Matthew Battaglia NFL Draft Profile --- January 5, 2012

Speculative statement no more, Ivy League football players possess the necessary skills needed for the next level. In 2010, two players from Yale's roster earned reps in NFL camps.

In the seventh round of the 2011 NFL Draft, the Kansas City Chiefs selected Yale fullback Shane Bannon. And '10 Bulldog captain Tom McCarthy found himself with the Jacksonville Jaguars for parts of this season also.

Pro Football Draft Picks spoke with senior defensive end Matthew Battaglia about his collegiate football experience.

Bannon and Battaglia competed together at the 2007 Governors' Cup All-Star football game. Each summer this contest pits the best prep players from Connecticut and Rhode Island with the Nutmeg State almost always a heavy favorite.

"He [Bannon] was ultimately the reason I began looking at and eventually committing to Yale," Battaglia said in an email interview.

The graduating Bulldog defensive end maintains communication with his friend and former teammate; Bannon is quick to point out the seriousness of Battaglia's upcoming task.

"He has told me that the NFL is much more of a business and that having a roster spot is truly a full-time job."

Game speed, critical to any collegiate player looking to make the jump to the pro level, but for players from non-AQ conferences, the speed curve can often be steep.

"He definitely said there was a dramatic increase in game speed," Battaglia remarked. "Watching on TV is one thing, but actually getting out there with guys like Jamaal Charles is something he has been adjusting to."

Prior to his senior campaign, the end's extra time spent in the film room allowed him to play faster, reacting quicker at the snap.

"I focused primarily on grasping offensive tendencies and pre-snap reads," Battaglia said. "Everything from the way an offensive linemen sets to block when setting up a screen to a running back's tendency to scan the line before pass protecting."

Preparation paid off as the Bulldog enjoyed a successful senior season. The defensive end paced his positional group with 19 solo tackles and 27 overall stops. One of Battaglia's top games at Princeton ended with five total tackles, four solo including a crucial stop on a shovel pass to the Tigers running back, Chuck Dibilio, after Yale fumbled the kickoff.

"They were leaving the defensive ends free on read plays so I made the most out of being the unblocked member of the defense."

Looking to the next level, Battaglia now trains with Bulldog teammates including defensive tackle Jake Stoller and linebacker Jordan Haynes. Key to their professional aspirations is strength & conditioning coach Emil Johnson. The trio's football future looms on the horizon with Yale holding a March pro day.

Before engaging in pre-draft training, Battaglia took time to complete minor arthroscopic surgery on his knee. Injured earlier in the season, the end feels like he can maximize his potential two weeks after the operation.

"I'll be focusing on my speed for sure," he said. "My knee hampered me a bit this year and I was unable to get a burst and truly showcase my pass rushing this season, so now that I'm healthy I'm looking forward to getting my top speed back."

Finally, here's a video via Yale Athletics YouTube.com Video Channel if you want to learn more about this potential pro prospect.