The Pro Day circuit is in full swing now in mid-March. On March 13th alone, we have four major Pro Days in Alabama, Cincinnati, Oklahoma, and Michigan State, with more than 80 pro team representatives at the four combined.
While some of the top prospects, such as Eddie Lacey, Dee Milliner, Travis Kelce, or Lane Johnson didn’t participate in the testing, NFL teams flocked to these pro days to evaluate every possible player at these four schools, and may have found a few mid-to-late rounders that made their trips worthwhile.
Notable Prospects Who Did NOT Test Today at Pro Days
Alabama – RB Eddie Lacy, CB Dee Milliner
Cincinnati – TE Travis Kelce
Oklahoma – OT Lane Johnson, S Tony Jefferson, QB Landry Jones
Michigan State –RB Le’Veon Bell
Alabama
-The highest likely draft pick from today’s workout (with no Lacy, Milliner, or Barrett Jones workout out) was nose tackle Jesse Williams. He posted a 4.90 unofficial forty time (per Dan Hope)
-Blocking tight end Michael Williams posted a 5.10 and a 5.20 forty time, unimpressed for a modern tight end now. His 8’1 broad jump was a bit lackluster, while his 35.5 inch vertical leap is solid, per AL.com. Robert Lester, the 2011 and 2012 free safety, posted 4.65/4.81 forty times, 10’1 broad jump and a 34.5 vertical jump. Offensive Guard Chance Warmack had a 24.5 inch vertical leap. Safe to say, no one will confuse the mauling guard for a great athlete.
-Linebacker Nico Johnson had 4.73 and 4.89 forty time, solid for a linebacker hoping to be more than just a run stopper.
-UAB offensive lineman Chris Hubbard, who got a chance to work out at the Alabama Pro Day, posted a 4.71 forty time. An impressive time (and similar to Terron Armstead/Lane Johnson’s at the NFL Combine), Hubbard took advantage of the 32 NFL teams watching him workout. (per Jamie Newberg)
-All 32 teams were in attendance.
Cincinnati – Numbers/Notes by a source at the Pro Day
-The star of the show was defensive end Walter Stewart. After an injury in the middle part of this year, a back injury was said to be career-ending. However, he’s still pursuing his chances in the NFL, and reportedly there are teams that would clear him to play, albeit taking a major risk. He attended the NFL Combine, but the morning before his testing, he was told he was not allowed to work out.
–WalterStewart took advantage of his pro day. He had 40 times in the mid-high 4.5s (no official, sorry), a 4.32 short shuttle, 16 bench reps, a 10’3 broad jump, and a 37.5 inch vertical leap. At 6’4, 246, he reportedly “looked really good” in drills as well. He showed “very good hips” and was called a “a straight speed guy”. Regardless of whether his injury fully checks out or not, it’d be a surprise if some team didn’t select him come April.
-Running back George Winn posted a 4.53 and 4.46 forty times, but didn’t do anything else. Those are drastically better than his forty time at the Combine (4.70), potentially because of a potential injury during pre-Combine testing
-Also at the Cincinnati Pro Day, cornerback Cameron Cheathem posted a 4.39/4.43 forty time, had a 36 inch vertical leap, a 9’9 broad jump, and did 11 bench reps. The forty time especially was an impressive showing.
Oklahoma – Full Results Here
-None of the big names worked out at Oklahoma, but check out prospects that already have NFL interest in the link above, such as WR Justin Brown, CB Demontre Hurst, DE RJ Washington, DE David King, and DT Jamarkus McFarland.
-Running back Dominique Whaley helped himself out a bit. He measured in at 5’10, 205, and posted a 36.5 inch vertical jump, a 10’4 broad jump, a 4.59 forty time, and a 10.34 60 yard dash, all solid numbers for the hopeful late round selection.
-Cornerback Jesse Paulson never started for the Sooners, but played 37 games in his college career at both New Mexico and Oklahoma. He wowed with a 4.45 forty time, a 4.12 short shuttle, a 6.95 3-cone drill, and a 39.5 inch vertical leap. The 6’0, 201 pound cornerback may have gotten himself a post-draft workout with these numbers.
-Former Oklahoma CB Reggie Smith worked out at the Pro Day after last playing at Oklahoma in 2007. He ran a 4.31 forty time and posted a 41 inch vertical leap.
Michigan State – Numbers/Notes by Joe Rexrode of the Detroit Free Press
-Defensive end William Gholston put up 21 bench reps today, which isn’t all that impressive. We’ll update his forty time here when we get it, but for a defensive end that relies on power to generate pressure, that’s not a great showing on the bench press.
-Also on the bench press, tight end Dion Sims put up 26 reps (didn’t run a 40 or do vertical jump), offensive guard Chris McDonald put up 31 reps, defensive tackle Anthony Rashad White had 27 reps.
-Cornerback Johnny Adams only did the vertical jump, and posted a 33 inch vertical. He’s tied for 4th lowest vertical jump among DBs at the NFL Combine with that number.
-There were 38 NFL team reps there, 29 teams represented in total. The Steelers took Dion Sims and Le’Veon Bell to dinner the day before. Sims could be their future backup to Heath Miller, while Bell may be the heir apparent to Rashard Mendenhall (total speculation on that).
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