Tulane’s Cam Sample turned heads at the Reese’s Senior Bowl in January with a week-long performance that saw him named practice player of the week.
The 6-foot-3, 280-pound defensive lineman thinks he boosted his draft stock with that performance.
“I know the big questions were if my game translated to a bigger level,” he said. “We’re in the American, so they wanted to see me stack up against some of those SEC guys, ACC guys, things like that.
“So I think for me being able to go out there and show I can compete and do well against those guys definitely boosted my stock.”
He got another chance to impress all 32 NFL teams Tuesday at Tulane’s Pro Day which was held at the New Orleans Saints practice facility.
His coach Willie Fritz, said that the versatile defensive lineman was even put through drills by Saints defensive line coach Ryan Nielsen, a scenario that could look very similar to Sample’s first training camp if New Orleans decided to select the Georgia native in the 2021 NFL Draft.
“A lot of people joke around with me (about that), ‘You might be right back in New Orleans for the next couple years,’’ he said.
Sample met with the Saints at the Senior Bowl and said he’s heard from and had meetings with a few members of the staff since.
New Orleans is in need of defensive linemen after trading Malcolm Brown to the Jaguars, losing Sheldon Rankins to the Jets via free agency and 2020 sacks leader Trey Hendrickson to the Bengals in free agency as well.
Sample, who said he he projects as a 4-3 defensive end, has played multiple positions along the defensive front and on special teams his coach Willie Fritz said.
The versatile lineman was able to collect 11.5 sacks, 22 tackles for a loss and eight pass deflections during his four seasons at Tulane.
He’s now looking forward to having an opportunity to do so at the NFL level.
“I mean it’s a blessing to be able to get drafted, so whoever comes calling my name, you know, I’m dedicated and ready to work wherever that is,” Sample said.