Cal’s Jordan Kunaszyk hopes to open eyes at NFLPA Collegiate Bowl

Pete Russell was working for the Houston Texans when they drafted DeMeco Ryans, a productive linebacker at Alabama who many thought wasn’t fast enough to transition to the speed of the NFL.

Despite his 4.65 seconds time in the 40-yard dash at the NFL combine, Ryans was the 2006 Defensive Rookie of the Year and had a 10-year career that Russell believes could be a blueprint for Cal inside linebacker Jordan Kunaszyk.

“Even though he didn’t run fast, DeMeco was smart, and the coaches loved him because he played on special teams,” said Russell, who now leads the scouting of the west and southwest regions for the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl. “Also, he was a good locker room guy who wanted to come to work every day.