Post by 50yardfan on Aug 4, 2011 17:35:36 GMT -5
A-Mace-ing Grace: Cowboys call up Wranglers lineman
www.allenamerican.com/articles/2011/08/03/sports_update/8241.txt
The end of the NFL lockout signified more than just the reassurance that professional football will be played this fall.
The ramifications ran deeper for someone like Allen Wranglers defensive end Keenan Mace. Just a couple weeks removed from the finale of the Wranglers' 2011 season, the offseason grind was just beginning to set in with the lineman.
And then the Dallas Cowboys came calling.
"I couldn't believe that they were calling me," Mace said. "It was a relief and just what I had always wanted. I've always wanted to play for the Cowboys and when they called me, that feeling was just unbelievable."
Barely removed from testing the waters of indoor football, Mace got the biggest news of his career thus far when signed with the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent.
From there, it was a beeline to San Antonio with the first day of training camp last Thursday.
All of a sudden, the road seemed clearer for the 6-foot-4, 310-pound lineman, who wasn't about to quit on his dream of playing in the NFL after wrapping up his senior year at Lindenwood University. Based in Saint Charles, Mo., Lindenwood played host to Mace for his freshman and senior years, the latter netting him third-team all-conference honors. Helping raise a family during his sophomore and junior years, Mace's passion to further pursue life on the gridiron never waned.
"I still had plenty of football left in me," he said. "Everyone told me that I had a professional level of play and that I needed to further my career in football. I just stuck to it and wanted to keep playing at a high level."
That opportunity came in February when Mace got word of the Wranglers' interest.
An outlet to stay in football shape and build up his resume, Mace helped anchor Allen's defensive line during a season that saw them procure a Lonestar Division title and Intense Conference Championship appearance.
"One of the goals of our program is to help guys move up to that next level," said Chris MacKeown, Allen head coach, "so we were very happy for Keenan to have this opportunity. That's why he came here from St. Louis to play.
"He's loaded with talent and just turned 22 a month ago. He's a great fit for the five-technique in their 50 defense."
In nine regular season games, Mace accrued 43 tackles, six sacks and a forced fumble.
"I got a better appreciation for football by playing in Allen," Mace said. "I grew as a player, as a young man and learned a lot from the guys on the team. I took that experience and learned what I could from it."
Mace's progress on the field wasn't just noticed by his peers, as NFL scouts based in the Metroplex would often attend Wrangler games.
"I know NFL scouts are at our games and Dallas is a great market for talent," MacKeown said. "It's a good market to get our players looked at, but I didn't know they were considering signing him and they basically gave me a courtesy call letting me know about their interest."
The call took Mace by surprise just as much and in a moment's notice, he was on a plane to San Antonio, arriving last Wednesday with roughly 24 hours before training camp began from the Alamodome.
After devoting Wednesday to a physical and conditioning tests, Mace enveloped himself with the all-day, schedule-centric rigors of the first day of training camp.
"I was nervous; there were plenty of butterflies," Mace said. "It's that first day of camp and being a rookie, you don't want to mess anything up. The playbook is as thick as a phonebook, so you just want to show coaches you can learn quick.
"You'll make mistakes, but I'd rather make them while giving 100 percent."
Partaking in special teams work, one-on-one drills, plus individual and team drills, Mace essentially had to learn on his feet -- and not against a smattering of practice squad players either.
"It's just as you'd expect," Mace said. "These guys are the cream of the crop and it's such a fast-paced game that it takes a bit of getting used at first. But once you slow down and realize what you're doing, it becomes easier for you."
Training camp in San Antonio runs through Aug. 10 with Mace one of a handful of undrafted signees vying for a roster spot. And while his future with the team is still unknown, Mace is simply living the dream as he surfaces on the NFL radar.
"A chance like this is something you dream of as a kid," Mace said. "When you really get it, you've got to make sure that you hold onto it.
"It's an amazing experience and I'm happy to be where I'm at."
www.allenamerican.com/articles/2011/08/03/sports_update/8241.txt
The end of the NFL lockout signified more than just the reassurance that professional football will be played this fall.
The ramifications ran deeper for someone like Allen Wranglers defensive end Keenan Mace. Just a couple weeks removed from the finale of the Wranglers' 2011 season, the offseason grind was just beginning to set in with the lineman.
And then the Dallas Cowboys came calling.
"I couldn't believe that they were calling me," Mace said. "It was a relief and just what I had always wanted. I've always wanted to play for the Cowboys and when they called me, that feeling was just unbelievable."
Barely removed from testing the waters of indoor football, Mace got the biggest news of his career thus far when signed with the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent.
From there, it was a beeline to San Antonio with the first day of training camp last Thursday.
All of a sudden, the road seemed clearer for the 6-foot-4, 310-pound lineman, who wasn't about to quit on his dream of playing in the NFL after wrapping up his senior year at Lindenwood University. Based in Saint Charles, Mo., Lindenwood played host to Mace for his freshman and senior years, the latter netting him third-team all-conference honors. Helping raise a family during his sophomore and junior years, Mace's passion to further pursue life on the gridiron never waned.
"I still had plenty of football left in me," he said. "Everyone told me that I had a professional level of play and that I needed to further my career in football. I just stuck to it and wanted to keep playing at a high level."
That opportunity came in February when Mace got word of the Wranglers' interest.
An outlet to stay in football shape and build up his resume, Mace helped anchor Allen's defensive line during a season that saw them procure a Lonestar Division title and Intense Conference Championship appearance.
"One of the goals of our program is to help guys move up to that next level," said Chris MacKeown, Allen head coach, "so we were very happy for Keenan to have this opportunity. That's why he came here from St. Louis to play.
"He's loaded with talent and just turned 22 a month ago. He's a great fit for the five-technique in their 50 defense."
In nine regular season games, Mace accrued 43 tackles, six sacks and a forced fumble.
"I got a better appreciation for football by playing in Allen," Mace said. "I grew as a player, as a young man and learned a lot from the guys on the team. I took that experience and learned what I could from it."
Mace's progress on the field wasn't just noticed by his peers, as NFL scouts based in the Metroplex would often attend Wrangler games.
"I know NFL scouts are at our games and Dallas is a great market for talent," MacKeown said. "It's a good market to get our players looked at, but I didn't know they were considering signing him and they basically gave me a courtesy call letting me know about their interest."
The call took Mace by surprise just as much and in a moment's notice, he was on a plane to San Antonio, arriving last Wednesday with roughly 24 hours before training camp began from the Alamodome.
After devoting Wednesday to a physical and conditioning tests, Mace enveloped himself with the all-day, schedule-centric rigors of the first day of training camp.
"I was nervous; there were plenty of butterflies," Mace said. "It's that first day of camp and being a rookie, you don't want to mess anything up. The playbook is as thick as a phonebook, so you just want to show coaches you can learn quick.
"You'll make mistakes, but I'd rather make them while giving 100 percent."
Partaking in special teams work, one-on-one drills, plus individual and team drills, Mace essentially had to learn on his feet -- and not against a smattering of practice squad players either.
"It's just as you'd expect," Mace said. "These guys are the cream of the crop and it's such a fast-paced game that it takes a bit of getting used at first. But once you slow down and realize what you're doing, it becomes easier for you."
Training camp in San Antonio runs through Aug. 10 with Mace one of a handful of undrafted signees vying for a roster spot. And while his future with the team is still unknown, Mace is simply living the dream as he surfaces on the NFL radar.
"A chance like this is something you dream of as a kid," Mace said. "When you really get it, you've got to make sure that you hold onto it.
"It's an amazing experience and I'm happy to be where I'm at."