Pitt LB SirVocea Dennis Arrives at Senior Bowl with Something to Prove
MOBILE -- SirVocea Dennis spent two years leading the Pitt Panthers defense as it's leading tackler during the program's most successful run since the 1980s. Even when scouts and evaluators called him undersized, Dennis proved his intelligence and moxie were enough to make him a star at the Power 5 level.
But after leaving Pitt to pursue a career in the NFL, Dennis still has more to prove and more people to prove it to. The competition and expectations take a step up as he begins his professional career at the Senior Bowl, but Dennis doesn't feel the challenge has become any more difficult.
"Size doesn't matter, scheme doesn't matter - I can do it," Dennis said after his first practice at Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile, Alabama. "That's what I've done and hope to continue to do."
Dennis claims the system he played in at Pitt has been used against former Panthers like him. Dennis said some believe the scheme head coach Pat Narduzzi employs for the Panthers isn't something NFL teams use and that playing in it sets some players back. Still, Dennis is undeterred and believes the scheme will actually serve him well at the next level.
"Coach Narduzzi teaches a lot of football," Dennis said. "There's a lot of things other guys run that we pick up on well just because it's natural football. It's concepts and things we can do so that scheme has definitely helped me and then, again, it's definitely put me in a good position."
Dennis added that the Panthers' linebackers coach, Ryan Manalac - a former NFL backer himself - has been a valuable resource as well as he worked his way through college and to the cusp of the professional ranks.
"He's an NFL linebacker, so everything he learned, everything he was taught has trickled down to us in that room and he makes sure our knowledge is up to date and good," Dennis said.
There is some more pressure now, Dennis admits. There are constantly NFL personnel watching him while he goes through drills and takes 11-on-11 snaps against the other draft hopefuls in attendance. Dennis has gotten some feedback from his first practice and feels confident that whatever tweaks he needs to make are minor. To that end, he's confident and is soaking in the experience.
"Just better eyes, better things I can control and I definitely have a better outcome with certain things and then everything else was where I needed it to be and where I wanted it to be," Dennis said.
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