Tyler Whaley trying out with NFL Scouts....

[ghostwriter]

I was talking with Dave Tyler's Dad today at Church....And, Tyler will be trying out as a Free Agent this Friday March 7th in Columbus....Looks like the Kansas City Chiefs are very interested in him as a Blocking Fullback....

Good Luck, Tank!!!!

[YOU'RE TIGER BAIT]

GET ER DONE, TANK.

[ItownHosscat]

I hope it happens!

[YOU'RE TIGER BAIT]

I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THIS YOUNG MAN KEEP PLAYING. HE'S A PERFECT SIZE FOR A BLOCKING FB.

[someoverkill]

Lorenzo Neal has made quite a career out of blocking. Maybe Mr. Whaley can follow in his "big" footsteps. Either way, it seems this young man has his head on straight and he seems to have been a great role model for young SEOP'ers. Good luck.

[The_Legend_of_Northwest]

good luck tank

[BigMcCauley55]

good luck tyler


speaking of lorenzo neal i saw that he got cut

where is he at now?

[TrojanXplosion]

Good luck to Tyler.

[henrysteele]

Go for it Tyler!

http://www.irontonfootball.com/2007phot ... age32.html

[ballparent]

Another great story by Billy Bruce about Tyler Whaley. Good luck to Tyler.

Tyler Whaley aims for NFL at Pro Day
Mar 06, 2008 @ 12:00 AM
By BILLY BRUCE
The Lawrence Herald
COLUMBUS -- Tyler Whaley doesn't sleepwalk. He chases his dreams wide awake.

Friday, at the Ohio State Pro Day in Columbus, the former Buckeyes walk-on and Ironton grad will showcase his skills to representatives of the NFL in hopes of landing a full-time gig in a professional backfield.

"This is an annual thing," Whaley said of the OSU orchestrated scouting combine, adding that Vernon Gholston, Trevor Robinson, Larry Grant, Kirk Barton, Jackson Haas, Dre' Riddick and Dionte Johnson will also be participating. "They let all of the outgoing seniors have a chance to be recognized by professional teams," he said.

"Tank," as Whaley has been known since his days as an Ironton Fighting Tiger, noted that the open try outs have proven beneficial to other fellow Buckeyes in the past. "This was great for (wide receiver) Roy Hall," Whaley said, mentioning that his former teammate's NFL stock was assisted immensely by the try out. "He was in a similar position as me. He went from not having too much draft stock to a fifth-round draft pick of the Indianapolis Colts."

For Whaley, this is just another opportunity to prove he can compete with the best in the country. Five years ago, the 6-foot-tall, 250-pound dreamer walked onto the OSU campus as an undersized lineman in a football Mecca. Many people laughed at his choice to spurn scholarship offers from smaller schools to toil in anonymity at Ohio State.

Nobody is laughing now.

After progressing to second-string center in his junior year and earning a scholarship, Whaley was given a shot at fullback last season because of his power, explosiveness and low center of gravity. The unusual shift worked wonderfully, not only for Whaley, but also for his team. His "lineman in the backfield" attitude proved an asset in springing tailback Beanie Wells, and his teammates, to a second-consecutive national championship game last January.

"I'm excited because this is one of those times where I can prove myself again to fulfill another dream," Whaley said of the combine and his overachieving mindset. "It's like how I felt going into Ohio State. I wanted to play division I football and it turned out great."

While there is no guarantee that Whaley will attract NFL attention, he knows he can't let his dreams pass him by. "I don't want to sit back one day and say, 'maybe I could have,'" he said. "I want to take advantage of every opportunity."

Those opportunities should be greatly enhanced by his freakish strength. All Americans Gholston and Jake Long of Michigan tied for the most reps of 225 pounds at the national combine with 37. Whaley, one of the top all-time bench pressers at Ohio State, is in that league. "I've gotten 37 the past two weeks," he said. "I'm hoping to push 35 to 40 at the combine."

Whaley has trained "in secret" the past two months while deciding what to do once he graduates this month. It took his fiancé and his parents to confirm that he should continue doing what he's done his whole life -- follow his dreams. "Brittany and my parents said, 'You need to do it,' he said, which confirmed in his competitive heart the feelings he was already experiencing. "I don't want to be that guy who says, 'I could have had a shot.'"

And that's all Tyler Whaley is looking for -- a shot. Just like when he walked onto the campus of a perennial football powerhouse five years ago as the team's smallest lineman, holding only his dreams.

[henrysteele]

http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/ViewAr ... ID=1407090

Tyler Whaley
On Pro Day
"It was a great experience. I was happy I was able to showcase my abilities. I feel like I helped myself by setting personal records. I did my best today."

On leaving Ohio State
"It was a dream come true to accomplish what I did at Ohio State and it's a dream come true to have a chance to play in the National Football League."

[ghostwriter]

Tyler had an impressive day....40 yards clocked at 4.7....225 lbs. is the standard NFL bench press....Tyler had 34 reps at 225 lbs....

Good job Tank....

[tigerdad]

Good luck Tyler, You have been a positive roll model for all kids that should never give up and follow their dreams, We are so proud of you here in tiger town.

[henrysteele]

That is great news ghostwriter.

Based on the 2008 NFL Combine results, Tyler's bench press numbers would place him in an elite group. Only 8 players did equal to or better than 34 reps at the combine...and all are linemen!

Bench Press at 2008 NFL Combine:

Jake Long (OL) 37 reps
Vernon Gholston (DL) 37 reps
Jeremy Zuttah (OL) 35 reps
Ahtyba Rubin (DL) 35 reps
Trevor Laws (OL) 35 reps
Kirk Barton (OL) 34 reps
Nick Hayden (DL) 34 reps
Sedrick Ellis (DL) 34 reps

[55buckeyes98]

What a great story! Good luck to Tyler! Keep us updated!

[ghostwriter]

The book about Tyler goes to the publisher in April....And, will be in the bookstores in the Fall....

[henrysteele]

Tyler Whaley at OSU Pro Day:


http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/PhotoA ... LBID=17457