faith on the Bills' part.
When announcing the signing, the team release said Lankster "could be a major sleeper for the Bills in training camp later this month. The West Virginia product was one of the most impressive rookies this spring."
It came as something of a surprise. Lankster had a low pre-draft profile before running a 4.3-second 40-yard dash at the WVU pro day.
"All of a sudden my agent said all these teams were calling asking for my number on draft day," Lankster said.
The 5-foot-9, 190-pound native of Whistler, Ala., went 11th in the final round.
"People were telling me I didn't have enough experience and I only started one year," said Lankster, an All-Big East second team pick this past season. "Well, if I only started that one year at West Virginia and I did what I did, that shows I can play."
Lankster played two seasons at Jones County (Miss.) Junior College, where he was an All-America return man.
He was suspended at the start of his first season at WVU, but started all 13 games last year. He was third on the team with 68 tackles and tied for the team lead with three interceptions and seven pass break-ups.
He credited WVU cornerbacks coach David Lockwood for assisting Lankster in "coming into my own" and establishing some consistency.
"I'm still learning," Lankster said. "It was coaching. Coach Lockwood changed me. He came to me before spring practice my senior year and said, 'Ellis, I'm going to push you like you've never been pushed before.'
"The Buffalo Bills have great coaches, so I should be fine. I'm excited. If I take everything Coach Lockwood told me and keep learning, I'll be OK."
By Mike Casazza
Daily Mail sports writer
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- If Ellis Lankster ever had doubts he belonged on a NFL roster after being drafted in the seventh round in April, the Buffalo Bills quickly put those worries to rest.
On the former West Virginia cornerback's first day as a professional, Lankster lined up across from receiver Roscoe Parrish and anticipated a route he'd seen Parrish run many times before.
"I broke on it, picked it off and took it to the house," Lankster said.
It was one of three interceptions the Bills unofficially credited Lankster with during the spring practice sessions to go along with four pass break-ups.
"I actually had five picks and seven pass break-ups," Lankster said.
Whatever the case, the numbers were impressive enough for the Bills to sign Lankster to a non-guaranteed contract Monday.
"It's a big step for me," Lankster said. "The contract gets me invited to camp. It gets me a signing bonus. It gives me a chance to play NFL football."
Lankster said he spent most of his time with the second-string nickel backs (third cornerback), but was also used at outside corner with the third, second and first teams, which meant occasional battles with receiver Terrell Owens.
"The first time I had to stick T.O., I was so excited," Lankster said. "I was like a little kid, like, 'I'm really on the field with T.O.'"
Lankster said he jammed Owens a few times before the veteran broke through.
"About three plays later he caught a pass on a double move," Lankster said. "He got me."
Perhaps most impressively, Lankster made his mark without returning a single punt or kick, a specialty he thought he could exploit in the NFL.
"I'll do whatever they want at this point," he said.
The Bills drafted two other cornerbacks, including one who signed with Lankster on Monday. Buffalo also has Pro Bowler Terrence McGee at corner as well as veterans Leodis McKelvin, Drayton Florence, Reggie Corner and Ashton Youboty.
Lankster and all Buffalo employees are prohibited from commenting on contract terms, but it's believed Lankster signed a standard four-year rookie deal worth $2.7 million, including the signing bonus.
Last year, former WVU running back Steve Slaton was picked in the third round and later signed a four-year deal with the Houston Texans worth $2.4 million and including a $665,000 signing bonus. Lankster's bonus could be worth $300,000 more, which if nothing else is a sign of faith on the Bills' part.
When announcing the signing, the team release said Lankster "could be a major sleeper for the Bills in training camp later this month. The West Virginia product was one of the most impressive rookies this spring."
It came as something of a surprise. Lankster had a low pre-draft profile before running a 4.3-second 40-yard dash at the WVU pro day.
"All of a sudden my agent said all these teams were calling asking for my number on draft day," Lankster said.
The 5-foot-9, 190-pound native of Whistler, Ala., went 11th in the final round.
"People were telling me I didn't have enough experience and I only started one year," said Lankster, an All-Big East second team pick this past season. "Well, if I only started that one year at West Virginia and I did what I did, that shows I can play."
Lankster played two seasons at Jones County (Miss.) Junior College, where he was an All-America return man.
He was suspended at the start of his first season at WVU, but started all 13 games last year. He was third on the team with 68 tackles and tied for the team lead with three interceptions and seven pass break-ups.
He credited WVU cornerbacks coach David Lockwood for assisting Lankster in "coming into my own" and establishing some consistency.
"I'm still learning," Lankster said. "It was coaching. Coach Lockwood changed me. He came to me before spring practice my senior year and said, 'Ellis, I'm going to push you like you've never been pushed before.'
"The Buffalo Bills have great coaches, so I should be fine. I'm excited. If I take everything Coach Lockwood told me and keep learning, I'll be OK."
Contact sportswriter Mike Casazza at mi...@dailymail.com or 304-319-1142. His blog is at blogs.dailymail.com/wvu.
doubts he belonged on a NFL roster after being drafted in the seventh round in April, the Buffalo Bills quickly put those worries to rest.
On the former West Virginia cornerback's first day as a professional, Lankster lined up across from receiver Roscoe Parrish and anticipated a route he'd seen Parrish run many times before.
"I broke on it, picked it off and took it to the house," Lankster said.
It was one of three interceptions the Bills unofficially credited Lankster with during the spring practice sessions to go along with four pass break-ups.
"I actually had five picks and seven pass break-ups," Lankster said.
Whatever the case, the numbers were impressive enough for the Bills to sign Lankster to a non-guaranteed contract Monday.
"It's a big step for me," Lankster said. "The contract gets me invited to camp. It gets me a signing bonus. It gives me a chance to play NFL football."
Lankster said he spent most of his time with the second-string nickel backs (third cornerback), but was also used at outside corner with the third, second and first teams, which meant occasional battles with receiver Terrell Owens.
"The first time I had to stick T.O., I was so excited," Lankster said. "I was like a little kid, like, 'I'm really on the field with T.O.'"
Lankster said he jammed Owens a few times before the veteran broke through.
"About three plays later he caught a pass on a double move," Lankster said. "He got me."
Perhaps most impressively, Lankster made his mark without returning a single punt or kick, a specialty he thought he could exploit in the NFL.
"I'll do whatever they want at this point," he said.
The Bills drafted two other cornerbacks, including one who signed with Lankster on Monday. Buffalo also has Pro Bowler Terrence McGee at corner as well as veterans Leodis McKelvin, Drayton Florence, Reggie Corner and Ashton Youboty.
Lankster and all Buffalo employees are prohibited from commenting on contract terms, but it's believed Lankster signed a standard four-year rookie deal worth $2.7 million, including the signing bonus.
Last year, former WVU running back Steve Slaton was picked in the third round and later signed a four-year deal with the Houston Texans worth $2.4 million and including a $665,000 signing bonus. Lankster's bonus could be worth $300,000 more, which if nothing else is a sign of faith on the Bills' part.
When announcing the signing, the team release said Lankster "could be a major sleeper for the Bills in training camp later this month. The West Virginia product was one of the most impressive rookies this spring."
It came as something of a surprise. Lankster had a low pre-draft profile before running a 4.3-second 40-yard dash at the WVU pro day.
"All of a sudden my agent said all these teams were calling asking for my number on draft day," Lankster said.
The 5-foot-9, 190-pound native of Whistler, Ala., went 11th in the final round.
"People were telling me I didn't have enough experience and I only started one year," said Lankster, an All-Big East second team pick this past season. "Well, if I only started that one year at West Virginia and I did what I did, that shows I can play."
Lankster played two seasons at Jones County (Miss.) Junior College, where he was an All-America return man.
He was suspended at the start of his first season at WVU, but started all 13 games last year. He was third on the team with 68 tackles and tied for the team lead with three interceptions and seven pass break-ups.
He credited WVU cornerbacks coach David Lockwood for assisting Lankster in "coming into my own" and establishing some consistency.
"I'm still learning," Lankster said. "It was coaching. Coach Lockwood changed me. He came to me before spring practice my senior year and said, 'Ellis, I'm going to push you like you've never been pushed before.'
"The Buffalo Bills have great coaches, so I should be fine. I'm excited. If I take everything Coach Lockwood told me and keep learning, I'll be OK."
