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BEREA — Even without a roster, it would be easy to pick out the five players in this minicamp who were

drafted.

The most impressive so far has been tight end Martin Rucker, a fourth-round pick from Missouri. The 6-foot-4, 251-pounder has been loping through the secondary and showing sure hands.

"So far, it looks like he can catch the ball, he's got a big body, moves well underneath, and that's encouraging," head coach Romeo Crennel said.

Rucker won't block anybody until training camp, but he's been working on his technique and resents those scouting reports that say he's incapable.

"We still had to block, it was just in space (at Missouri)," Rucker said. "It wasn't really a question of if I can block, it was just the end-of-the-line, hand-on-the-ground traditional type of blocking that tight ends do that we didn't do.

"Yeah, I can block. I just have to get used to doing it from a different position now."

The Browns are likely to want Rucker to bulk up some.

"They haven't talked to me about that yet," he said, "but I'm sure I'll find out soon."

Still plugging away

The 54 players on tryouts will learn today, May 4, whether the Browns intend to keep any of them beyond this weekend. That includes

University of Dayton products Kevin Hoyng, a quarterback attempting the switch to safety, and Matt Champa, a tight end trying to become a wide receiver.

"If we don't have a spot, we'll tell them it didn't work this time but they got good exposure and we know something about them," Crennel said. "Down the line, sometimes you never can tell what'll happen."

Champa actually qualified as a standout Saturday morning with several nice catches, including a diving grab that had sideline observers checking their rosters. Champa caught everything thrown to him, even adjusting to poor throws from some of the tryout quarterbacks.

Missouri connection

Rucker is one of three Missouri players in camp. Undrafted defensive back

Darnell Terrell has a contract and could stick. Tony Temple, a 5-9, 200-pound running back who broke Cotton Bowl records in January with 281 yards rushing and four TDs, is here on a tryout.

'Movement skills'

In evaluating linebacker Beau Bell, a fourth-round pick from the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, Crennel said he has "movement skills."

"He's able to get to the ball," the coach said. "That's what you can see. But you know what we say — everybody kind of looks good in shorts. We're going to have to get the pads on, but right now, he's doing decent."

Safety Milvon James, another UNLV product, is on a tryout. He's opened eyes by getting his hands on a number of passes.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2408 or smcclelland@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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