May 11, 2012; Allen Park, MI, USA; Detroit Lions cornerback Chris Greenwood (33) makes a catch during rookie mini camp at the Detroit Lions training facility. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-US PRESSWIRE

A recent poll on the Detroit Lions’ official website asked fans a simple, yet rather interesting question: which draft choice most intrigues you?

Ryan Broyles was the runaway winner with 32% of the 5,349 votes cast in the poll. Bill Bentley finished second with 19% followed by Chris Greenwood with 17% – 1% more than first round pick Riley Reiff. Greenwood was the only player picked outside the first three rounds to receive at least 10% of the vote.

When it comes to Chris Greenwood, it is fair to say that Detroit Lions fans are intrigued.

It really shouldn’t come as a surprise. He grew up in Detroit and played his college football in the state, first at Northwood and finally at Albion, and is attempting to make a jump that few players have been able to make going from NCAA Division III to the NFL.

It’s not only his off-field story that makes him intriguing. He possesses a freakish combination of size and athleticism and plays a position of need. It will take some time before anyone can say whether or not the Lions found a diamond in the rough but if they did, the Lions pulled off a major coup.

The Albion College community is understandably excited about one of their own getting a shot at the NFL. The school caught up with Greenwood at the Detroit Lions rookie mini camp and posted the following video to youtube:

Detroit Lions’ Chris Greenwood Has Caught the Eyes of Fans - SideLion Report - SideLion Report - A Detroit Lions Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and more.

Jan 16, 2009, Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions general manager Martin Mayhew during the press conference to introduce Jim Schwartz (not pictured) as the Lions new football coach at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Leon Halip-US PRESSWIRE

The mark of an excellent General Manager in pro football is one who can mine the back roads of scouting, and find those golden nuggets that the other teams have passed on. I think this is the year Martin Mayhew shows just how good a talent evaluator he is. I never paid much attention to the free agents the Lions have signed in the past because of who was signing them. If Matt “I’ll take a receiver” Millen couldn’t get the draft picks right, how in the hell was he going to find something in the free agent talent pool?

Since the Lions have emerged from the darkness of the NFL cellar in 2009 behind the leadership of Mayhew and Head Coach Jim Schwartz, their low round picks have actually mattered. 7th round draft picks started making the team. Zack Follett was a fan favorite until concussions derailed his career. Now that the Lions have gotten the hang of drafting quality players that can contribute, I feel like Mr. Mayhew is working extra hard on the free agents this year.

I know the most publicized signee is Boise St. quarterback Kellen Moore. The quarterback who went 50-3 in college football was deemed too short by the NFL to be wasting a draft pick on. I think he has an excellent opportunity to be the number 3 QB this year, and the back up to Matthew Stafford in the future. Getting a back up quarterback as a free agent is the kind of shrewd move we’re just not used to seeing around here.

The free agent that interested me the most is Alonzo Lawrence. He’s a former cornerback who is 6’2″, 215 pounds and is being converted to Safety. The Lions found Lawrence at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. Not to be confused with Macomb Community College, MGCCC has actually turned out professional football players. Terrance Cody of the Ravens is one. He has a fascinating history. He held Julio Jones, a high first round pick, to 0 catches in the 2007 Mississippi-Alabama high school All-Star game. He was the 2nd best cornerback prospect in the nation according to Rivals Recruiting service when he came out in 2008. When he and his big head walked onto the Alabama campus as a freshman, he thought he should be starting. Coach Nick Saban didn’t see it that way. “Me and Coach Saban didn’t really see eye-to-eye”, Lawrence said. ” I came in with a big head , young, wanting to play. I felt like I was supposed to be playing.”

Lawrence transferred to Southern Miss but had trouble with his classes and moved on to MGCC. His Coach there, Steve Campbell, thinks the Lions got a steal.

“I think they got ‘em a great NFL player, I can see him being a Pro Bowler,” Campbell told NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport. “I think they signed a difference-maker. It would shock and amaze me if he’s not up there for a number of years.“ “Alonzo is built like a big, physical safety,” Campbell said. “But he’s got hips and the coverage ability of a corner. I could see him playing corner for some cover-2 teams and he does fine in man coverage. Or, I could see somebody just putting him at safety and him doing really well there, because he will tackle, he’s physical and he does have coverage skills.”

The Lions badly need someone to play next to Louis Delmas. Every championship team has that one starter that came out of nowhere. Could Alonzo Lawrence be that find? His former coach Steve Campbell sure thinks so.

Alonzo is a great talent,” Campbell said. “He’s of the same talent/caliber if not even more so than guys we’ve had gone to MSU or Bama or on to NFL. He’s a high-SEC caliber talent.”

Remember that the SEC is the best conference on this planet, so I’m really looking forward to hearing more from Mr. Lawrence.

Alonzo Lawrence is an Intriguing Prospect for the Detroit Lions - SideLion Report - SideLion Report - A Detroit Lions Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and more.

Oct 29, 2011; Manhattan, KS, USA; Kansas State Wildcats quarterback Collin Klein (7) tries to run by Oklahoma Sooners defensive back Sam Proctor (27) during a game at Bill Snyder Family Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Sewell-US PRESSWIRE

Former Oklahoma Sooners safety Sam Proctor was one of the players in town for this past weekend’s rookie mini camp and he must have made a good impression on the coaching staff. According to Proctor’s agent, the undrafted free agent has signed a contract with the Detroit Lions. That gives the Lions four Oklahoma rookies on their roster. Wide receiver Ryan Broyles, defensive end Ronnell Lewis and linebacker Travis Lewis have all signed contracts since being drafted by the Lions last month.

The signing of Proctor is the latest development in an obvious offseason story line of improving the team’s situation at safety. The team re-signed Erik Coleman earlier in the offseason and have also hosted O.J. Atogwe, Chris Crocker and Sean Jones on free agent visits. Regardless of whether or not the Lions add one of the veterans that have visited, the safety position is poised to be one of the most intriguing position battles in Lions training camp. Amari Spievey shouldn’t feel overly comfortable in his starting spot next to Louis Delmas and roster depth at safety is a huge question mark.

Detroit Lions Tryout Pays Off For Sam Proctor - SideLion Report - SideLion Report - A Detroit Lions Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and more.