The Season 27 DSFL draft is in the books, with a lot of quality talent finding homes on the final rung before the ISFL, and still more late-declaring talent to come through the waiver wire. Among the notable talents in the Wide Receiver room is the tri-national former University of Manitoba wideout Saleem Spence, who was picked in the 5th round, 34th overall by the Portland Pythons.
"I'm thrilled to be on board with Portland." said an exuberant Spence, dressed to the nines in a fine suit in the Hilton Anatole in Dallas. "For a while I was worried I wouldn't be picked at all, but I'm glad Portland took me, and I hope I can contribute right away and give them an Ultimini Trophy."
"Just couldn't believe we got him here in the fifth round." said Portland Pythons GM Donnie Shules. "Coming up this season we're losing some of our depth from our talented roster last year, so to be able to add someone of his caliber that late in the draft, to line up across Quavious McGrady in this coming season, he's going to make a great number 2 Wide Receiver for us, and we're happy to have him."
Spence joins a raft of mostly defensive selections from the Pythons, at least in the early rounds. Highly touted Linebacker Xavier Walls and Safety Remus Roman took the spotlight, aiming to augment the stingy Portland defense that allowed a mere 174 points last year. Spence is expected to be the number 2 option for Quarterback LeBron James III based off Shules' glowing praise of his fifth round choice, although he's expected to earn stiff competition from converted running back Aleksandr Vasiliev of the Russian semi-pro leagues for that spot. Portland's overall draft was graded quite highly by many pundits, with analysts noting that there's quality in almost every position on the field, and a lot of talented returnees from last years 13-1 outfit that fell short of the Ultimini in Season 26 against the Bondi Beach Buccaneers.
Saleem Spence ended up being the fourth Wide Receiver taken, with Luke Quick ending up as the surprise 1st overall pick to the Kansas City Coyotes, a pick criticized by some as not filling the true needs that the 1-13 Coyotes desperately need filled. Chunt The Badger and Bayley Cowabunga went to the Dallas Birddogs at 4th and 12th overall respectively, leaving a gap before Spence was picked next at 34th (Wide Receiver Sam The Onion Man followed this at pick number 37).
Some analysts were critical of the Spence pick, with noted shoddy journalism outfit ILHT Sports News slamming the Pythons' choice. The official ILHT twitter stated: "Portland with a great DSFL draft blown at the end with the horrid selection of Saleem Spence. Still, roster looks good if they keep that mothercanucker Spence on the bench. #ISFL". Some also questioned Spence's character issues, noting that several teams such as Dallas seemed interested in the big wideout, before backing off for unknown reasons, with speculations that Spence may be seen as a locker room distraction based on his well documented and explosive exit from the University of Manitoba. However, with the opposite party of Manitoba Head Coach Drake Letterman in hot water following Manitoba's stumble to a 5-3 finish and a blowout loss in the Hardy Trophy Semi-Finals to the eventual Vanier Cup champion University of Regina Rams, many feel that Spence may have been the one with the legitimate points in their philosophical debate.
Furthermore, Spence has shown encouraging signs of improvement since the two DSFL Prospect Showcases, where Spence showed equal signs of struggle and flahses of talent. Spence had workouts filmed regularly by YouTube channel 3rdandLONG, a channel devoted to outsider long-shot prospects, and their struggles to make it to the DSFL and ISFL. Spence was recorded running several hand-timed 4.4 40 yard dashes, and was regularly seen in the Winnipeg area practising his route running, and working out extensively with coaches and new generation players of his old high school alma mater Southside High School. Spence is seen as having a potentially high ceiling and a great work ethic as a result, traits that seemed to endear him to Portland.
Spence also seems to have endeared himself to potential sponsors. Thunderbolt Football Apparel, who will be providing Spence with his shoulder pads over the course of a 3 year deal. Thunderbolt is known for their high quality protection and reduction of injuries, marketed under the taglines "The only thing these bad boys are missing is spikes!". Guardian Helmets have also sponsored the young wideout, and will be providing him and several other DSFL prospects (along with countless college and high school players) with the new Guardian Halo X420. The new breed of football helmet, Guardian recently gained internet infamy due to a rather graphic ad revealing the protective qualities of their new helmet under various tests, with the Halo X420 proving to even be bulletproof, surviving a point blank shot from a .45 Magnum (a test duplicated and proven true to general surprise on many dedicated science testing channels on YouTube.)
Perhaps the most controversial sponsorship of Spence's, however, is Shane Banks Training. The fitness and nutrition giant has been under regular investigation by the FBI and DEA, and has been rumoured to have undergone over a dozen raids by both agencies combined, centered around their primary product, the mysterious high-performance drug known as Total Pectoral Energizing (or TPE for short). The company is noted for having a clientele regularly stocked with a who's who of star names from the Simulation Basketball Association (including Spence's senior, Southside High alumnus and journeyman guard Gerald Eddy), and has recently acquired several SHL clients, notably star two-way forward Nick Brain of the Winnipeg Jets. Now, Shane Banks is setting its sights on the world of American football, and seem to be starting from the ground up, with Spence being among several DSFL signees to the fitness and nutrition giant. It remains to be seen if Shane Banks Training will survive its mounting legal problems, however.
Spence and the Portland Pythons are set to report to mini-camps tomorrow, with the DSFL pre-season start date yet to be determined.