Sep 27, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Akron Zips wide receiver Zach D
The Cleveland Browns will hold a private workout with University of Akron wide receiver Zach D’Orazio on Monday, according to Joe Ginley of Dawgs by Nature.
D’Orazio, a redshirt junior, had 62 receptions for 658 yards and a touchdown for the Zips in 2014, earning him the team’s Harry “Doc” Smith Award Outstanding Junior Award on offense. He finished his college career with 119 receptions for 1,422 yards and five touchdowns.
A 6-foot-2, 215-pound slot receiver, D’Orazio was recruited by the Zips as a quarterback before being switched to wide receiver.
According to his draft profile at NFL.com, D’Orazio “has great size working from the slot, but doesn’t show enough speed or separation ability to inspire enough confidence that he will get selected on size alone. His hands look like they are NFL-ready until the tape reveals his noticeable struggles to secure the low throw. He’s a possession receiver who can make some things happen against zone coverage, but he’s limited beyond that.”
It’s a nice move by general manager Ray Farmer to keep tabs on local players as potential targets to sign as undrafted free agents, which is where D’Orazio most likely falls. Quite possibly the best player the Browns have signed since returning in 1999 was another local player in Josh Cribbs – an undrafted free agent out of Kent State.
Farmer also went that route to add Isaiah Crowell and Connor Shaw to the roster last season as undrafted free agents, so there is value to be had if you do your homework.
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For his part, D’Orazio is just looking for an opportunity to show a team what he can do.
“I’m going to outwork everyone and pretty much fit in wherever a team needs me,” D’Orazio told The Akron Beacon Journal. “I think I have a lot of assets teams are looking for, especially versatility. I can do a lot of different things for a team.
“That’s how I’m going to approach things and attack things every day and work hard. Hopefully, a team is interested in me and I can make something happen.”
What do you think of the Browns interest in Zach D’Orazio? Are there other local players they should consider?
Next: Draft: Tracking prospects who have visits/workouts with Browns