For Redskins Rookie, Slogan Is Hoya Sacks

Buzbee didn't begin seriously pursuing professional football until relatively late. He was an all-state defensive end at Seton Hall Prep in New Jersey, where he also played tight end and quarterback, but he was small and the larger football schools didn't want to commit to the Chester, N.J., native.

"I just took the opportunity to go to Georgetown because it's such a great school academically. I thought I'd play some football and get a great education along the way," said Buzbee, who graduated with a degree in government. "By my senior year I definitely wanted to get a degree and I was in pursuit of that, but I love football and I began to think I seriously had a shot."

So after he wrapped up his Georgetown football career, finishing second on the school's all-time sacks list with 27 1/2 and earning numerous all-Patriot League accolades, Buzbee went to work. He knew he would need to seriously improve his agility and speed to catch an NFL coach's eye, so he enlisted the help of Hoyas strength and conditioning trainer Augie Maurelli and gave up all the celebrating that customarily comes with a senior's final semester in favor of training six days a week.

Because he is smaller than most defensive linemen in the pros, Buzbee took steps to improve his footwork and overall quickness in case he was looked at as a linebacker rather than as a defensive end. But when he auditioned for the Redskins during rookie tryouts in May, they couldn't see him anywhere but at his natural position.

The rookie linemen had been told that the Redskins would keep a few of them, but on the final day of tryouts, defensive line coach Greg Blache said he would make an offer to only one. With that news, Buzbee nervously headed off the field.

"I was walking off the field after that third practice, he pulled me aside and said, 'I'd like to give you the job if you want it,' " Buzbee recalled. "I was like: 'Are you kidding me? I'd love it. Absolutely.' "

Buzbee acknowledged that the skills he developed in the months since finishing his college season have helped him improve as a playmaking pass rusher -- precisely the role the Redskins would like him to play.

"He's been doing a great job," said veteran defensive end Phillip Daniels, who has taken to mentoring his young teammate and said that Buzbee reminds him of what he used to be like as a rookie. "He's a great kid with a great personality and you don't mind helping a guy like that out.

"He's explosive. He comes off the ball with a lot of power. You wouldn't know he's from Georgetown by the way he plays on the field."