CSU's Lovett to join Grayson at Saints' minicamp

Garrett Grayson wasn't the only one impressing New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton and others on his staff during a private workout April 27 at CSU.

Charles Lovett, the receiver catching passes from Grayson that day, also drew the attention of the NFL team and Monday was invited to try out for a spot on the team during a rookie minicamp May 15-17.

"Garrett played one of the major key roles in this process with me," Lovett said Monday. "I tip my hat to him for giving me the opportunity to catch for him and show my skills while the teams were actually there to look for him."

Grayson, Colorado State University's career passing leader, was selected by the Saints in the third round of the NFL draft Friday.

"If it weren't for him, I probably wouldn't be where I am today," Lovett said.

Lovett, a 5-foot-8, 180-pound receiver, caught 28 passes for 490 yards and three touchdowns, including a game-winner on a fourth-and-11 play at Boston College, last fall for a 10-3 CSU team. The Tampa, Florida, product finished his CSU career with 94 catches for 1,339 yards and seven TDs.

Lovett served as the only receiver during Grayson's pro day workout at CSU and for private workouts with a half-dozen or so NFL teams, including the Saints. Ironically, Lovett said, that was the private workout both he and Grayson felt had been their worst.

"Obviously, they saw something in us even when we weren't at our best," Lovett said.

Lovett will be catching passes from Grayson again at the minicamp, hoping to earn a spot on the Saints' 90-man offseason roster and the opportunity to participate in the team's training camp this summer.

"Hopefully, we can make a few Boston College catches in minicamp," Lovett said. "For me, I'm just the type of guy that's hungry, and I want to complete my dream. I'm not the tallest guy, and I'm not the fastest guy. … But I'm really hungry and confident in my skills. I want to play at the next level, put myself in a position to get looked at, and that's what I got today.

"… I'm blessed to have this opportunity."

Lovett is one of two former CSU players who will try out for NFL teams during rookie minicamps this week and next. Linebacker Aaron Davis, the Rams' leading tackler for two of the past three seasons, accepted an invitation Sunday night to try out for a spot with the Oakland Raiders.

Two other former Rams agreed to free-agent deals with NFL teams over the weekend — cornerback Bernard Blake with the Green Bay Packers and linebacker Mike Orakpo with the Arizona Cardinals.

Orakpo, the younger brother of NFL player and three-time Pro Bowl linebacker Brian Orakpo, finished his career at Texas State after being expelled from CSU in the spring of 2012 for his involvement in an off-campus fight with another student.

Orakpo, a 6-1, 232-pounder from Houston, was the Rams' third-leading tackler in 2011 with 87 stops, including three tackles for lost yardage. After sitting out the 2012 season under NCAA transfer rules, he was in on 71 tackles, including a team-leading 41/ 2 sacks and 10 tackles for lost yardage as a junior at Texas State in 2013. He also forced three fumbles while earning honorable mention in voting for All-Sunbelt Conference teams.

Orakpo played in just two games as a senior before suffering a season-ending knee injury.

Follow reporter Kelly Lyell at twitter.com/KellyLyell and facebook.com/KellyLyell.news.