It’s been kind of fun to use this space to help connect deserving players with agents in the last couple weeks.

So far, we’ve helped Texas State OC Charlie Will Tuttle, New Mexico OC Lamar Bratton, Winston-Salem St. DE Alfy Hill (an Alabama transfer), Idaho OC Mike Marboe and North Texas IB Derek Akunne find representation, and two more players, Rice OG Nico Carlson and FS Julius White III, are in the final decision stages. Along the way this season, we’ve also worked with the parents of Virginia Tech OG Caleb Farris, Kansas St. DE Ryan Mueller and Georgia Tech WO Darren Waller as they’ve worked through the vetting process with their sons.

We’re also working with the parents of a quarterback who’s weighing the pros and cons of entering the 2015 NFL draft. There’s nothing more rewarding then helping people make informed decisions.

If you’re an agent looking for a couple more players to add to your client list for the ’15 draft, the following Rice Owls would be solid additions. We think they’ve got at least an even-money chance of being in an NFL camp this spring, and as yet, they’re unsigned:

Mario Hull, WO, Rice: I don’t normally recommend wide receivers and defensive backs to agents because they’re a dime a dozen, but Hull is intriguing. As a redshirt freshman, he was 21st in the nation in punt return average (10.2). That’s really good, and it earned him Freshman All-American honors from The Sporting News. Injuries wiped out most of his sophomore and junior years, but he came on strong this year, averaging more than 20 yards per catch and scoring eight touchdowns. Explosiveness is what NFL teams seek in receivers, and Hull’s got it.

James Radcliffe, OB, Rice: Jim has been very productive at Rice, a three-year starter who earned CUSA Honorable Mention honors this year. He’s willing to train at school, too, but one of his most important traits is that he’s at least 6-0 (he lists at 6-1). In the modern NFL, linebackers less than 6-0 just don’t get looked at. He’s got a real shot as a special teams ace that can perhaps move into the rotation, and one of his best aspects is that he can drop in coverage and move with receivers. He’s not just a between-the-tackles banger.

Ian Gray, OT, Rice: You can’t teach size, and Ian’s got it at 6-8, 345. Here’s what’s interesting. Usually, you find a tackle that big, and you stick him on the right side, but not Ian. The Owls used him on the blind side, which really speaks to his nimbleness and ability to mirror pass rushers. He’s also got serious bloodlines, as his father (Notre Dame) and uncle (Penn State) both played big-time college football. When it comes to guys this size, and the scarcity of offensive linemen on the next level, they almost have to prove they can’t play football. I could easily see Gray coming into camp as a project and maybe riding on a team’s practice squad as a developmental player.

Interested in any of these young men? If you’re an ITL client, just let me know and I’ll pass along their contact info. It’s always a pleasure to put good people together.