{"id":40243,"date":"2016-04-27T13:53:16","date_gmt":"2016-04-27T18:53:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/?p=40243"},"modified":"2016-04-28T17:47:40","modified_gmt":"2016-04-28T22:47:40","slug":"northwesterns-vitale-a-superback-suited-for-many-positions-in-nfl-too","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/northwesterns-vitale-a-superback-suited-for-many-positions-in-nfl-too\/","title":{"rendered":"Northwestern’s Vitale a ‘superback’ suited for many positions in NFL, too"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Tolly Taylor<\/strong><\/p>\n

To work on his route running, Dan Vitale catches passes from Denver Broncos quarterback Trevor Siemian. To improve his blocking explosiveness, Vitale uses specific band and barbell exercises. Everything he does is to make him stronger, faster and better at a variety of positions for the NFL.<\/p>\n

Everything he can do makes him more valuable for the NFL Draft.<\/p>\n

Northwestern University\u2019s former \u201csuperback\u201d would line up at fullback, running back, tight end or slot receiver in college. At 6 feet 1, 243 pounds, he is listed as a fullback, but his ability to play all over the offense and special teams could make him more attractive to the NFL, which holds its draft Thursday through Saturday in Chicago.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s at an advantage,\u201d said Bob Christian, a former NFL fullback from Northwestern drafted 25 years ago. \u201cWhat is needed (at the fullback position) in the NFL is a jack of all trades.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"(Tolly
(Tolly Taylor\/ Medill)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Christian worked with Vitale before the Senior Bowl in January, the two focusing on the details of run blocking and pass protection.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was the best pass blocker (at the Senior Bowl) I saw all week of running backs and fullbacks,\u201d said former NFL safety Matt Bowen, an ESPN.com writer. \u201cBeing able to block, catch \u2014 that versatility gives you longevity in the NFL.\u201d<\/p>\n

Scouts Inc. rates Vitale the top fullback available in the draft on ESPN.com, but a Day 3 selection, meaning Rounds 4-7. Many NFL teams today don\u2019t use fullbacks, and he is generally projected to go in the middle to late rounds, even if Vitale isn\u2019t your typical fullback.<\/p>\n

“I\u2019m moving towards the new route, which is kind of like that H-back type spot, playing all over the place.\u201d Vitale said at the NFL Combine, comparing it somewhat to what he did in college. \u201cIt\u2019s kind of moving towards that hybrid position, I think.”<\/p>\n

\"Danny
Vitale posted the best times in five of seven drills at the NFL combine (Adam Rossow\/MEDILL).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Last season, Vitale caught 33 passes for 355 yards and four touchdowns for the Wildcats, all team highs. At the Senior Bowl, Vitale says, he also showed he could block some the country\u2019s best linebacker prospects.<\/p>\n

Senior Bowl scout Patrick Woo was impressed.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe looked like the total package,\u201d Woo said. \u201cIt was his first time really playing the traditional fullback position … and I thought Danny transitioned very well, and then he went off and continued his momentum with a solid NFL Combine performance, and he showed more athleticism and agility at his Pro Day than I think people thought he had.\u201d<\/p>\n

At February\u2019s NFL Scouting Combine, Vitale was the strongest fullback in the bench press, the fastest in the 40-yard dash and the quickest in the 20-yard shuttle.<\/p>\n

Howard Griffith, a former NFL running back and current college football analyst at the Big Ten Network, agreed that Vitale represents the total package.<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom what I\u2019ve learned following his career, he\u2019s going to do whatever he needs to do,\u201d said Griffith. \u201cIt\u2019ll take some time to become a traditional blocking fullback, to get that feel. But playing special teams will buy him some time, and then he can go out there and show that versatility.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lowry, Shuler also potential draft picks<\/h1>\n

Former Northwestern University defensive end Dean Lowry hopes he\u2019ll be at least a late-round selection Saturday, Day 3 of the NFL Draft. If not, he\u2019ll get training camp invitations, according to Big Ten Network football analyst Howard Griffith, a former Denver Broncos running back.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s one of those 3-4 guys; he can play outside on the edge, or they can kick him inside and he can be the nose (tackle),\u201d Griffith said. \u201cWhen you play with the intensity he does, each and every down, it gives you a chance (in the NFL). He plays with outstanding leverage, understands how to use his hands, and so I like his versatility.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lowry, who recorded 13 tackles for a loss and three sacks his senior season, has worked out recently for the Chicago Bears, Dallas Cowboys and Indianapolis Colts.<\/p>\n

Lowry\u2019s value has jumped in some mock drafts. Dane Brugler of CBS Sports has Lowry going to the Detroit Lions in the fifth round, while Pro Football Focus has him going to the Arizona Cardinals late in the third round.<\/p>\n

Wide receiver Miles Shuler, another long-shot NFL prospect out of Northwestern, didn\u2019t have a standout senior season, with 15 receptions for 149 yards and no touchdowns. But he ran a 4.40 40-yard-dash at Northwestern\u2019s Pro Day on March 8 and could be another player who earns training camp invitations.<\/p>\n

Photo at top: Danny Vitale works out with head trainer Tommy Christian at TCBOOST Sports Performance in Northbrook (Tolly Taylor\/ Medill)<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Tolly Taylor To work on his route running, Dan Vitale catches passes from Denver Broncos quarterback Trevor Siemian. To improve his blocking explosiveness, Vitale uses specific band and barbell exercises. Everything he does is to make him stronger, faster and better at a variety of positions for the NFL. Everything he can do makes […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":236,"featured_media":40256,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2677,492,31,2582],"tags":[2615,2541,1112,1113,2542,192],"class_list":["post-40243","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-2016-nfl-draft","category-nfl-draft","category-sports","category-spring-2016","tag-2016nfldraft","tag-dan-vitale","tag-football","tag-nfl","tag-northwestern-football","tag-promo"],"yoast_head":"\nNorthwestern's Vitale a 'superback' suited for many positions in NFL, too - Medill Reports Chicago<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/northwesterns-vitale-a-superback-suited-for-many-positions-in-nfl-too\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Northwestern's Vitale a 'superback' suited for many positions in NFL, too - Medill Reports Chicago\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"By Tolly Taylor To work on his route running, Dan Vitale catches passes from Denver Broncos quarterback Trevor Siemian. To improve his blocking explosiveness, Vitale uses specific band and barbell exercises. Everything he does is to make him stronger, faster and better at a variety of positions for the NFL. Everything he can do makes […]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/northwesterns-vitale-a-superback-suited-for-many-positions-in-nfl-too\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Medill Reports Chicago\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2016-04-27T18:53:16+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2016-04-28T22:47:40+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/medill.wordpress.offload\/WP%20Media%20Folder%20-%20medill-reports-chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2016\/04\/Danny-Feature--e1461621406774.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1100\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"825\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"talbottaylor\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"talbottaylor\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/northwesterns-vitale-a-superback-suited-for-many-positions-in-nfl-too\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/northwesterns-vitale-a-superback-suited-for-many-positions-in-nfl-too\/\",\"name\":\"Northwestern's Vitale a 'superback' suited for many positions in NFL, too - Medill Reports Chicago\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/northwesterns-vitale-a-superback-suited-for-many-positions-in-nfl-too\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/northwesterns-vitale-a-superback-suited-for-many-positions-in-nfl-too\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/medill.wordpress.offload\/WP%20Media%20Folder%20-%20medill-reports-chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2016\/04\/Danny-Feature--e1461621406774.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2016-04-27T18:53:16+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2016-04-28T22:47:40+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/#\/schema\/person\/96c13b2e43439236caa8a368977b6155\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/northwesterns-vitale-a-superback-suited-for-many-positions-in-nfl-too\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/northwesterns-vitale-a-superback-suited-for-many-positions-in-nfl-too\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/northwesterns-vitale-a-superback-suited-for-many-positions-in-nfl-too\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/medill.wordpress.offload\/WP%20Media%20Folder%20-%20medill-reports-chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2016\/04\/Danny-Feature--e1461621406774.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/medill.wordpress.offload\/WP%20Media%20Folder%20-%20medill-reports-chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2016\/04\/Danny-Feature--e1461621406774.jpg\",\"width\":1100,\"height\":825,\"caption\":\"Danny Vitale works out with head trainer Tommy Christian at TCBOOST Sports Performance in Northbrook\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/northwesterns-vitale-a-superback-suited-for-many-positions-in-nfl-too\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Northwestern’s Vitale a ‘superback’ suited for many positions in NFL, too\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/\",\"name\":\"Medill Reports Chicago\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/#\/schema\/person\/96c13b2e43439236caa8a368977b6155\",\"name\":\"talbottaylor\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/22bf3649efa8614be8ecbbe80200d07d536140310f222d80e4a2fe30be7daad3?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/22bf3649efa8614be8ecbbe80200d07d536140310f222d80e4a2fe30be7daad3?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"talbottaylor\"},\"url\":\"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/author\/talbottaylor\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Northwestern's Vitale a 'superback' suited for many positions in NFL, too - Medill Reports Chicago","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/northwesterns-vitale-a-superback-suited-for-many-positions-in-nfl-too\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Northwestern's Vitale a 'superback' suited for many positions in NFL, too - Medill Reports Chicago","og_description":"By Tolly Taylor To work on his route running, Dan Vitale catches passes from Denver Broncos quarterback Trevor Siemian. To improve his blocking explosiveness, Vitale uses specific band and barbell exercises. Everything he does is to make him stronger, faster and better at a variety of positions for the NFL. Everything he can do makes […]","og_url":"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/northwesterns-vitale-a-superback-suited-for-many-positions-in-nfl-too\/","og_site_name":"Medill Reports Chicago","article_published_time":"2016-04-27T18:53:16+00:00","article_modified_time":"2016-04-28T22:47:40+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1100,"height":825,"url":"https:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/medill.wordpress.offload\/WP%20Media%20Folder%20-%20medill-reports-chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2016\/04\/Danny-Feature--e1461621406774.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"talbottaylor","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"talbottaylor","Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/northwesterns-vitale-a-superback-suited-for-many-positions-in-nfl-too\/","url":"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/northwesterns-vitale-a-superback-suited-for-many-positions-in-nfl-too\/","name":"Northwestern's Vitale a 'superback' suited for many positions in NFL, too - Medill Reports Chicago","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/northwesterns-vitale-a-superback-suited-for-many-positions-in-nfl-too\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/northwesterns-vitale-a-superback-suited-for-many-positions-in-nfl-too\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/medill.wordpress.offload\/WP%20Media%20Folder%20-%20medill-reports-chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2016\/04\/Danny-Feature--e1461621406774.jpg","datePublished":"2016-04-27T18:53:16+00:00","dateModified":"2016-04-28T22:47:40+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/#\/schema\/person\/96c13b2e43439236caa8a368977b6155"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/northwesterns-vitale-a-superback-suited-for-many-positions-in-nfl-too\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/northwesterns-vitale-a-superback-suited-for-many-positions-in-nfl-too\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/northwesterns-vitale-a-superback-suited-for-many-positions-in-nfl-too\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/medill.wordpress.offload\/WP%20Media%20Folder%20-%20medill-reports-chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2016\/04\/Danny-Feature--e1461621406774.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/medill.wordpress.offload\/WP%20Media%20Folder%20-%20medill-reports-chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2016\/04\/Danny-Feature--e1461621406774.jpg","width":1100,"height":825,"caption":"Danny Vitale works out with head trainer Tommy Christian at TCBOOST Sports Performance in Northbrook"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/northwesterns-vitale-a-superback-suited-for-many-positions-in-nfl-too\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Northwestern’s Vitale a ‘superback’ suited for many positions in NFL, too"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/#website","url":"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/","name":"Medill Reports Chicago","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/#\/schema\/person\/96c13b2e43439236caa8a368977b6155","name":"talbottaylor","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/22bf3649efa8614be8ecbbe80200d07d536140310f222d80e4a2fe30be7daad3?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/22bf3649efa8614be8ecbbe80200d07d536140310f222d80e4a2fe30be7daad3?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"talbottaylor"},"url":"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/author\/talbottaylor\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40243","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/236"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=40243"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40243\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/40256"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40243"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=40243"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=40243"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}