SpringfieldNewsSun.com

BEREA — Matt Champa had been one of University of Dayton quarterback Kevin Hoyng's favorite targets, a clutch receiver on a championship team. As seniors, the good friends shared a house.

Now, at the Cleveland Browns rookie minicamp, they are lucky if anyone knows their names. They are among 54 players in for tryouts, working alongside five draft choices and 15 undrafted free-agent signees.

Happy to be here? Of course. But not merely so. Each thinks he can make a difference.

"I just want the opportunity to try to make the squad, improve the team and help them get some wins," Coldwater native Hoyng said after Friday afternoon's practice.

The rookies arrived Thursday, May 1, for physicals and meetings. After more meetings Friday morning and chicken for lunch, it was showtime. But with so many other players around, their spotlight was limited.

"They kind of hinted at what would go on today, but you never know how it's going to be when you get on the field," said Hoyng, who generally thought it went well.

Trying to become a safety, Hoyng took a total of three reps in 7-on-7 passing drills. Champa, meanwhile, flashed his trademark good hands. He ran a deep out pattern and caught the ball, then a short sideline pattern with the same result, each time against tight coverage.

Champa was last off the indoor practice field, staying behind to work on his long snapping, a skill he exhibited at UD: "The more spots you can play, the better your chances of making the team."

Same shot for all?

Browns coach Romeo Crennel insists it's not just "coachspeak" when he says all the undrafted players have an equal shot this weekend.

"If you do something outstanding, it's not very hard (to get noticed)," Crennel said. "Say you have exceptional quickness or you're exceptionally fast or you are huge and can move. That gets coaches' eyes. The harder part is to pick out who can do what if they don't stand out."

Hoyng and Champa were standouts in college, but neither was invited to the NFL Scouting Combine, where prospects are weighed and measured. Hoyng showed up anyway with Dayton-based agent Ron Todd, who has been down this road before.

At an Indianapolis Steak 'n Shake, Hoyng met with Browns defensive coordinator Mel Tucker and secondary coach Corey Undlin around midnight during the Combine, Todd recalled. Then, after the draft, came a call from area scout Kevin Kelly saying the team could not offer a contract, but could offer a tryout — if he brought his own shoes.

"They're saying he could be another Brian Russell," Todd said, referring to the former Browns safety who played quarterback in high school and college. "Thing is, he's not scared at all, man. He's got the eye of the tiger. All those Coldwater kids do."

A jersey for now

One recent Christmas, Lou Champa gave his son a photograph of the Cleveland Browns' locker room. Pictured were four jerseys, including one bearing the name "Champa."

Too soon to say if an actual Browns jersey will be his to keep, but Champa is bent on giving it his best shot. And his white No. 36 jersey does say "Champa," at least for another day or so.

He had been at the movies with friends when the Browns extended the invitation last weekend, having worked him out. One of his first calls was to his mom.

"We were just speechless," Carolyn Champa said. "I said, 'Matt, I don't know what to say to you.' He was shocked. It kind of came out of the blue."

Champa grew up in Sagamore Hills, halfway between Cleveland and Akron. As a senior, his Nordonia High School team lost to Chaminade-Julienne in the Division II state championship game. Was he a Browns fan growing up? Of course. A Browns player? He only dared to dream.

Hoyng and Champa have another couple of practices to state their cases. If that's not good enough, at least they can say they were here.

Said Champa: "If I leave here knowing I left everything here, I'll be happy no matter what happens."

Good bloodlines

Two linebackers getting tryout looks this weekend, Todd DeLamielleure (Hofstra) and linebacker Dwight Stephenson (Notre Dame), are sons of Hall of Famers. DeLamielleure, whose dad, Joe, played guard for the Browns and Buffalo Bills, is the longest of long shots. He's a 29-year-old firefighter in North Carolina. Stephenson's father, also Dwight, made his reputation with the Miami Dolphins as a center.

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