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By Bill Koch
GoBEARCATS.com
CINCINNATI -- Throughout an ordeal that saw him claw back from a knee injury that was so devastating he was told he might never play football again, University of Cincinnati quarterback Munchie Legaux did his best to remain positive, never flinching in his determination to get back on the field.
But Legaux is also a realist. He understands that because of his injury his chances of getting a shot to play in the NFL have been severely reduced. Still, he kept working out. Kept hoping. Kept praying for a chance.
He continues to face long odds, but Wednesday morning Legaux was at Paul Brown Stadium working out for the Bengals with 24 other recent college players who have ties to Cincinnati, including 12 others from UC. He's a long way from getting drafted, or even being signed as a free agent, but at least he was on the field in front of NFL coaches, taking that first tiny step.
Considering where he was a year and a half ago, he'll take it.
"I felt like I did pretty good on the field," Legaux said. "I was pretty confident with everything. I threw the ball well. I was pretty accurate. I got some good feedback from the coaches. Overall, I think I did pretty good."
Not long ago, Legaux doubted that he would be afforded the chance to do what he did Wednesday. But on March 11, after Legaux worked out at UC's Pro Day, Bengals scout Greg Seamon handed him an invitation to the team's annual workout for local college players, as he did for all of the UC players who participated that day.
"I was surprised," Legaux said. "Honestly I thought everybody was going to write me off, (that they would say) he had a knee injury, he didn't start this year. I just kept fighting. After the pro day, when he handed me the paper, I was like, `Wow, I'll be there. Sure, I'll be there.' And here I am today."
Legaux dislocated his left knee and suffered multiple torn ligaments on Sept. 7, 2013 in UC's game at Illinois. After Dr. Angelo Colosimo performed surgery on his knee, Legaux endured months of extensive rehab and returned last year to pass for 574 yards and three touchdowns in relief of starting quarterback Gunner Kiel. He made his first appearance since the injury in UC's season-opening victory over Toledo on Sept. 12, completing four of five passes for 18 yards.
During three years as a quarterback at UC -- he played wide receiver as a freshman -- Legaux passed for 3,421 yards with 23 touchdowns and 17 interceptions. He also rushed for 677 yards and eight touchdowns.
The 23-year old Legaux said he's open to any opportunity that will allow him to play professional football, even if it's not in the NFL.
"To come back from the injury that I had and feel the way I feel now, I feel pretty confident that I can go out and play on the next level," Legaux said. "I might not be as fast as I used to be, but as far as mobile, I can still move. I can still throw the football."
One thing no one is likely to question is his determination, given what he went through to play his final season for the Bearcats.
"It shows you how much of a fighter I am and a hard worker, to come back from an injury like that," Legaux said. "But that doesn't mean anything."
Ultimately, he knows that what matters is whether he has the skills to compete at the game's highest level. NFL team officials aren't in the business of giving roster spots to players simply because they admire their tenacity or they have a feel-good story.
Legaux's next stop will be back in his hometown of New Orleans, where on Friday he'll work out for the Saints, the team he grew up following. He has no other workouts scheduled after that, but plans to continue to work out on his own as he awaits the draft, which will be conducted from April 30 to May 2.
Although it's unlikely that he'll get drafted, he hopes somebody thinks enough of him to sign him as a free agent, which would give him more time to show what he can do than the roughly 30 minutes he and the others spent on the field Wednesday.
"I'm just getting prepared for the opportunity," Legaux said, "hoping that I get the opportunity to be in somebody's mini-camp or get drafted, just working, praying and getting better every day."
If he doesn't play pro football, Legaux -- who graduated from UC with a degree in organizational leadership - said he'll eventually turn to coaching for his life's work.
"What I like about coaching is the relationship between the player and the coach, teaching," Legaux said. "It's like mentoring your younger brother. I like to help others become a better player. Coaches helped me become a better player. Why can't I pass my gift on to the next generation and help those guys become a better player and show them that I went through tough injuries? I've been through it all."
The other UC players at the workout were offensive linemen Eric Lefeld, Tyreek Burwell, Dominic Mainello and Kevin Schloemer; tight end Jake Golic; defensive linemen Brad Harrah, Camaron Beard and Jerrell Jordan; linebackers Jeff Luc and Nick Temple; and defensive back Howard Wilder.
Bill Koch covered UC Athletics for 27 years - 15 at The Cincinnati Post and 12 at The Cincinnati Enquirer - before joining the staff of GoBEARCATS.com in January, 2015 as featured columnist. Follow him on Twitter @bkoch.