Vladimir Ducasse should thank his college football coach, Kevin Morris, after being selected by the Jets last night in the second round of the NFL Draft.
Morris, speaking to the Jets about the Massachusetts offensive lineman, gave his player a ringing endorsement, telling them what a terrific person the Haitian-born Ducasse is and how much improvement he was still capable of making on the field.
“He’s only started playing football as a junior in high school after coming from Haiti. So he’s got a lot of football ahead of him,” Morris told The Post last night. “With the great foundation he has already, he’s going to continue to get better. I think that’s what the Jets are looking at.”
The Jets chose Ducasse, a 6-foot-5, 330-pound monster who started 35 games for the Minutemen, with the 29th pick in the second round (61st overall). It was their only selection of the evening because last season they shipped their third-rounder to Cleveland for Braylon Edwards.
Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum said his team has Ducasse penciled in as either a right tackle or left guard. Tannenbaum praised incumbent left guard Alan Faneca, but refused to say he will remain on the team, calling a potential trade “hypothetical.” If Faneca does not come back, Ducasse could be in the starting mix.
“[Ducasse is an] incredible worker. He’s one of those guys where what he’s been through in his life, you would never bet against him,” Tannenbaum said. “He obviously has the physical attributes. From a technique standpoint, it’s not completely clean. But we spent a lot of time with him as a department. And then [offensive line coach] Bill Callahan in particular spent a lot of time with him.
“When Bill Callahan signs off on a guy, we feel really good about that.”
Joey Clinkscales, the Jets’ vice president of college scouting, said that because Ducasse was a three-year starter, “experience-wise, he’s further along than you would think.”
Tannenbaum said Ducasse struggled with pass protection in the Senior Bowl, though the Jets obviously are high on both his long-term run-blocking and pass-protecting ability.
Ducasse, who was born in Port Au Prince, but moved to the United States in 2002 and went to high school in Stamford, said he is “very excited” to be joining the Jets.
“They’ve got a pretty good team,” he said. “They’re right there, close to home.”
Morris called his player “a gentleman in every sense of the word” and praised him as being “coachable” as well as “very competitive.” Although Umass plays in the FCS subdivision (formerly Division I-AA), Morris said that in games against Texas Tech, Kansas State and Boston College, Ducasse held up just fine.
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The Jets also introduced their first-round pick, Boise State cornerback Kyle Wilson, at Florham Park. The Piscataway native exuded self-confidence in his give-and-take with the media.
“I’m a confident guy,” Wilson said, “and I just look forward to making plays.”
Last season against San Jose State, Wilson made a huge one, picking off a pass and returned it for a touchdown — one of five TD returns in his career (three were punt returns). Brent Brennan, San Jose State’s offensive coordinator then and their wide receivers coach now, told The Post about that play.
“He had good quickness. He can run. He can cover. He can tackle,” Brennan said. “And just talking to guys that I know on the staff there, on that side of the ball, they just rave about the quality of kid he is. And he’s got all that ability and then he’s got those intangibles with it. That’s just a winning combination on any level.”
Draft pick profile
Name: Vladimir Ducasse
Pick: Second round, 61st overall
Hometown: Stamford, Conn. (born in Port Au Prince, Haiti)
School: Massachusetts
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 330 pounds
Position: OL
In the NCAA: Was a senior captain and a first team All-Colonial Athletic Association pick. Started 35 games.
In the NFL: Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum said Ducasse could play at right tackle or left guard. Tannenbaum would not say whether or not starting LG Alan Faneca will be back, so it’s possible Ducasse could compete for a starting spot.
Today’s agenda
What to look for in the final four rounds of the draft today:
Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum had been expected to take a defensive player in the second round last night and instead went with offensive lineman Vladimir Ducasse. So the Jets could remedy that this morning with the 26th pick in the fourth round (124th overall), though Tannenbaum is always a threat to make a trade.
Beyond that? Linebacker Calvin Pace wondered earlier in the week if running back might be a priority in the draft. So don’t be surprised if the Jets go with a back with one of their three picks — they also own the 29th pick in the sixth round (198th) and the 29th pick in the seventh round (236th).