After an injury-plagued first training camp and several weeks of learning his CFL craft on the practice roster, Luther Maddy is itching to show what he can do in game action.
The hulking defensive tackle out of Virginia Tech has been getting some extra looks in practice and could be one of the newcomers making his professional debut for Saturday’s final regular season game against the Blue Bombers.
“I feel the same way now as I did in training camp; just real grateful to be here,” said Maddy.
“I wasn’t playing any ball last year because of my injury (torn pectoral), so I have been blessed be out here with these guys competing and getting better every day.”
MADDY READY TO PLAY FOR REALMaddy was thrilled to come north and learn from another legend in Wally Buono. He feels that experience with the CFL all-time wins leader has definitely come as advertised.
“It’s just crazy; when you go into the meetings Coach Wally is in the back and he’ll stop the film and give us pointers; the defensive line, the defensive backs, the linebackers and even today with Ty Long and how he was kicking. I just find that amazing. He knows so much about the game and I don’t take that for granted. I try to pick his brain whenever I can and listen to what he says during meetings”, explained Maddy.
Buono has spoken highly about some of the younger talent on his roster and feels Maddy reminds him of one the best defensive linemen in the entire league.
Physically, he’s a lot like (the Eskimos’ Almondo) Sewell,” claimed Buono.
“Quick, stout and strong. At training camp he was active, physical and disruptive.
“When it comes to those injured rookies, you heal then, treat them and put them on the practice roster. Now he’s going to be getting an opportunity. The other thing that hurt him as when we changed the ratio. People forget that.”
The ratio change Buono speaks of was using Nationals Maxx Forde and now Junior Luke in a rotation on the interior. Now another International must come off the roster for Maddy to dress.
Maddy is listed at 6'2 and 285 pounds, which makes him the second biggest defensive lineman in camp, after Mic'hael Brooks (6-3, 295). His size could give him a chance to collapse the pocket and get penetration. I plan to watch closely.
Here are Maddy's 2015 highlights from Virginia Tech:
Maddy was invited to the NFL Combine last year but was unable to compete in any field drills as he recovered from a left knee injury. He went undrafted and was later invited to minicamp in New Orleans. Here's what NFL scouts said about him in his draft year:
http://www.nfl.com/draft/2016/profiles/ ... id=2555286