NFL Draft

Empire State FCS Trio Takes Advantage of 2023 Shrine Bowl Stage

Tim Demorat, Thomas Greaney, and Titus Leo all traveled a similar road to the Shrine Bowl.

Ralph Ventre

Empire State FCS Trio Takes Advantage of 2023 Shrine Bowl Stage
Empire State FCS Trio Takes Advantage of 2023 Shrine Bowl Stage /

Tim Demorat, Thomas Greaney, and Titus Leo all traveled a similar road to Las Vegas.

All three "small-school" National Football League hopefuls spent the last five years building successful collegiate careers at NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) programs located in the Empire State.

The Fordham quarterback, the Albany tight end, and the Wagner edge rusher are living examples of why every professional scout should make at least one annual trip from Staten Island to the Bronx and then up the New York State Thruway to the Capital Region.

This week, the three NFL Draft prospects represent their Empire State-based college teams in fabulous Las Vegas while participating in East West Shrine Bowl festivities.

The annual senior all-star game, and the practices leading up to it, provide participants with an opportunity to directly impress scouts and talent evaluators from all 32 NFL teams ahead of April's NFL Draft.

"It's a great opportunity for me to go up there, coming from a smaller school, Albany, and compete against guys from the Big Ten, SECs of the world and show them what I've got. I'm excited," Greaney told Mark Singelais of the Albany Times Union.

While competing within the FCS ranks, Demorat, Greaney, and Leo all made considerable strides toward becoming viable NFL Draft prospects. In addition to noticeable physical development, all three men grew into All-American performers.

Now, these three "small-school" products can further boost their NFL Draft hopes in an all-star game that features an alumni list flooded with names such as Tom Brady, Walter Payton and Lawrence Taylor.

QB Tim DeMorat, Fordham

[East Team Jersey No. 17]

DeMorat won the starting quarterback job as a true freshman at Vince Lombardi’s alma mater and the Florida kid went on to become one of the most prolific passers in NCAA FCS history.

Only three quarterbacks, including former NFL starters Steve McNair and Devlin Hodges, have thrown for more yards at the FCS level than DeMorat, who ended his collegiate career with 13,461 pass yards.

“We were extremely fortunate to have a player of Tim's caliber lead our program for more than four seasons,” said Fordham head coach Joe Conlin. “Tim's dedication to his teammates, toughness and competitiveness will be the standard in our program for years to come. He was one of the best to ever play on Rose Hill.”

The three-time Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year counters any perceived lack of arm strength with excellent decision-making and ball placement.

DeMorat, who is arguably the most-accomplished quarterback in the 2023 draft class, earned an invitation to the high-profile Shrine Bowl after an impressive week at the Hula Bowl last month.

After a 2021 campaign that featured 3,214 pass yards and 31 touchdown passes, DeMorat accounted for truly staggering numbers in 2022. While leading the nation’s top-ranked offense, which averaged more than 600 yards per outing, the Fordham quarterback threw for 4,891 yards and 56 touchdowns over 12 games and finished second overall in Stats Perform Walter Payton Award voting.

Owning a 65.3 completion percentage, the 6-foot-3 signal caller averaged 9.8 yards per pass attempt this past fall. In a 59-52 setback to eventual Arizona Bowl champion Ohio, DeMorat went 27-of-35 passing for 503 yards and six touchdowns without committing a turnover.

TE Thomas Greaney, Albany

[West Team Jersey No. 89]

Greaney, who had been a consistent contributor for Albany since making four appearances as a freshman in 2018, blossomed into one of the most productive tight ends at the collegiate level in 2022.

Playing a significantly larger role in the Great Danes’ passing attack, the 6-foot-5 tight end totaled 693 yards and nine touchdowns on 50 catches in 2022.

Greaney went over the 100-yard receiving mark thrice and accounted for four two-touchdown performances on his way to earning a spot on the Stats Perform FCS All-America Second Team.

In addition to presenting a physical mismatch as a pass-catcher, Greaney’s size and athleticism translate well in run blocking. The former high school basketball star, who has strong hands, made at least five receptions in seven of 11 games as a senior.

DE Titus Leo, Wagner

[West Team Jersey No. 94]

Leo certainly looks the part, possessing the desirable physical attributes of a prospective NFL edge rusher.

The New York City native, who came to Wagner as a wiry wide receiver/linebacker, experienced tremendous growth and improvement over the course of his collegiate career. Leo frequently overpowered opponents at the FCS level but has also shown he can win with quickness and guile.

“He plays with a lot of energy, at a fast speed, with great effort. That’s what he’s always done,” said Wagner head coach Tom Masella.

Leo first gained playing eligibility midway through the 2018 campaign, seeing snaps on both sides of the ball during his abbreviated freshman season. He appeared in all 11 games at outside linebacker one year later, finishing as the team’s second-leading tackler.

Having noticeably bulked up, the 245-pounder went on to win three straight all-conference selections beginning in Spring of 2021. Over his last 24 games, Leo totaled 36.5 tackles-for-loss.

“It’s his work ethic more than anything else,” Masella said when asked about what sets Leo apart from competitors. “Titus has been goal-oriented, focused and he’s worked every day to get better.”

Ralph Ventre (@RealestRalph) covers the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) for NFLDraftBible. He is a voter for the Stats Perform FCS Top 25.

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Ralph Ventre
RALPH VENTRE

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