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C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson 2010 DS #1 RB, Projected Round(s): 1 News/Story Tagged As:Pro day, Pro day news/info/results
03/11/2010 - Spiller, Ford pass up running at Clemson's pro day - Two of college football's fastest chose to sit this one out. Former Clemson stars C.J. Spiller and Jacoby Ford passed up the chance to run the 40-yard dash in front of a full house of NFL scouts, coaches and personnel at the Tigers' pro timing day. "There really was no need to run it. Why waste the energy?" said Spiller, the Atlantic Coast Conference player of the year. "Everyone knows that I'm fast." Spiller and Ford, who also ran track together at Clemson, proved that last month at the NFL's scouting combine in Indianapolis. Spiller clocked 4.37 seconds, second best among running backs to Cal's Jahvid Best. Ford outdid his friend and teammate - and everyone at the combine - with a 4.28. Both Spiller and Ford took part in everything else, including agility and position drills as a steady rain soaked Clemson's practice field. "It wasn't the best conditions," Spiller said. "But you never know, it might rain in the game so I was able to get some work done." Spiller drew a large crowd of NFL evaluators, including Carolina Panthers coach John Fox. All watched intently…READ MORE SOURCE: AP Sports, CBS Sports
03/11/2010 - Ballard: an unknown quantity to NFL - Jake Ballard can jump and he can catch, and he has the photo to prove it.Many Ohio State fans have copies of that photo. It shows the 6-foot-6, 270-pound Ballard leaping above an Oregon defender in the Rose Bowl to pull in a 24-yard alley-oop pass from Terrelle Pryor. The fourth-quarter catch, on third-and-13, set up Pryor's clinching touchdown pass to DeVier Posey moments later. Perhaps it would help Ballard's NFL aspirations if he passed out copies of the photo to the pro coaches and scouts who will descend on the Woody Hayes Athletic Center on Friday for the Buckeyes' pro day drills. For Ballard and a handful of other OSU seniors who weren't invited to the NFL combine last month, it will be the best chance to drum up interest before the April draft. "I'm not nervous. I'm more excited than anything about the chance," Ballard said. "What I want to show people is my speed and my routes. "From what the scouts have been telling me, I am categorized as a blocking tight end right now, a sixth- or seventh-round guy, or free agent. They are not going to waste a high draft…READ MORE SOURCE: Tim May, The Columbus Dispatch
03/11/2010 - Cleveland Browns are only team to witness Kent's Jameson Konz put up "freakish" numbers - Kent State linebacker/fullback Jameson Konz put on an impressive display in his personal workout this morning at the school's lonely pro day. Because Kent's pro day conflicted with those of major schools with multiple prospects, such as Nebraska, Idaho, Oregon and Boston College, attendance at Kent was scarce. In fact, the Browns were the only NFL team to send a scout. What he saw was Konz put on an athletic display described as "freakish." Konz measured 6-3 and 234 pounds. He was timed in the 40-yard dash at 4.46 seconds. Asked to run a second one, he timed 4.38. Konz also posted a 46-inch vertical jump and a broad jump of 10 feet, 8 1/4 inches. Konz is considered a prospect to play tight end, H-back or fullback in the NFL. His numbers better the top figures posted by any tight end or fullback at the NFL Scouting Combine. The closest numbers to Konz's were put up by tight end Dorin Dickerson of Pittsburgh…READ MORE SOURCE: Toni Grossi, The Cleveland Plain Dealer
03/11/2010 - Bryant a no-show, but others excel - Dez Bryant was a conspicuous no-show. Perrish Cox was banned. Russell Okung did participate and did nothing to damage his status as a probable high first-round draft pick. Several other former Cowboys, including quarterback Zac Robinson, might have improved their NFL employment prospects during Oklahoma State's Pro Day workouts at Boone Pickens Stadium. Reportedly because of a lingering hamstring issue that prevented him from running at the NFL Combine, Bryant was not in Stillwater on Wednesday. According to NFL.com, the All-American wide receiver will work out for NFL scouts on March 25 or 29 in his hometown of Lufkin, Texas. "I knew he wasn't going to be here, but they have other players here other than Dez Bryant," Pittsburgh Steelers scout Joe Greene said. "I'm sure he's realizing that the show keeps going on without him." When asked whether he plans to be in Lufkin for Bryant's workout, Greene replied, "I haven't been to Lufkin in all of my years in Texas, and I don't plan to go to Lufkin any time soon…READ MORE SOURCE: Bill Haisten, Tulsa World
03/11/2010 - SIU's Karim shows why he caught Bears' eye - The pro day at Northwestern proved to be a launching point last year for Jason Williams, a linebacker from Western Illinois. Wiith about half the teams in the league represented, Williams performed so well that he wound up having to turn down invitations to make pre-draft visits with more than a dozen teams interested in him. He became a third-round draft pick of the Dallas Cowboys, and now another small-school performer is hoping his day in Evanston turns into big things. Southern Illinois running back Deji Karim put together an impressive pro day workout Thursday at Northwestern. One scout timed the nation's leading rusher from 2009 at 4.37 seconds in the 4o0-yard dash.
Karim, who was not invited to the scouting combine, had a 43-inch vertical jump, 10 foot, 3-inch broad jump and put up 19 reps on the bench press at 225 pounds. He measured just a shade under 5-foot-9 and was 210 pounds. "I felt pretty good this morning…READ MORE SOURCE: Brad Biggs, The Chicago Tribune
Kevin Haslam, OT, Rutgers 2010 DS #17 OT, Projected Round(s): 5-6 News/Story Tagged As:Pro day, Pro day news/info/results
03/11/2010 - Haslam passes his pro-day test - Kevin Haslam equated the anxiety he felt heading into Wednesday’s Rutgers Pro Day to the feeling he gets before a big exam. “”I think it’s more nerve-wracking before this day,” Haslam said after his workout before 35 scouts from NFL teams inside Rutgers’ practice bubble. “”Now that it’s out of the way I think I can rest easier. Now I think I can take a breath.” According to one NFL scout, who requested anonymity, Haslam “”was impressive.” “”He pulled up in the 40,” the scout said, alluding to the 6-foot-5, 304-pounder’s less-than-gaudy 5.63-seconds sprint, “”but I thought he showed a great deal of athleticism in everything else he did. His positional stuff was outstanding.” Haslam said he heard a similar assessment from the scouts he spoke with, offering, “”I thought I had a solid day. I came out and did everything to the best to my abilities. Overall I thought it was a solid day. I thought I did well in the positional drills, adjusting to different stances from what we do…READ MORE SOURCE: Keith Sargeant, MyCentralJersey.com
03/11/2010 - The curious case of Deion Sanders - Sanders says two hours after sending his morning text: "I give unconditionally. I'm not looking for nothing back." So do we believe him? It would be much easier if the answer were yes. But it's not that simple, for him or for us -- not after the decade we just endured, when so much of what we thought was real in sports turned out to be bogus. And when your nickname is Prime Time, the skeptics are always ready to pounce. Some believe Sanders mentors for ego. Or money, as the NCAA suspected with Bryant, who ultimately signed with Sanders' friend and former agent, Eugene Parker. Or power, say NFL insiders who finger Sanders as the driving force behind Crabtree's contract dispute. Sanders has a strong denial for every accusation. And the NCAA inquiry concluded that he did nothing wrong with Bryant. In a different era, maybe those details would have quelled the cynicism…READ MORE SOURCE: Seth Wickersham, ESPN The Magazine
He's found his calling as a mentor. But critics wonder if he's too good to be true.
03/11/2010 - Run, Cody, run - Nick Saban chuckled when talking about the ever-shrinking Terrence Cody. The former Alabama noseguard, who tipped the scales at 370 pounds less than two months ago at the Senior Bowl, weighed in at 348 pounds Wednesday at the Alabama Pro Day in Tuscaloosa. "I'd take 348," Saban said, "because in my mind, I knew he'd never get there. So I was real happy to see him get there today." Cody was listed at 354 pounds on the roster this fall after peaking at more than 400 while in junior college. Now he's lists himself among the top options in the NFL Draft even if most projections are a little less optimistic. "I am thinking first round, somewhere very high," Cody said. "Probably the top 10 or top 15. I feel like I kind of shocked a lot of people today." Recent mock drafts had Cody slipping as low as the second round after his overweight performance at the Senior Bowl…READ MORE SOURCE: Michael Casagrande, The Times Daily
Alabama’s ever-shrinking noseguard among 18 draft-eligible former players who participated in the NFL tryouts
03/11/2010 - Bengals and Browns eyeing DB prospect Owusu-Ansah - Every year during draft time you hear about a little-known prospect who is creating a buzz among NFL scouts. You can call these players what you like, sleeper, diamond in the rough or hidden gem. This year is no different. Indiana (Pa.) University defensive back Akwasi Owusu-Ansah is the undisputed Division II talent entering April’s draft. Owusu-Ansah, a product of Whetstone High School in Columbus, Ohio, has generated a ton of interest since his performance at the scouting combine last month. In fact, a handful of teams lobbied Ohio State University to allow the defensive back to take part in school’s pro day on Friday. The university obliged and Owusu-Ansah will now showcase his skills along with other Buckeye players. The Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns are among the teams showing interest in Owusu-Ansah. The 6-foot, 207-pound Owusu-Ansah…READ MORE SOURCE: Carlos "Big C" Holmes, The Dayton Daily News
03/11/2010 - Pugh shines at A&M's NFL pro day - Jordan Pugh was still filling out a questionnaire after the crowd had disbursed from the McFerrin Athletic Center, and most of his Texas A&M teammates had begun eating lunch. Pugh didn't mind the extra paper, smiling as he worked through it. He was a noticeable standout at the Aggies' NFL pro day workout Wednesday. "I was pleased," Pugh said. "All of the hard work paid off. Yeah, you're a little nervous, a little anxious but at the end, I thought it was good. I think I could have run faster, but that's the competitive side of me." As much as his performance, Pugh's upbeat demeanor shone though. Appearing anxious for the next challenge, he had the top vertical leap, 40-yard dash time and standing broad jump of the workout. "When you train, you train specifically for the combine," Pugh said. "That's what you're being tested on. Now it will be more football-related…READ MORE SOURCE: David Campbell, AggieSports.com
03/11/2010 - Cats try to impress scouts at Pro Day - The last time Sam Maxwell suited up for UK, he returned an interception for a touchdown against Tennessee on Nov. 28. That play capped a breakout senior season for the career backup linebacker who exploded for 81 tackles and seven interceptions in 2009. He was able to do so even though he played much of the year with a shoulder injury, and underwent surgery on a torn labrum in his left shoulder after the Tennessee game. He missed UK’s bowl game and has since been rehabbing the shoulder so he could work out for NFL teams. At UK’s Pro Day on Wednesday, Maxwell finally suited up again. But this time, he was suiting up for Sam Maxwell. Scouts from about 15 NFL teams showed up to put UK’s seniors through drills, workouts and time them in the 40-yard dash. For a player like Maxwell, who has laid low since his injury, it was a chance to get back on the map. “Not many people know about Sam Maxwell,” Maxwell said. “The only people who know are people who watch Kentucky football…READ MORE SOURCE: BW Jones, The Kentucky Kernel
03/11/2010 - Cats ease their draft worries on Pro Day - In the world of NFL Draft preparation, a mere two-tenths of a second can be the difference between being an early-to-mid-round selection and going undrafted. Former Kentucky linebacker Micah Johnson was disappointed after running a 4.99 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine earlier this month, but Johnson redeemed himself at UK's Pro Day on Wednesday. Since official times are not released and scouts from the 15 NFL teams had their own stopwatches, it's difficult to get specific. But Johnson said scouts told him that he was clocked in the 4.7-4.8 range, a vast improvement over his showing at the combine. "I think the biggest difference was my nerves," Johnson said. "I was a lot more comfortable being around people I know. After the combine I went back to Florida (where Johnson has been training) and corrected my mistakes that I made when I ran. "I ran a 4.9 when I was in the ninth grade. It kind of hurt my feelings a little bit. But I'm glad everything came together out here today." Running back Alfonso Smith also helped himself by showing…READ MORE SOURCE: Chip Cosby, Lexington Herald Leader
03/11/2010 - Pro prospects at Montlake make it worth scouts' time - They call these things "pro days," but in recent seasons at the University of Washington, the "pro" part has been only figurative. When NFL talent evaluators showed up at UW during that span when the program was lying lifeless in the dumpster, it was a brief stop that didn’t require many note pads. Consequently, no Huskies were drafted in 2008 and 2009. Only three total players were taken in 2006 and 2007, all in the fourth round. No wonder they couldn’t compete on Saturdays in the fall. USC had three first-rounders in just the 2009 draft. Oregon had three second-rounders in that draft. On Wednesday, though, the Huskies showed off a pair of defenders who have legitimate NFL potential: linebacker Donald Butler and defensive end Daniel Te’o-Nesheim. They have registered very respectable “measurables,” and both have the additional qualities of intelligence and high-motivation that will get them drafted and on an NFL roster this fall…READ MORE SOURCE: Dave Boling, The Olympian
In Huskies' defense, they have a couple of draft prospects this season
03/11/2010 - Lighter Cody hopes for hefty result - Although there was a little less of him to see since his last visit to the University of Alabama campus, Terrence Cody's smile was as wide as ever Wednesday afternoon. The nose tackle and Riverdale High School graduate reported for the Crimson Tide's Pro Day, when draft-eligible players work out for NFL scouts and coaches, weighing 348 pounds. That's down from 370 at the Senior Bowl and 354 at the recent NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. "I'd grade my day as an A or A-minus," Cody said. "I feel like I could have done a little bit better, (in the) drill and shuttles, with my balance." Although times and scores were not released, NFL.com reported that Cody ran 5.64 and 5.62 seconds in the 40-yard dash (down from 5.73 at the combine), had a 22-inch vertical leap and a 7-foot-9 broad jump. Cody benched 22 repetitions at 225 pounds but said he pressed too much at…READ MORE SOURCE: Christopher Walsh, The News-Press
Riverdale grad out to raise draft position
03/11/2010 - Pro Day offers last chance with NFL scouts - The University of Minnesota football team held its annual Pro Day at the team’s practice facility on Wednesday. The University of Minnesota football team held its annual Pro Day at the team’s practice facility on Wednesday for players whose collegiate eligibility expired after this season and wanted a chance to impress NFL scouts. The drills mirror those conducted at the NFL Scouting Combine, including the 40-yard dash, bench press, vertical leap and other quickness drills. Gophers head coach Tim Brewster said the program has been getting more attention from the NFL, noting all 32 NFL teams were represented at Wednesday’s event. For players like Eric Decker, Nate Triplett, Simoni Lawrence and Lee Campbell, who were at the combine, Pro Day can give them an opportunity to improve upon the scores they recorded there. Triplett said he wanted a chance to perform better in the speed drills, which he felt he did Wednesday…READ MORE SOURCE: Michael Rietmulder, Minnesota Daily
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