The Ravens have their eyes set on adding a running back this offseason, and one player who might fit the bill has spent his whole life watching them.
Running back Terrance West grew up in Baltimore and then spent his college career as a star at Towson, and he admitted that he has been cheering on the Ravens for years.
"That was my favorite team," West said with a smile at the NFL Scouting Combine, as he's trying to convince any pro team to give him a chance at the next level.
West met with the Ravens Friday, and he gushed at the idea of suiting up for his hometown team.
"I'll go anywhere right now, but being a Raven, it would be amazing just to play for my home city," West said.
College football fans in the Baltimore area know West well, as he dominated for the Tigers last season.
West was a touchdown machine, rushing for 2,509 yards and 42 touchdowns. He led Towson to the school's first national title game, and he was a runner-up for the FCS player of the year. He finished his Towson career with 4,854 rushing yards and 84 touchdowns, and decided to skip his senior season after being projected as a likely third-round pick.
West has generated some buzz during the pre-draft process, and the combine is a chance for him to jump onto the national scene with a strong performance. He has to overcome the perception that his impressive college career was simply the result of facing small-school competition.
"This is a chance to show that I can play on any level," West said. "Out here, school is not going to save anybody. Everybody is out here for their name and themselves, so whatever you did at school doesn't matter."
The Ravens are looking for a back to fit the new scheme being installed by Offensive Coordinator Gary Kubiak. They are looking for a runner who "can put his foot in the ground and go north and south," Head Coach John Harbaugh said, and that meshes with West's pedigree.
The 5-foot-9, 225-pound running back is known as a straight ahead runner, and he emphasized that he also has the receiving skills be a three-down back.
"I score touchdowns and make people miss," West said. "I've always had great hands. I always caught the ball. It's a natural thing. I'm just blessed with it. Every team loves a running back that can catch the ball. It's turning into a receiving game, so you got to also catch the ball too if you want to be an every down back in the NFL."
