• The Wisconsin pro day is complete and the star of the workout was guard Kevin Zeitler, who looked tremendous in position drills. The dominant run blocker showed terrific power in bag drills and easily moved about the field during motion drills. After his workout those in attendance used words such as "outstanding" and "beastly" to describe Zeitler, whose swiftly rising up boards. The Badger senior has locked himself up as a top-45 choice and there's a feeling he could slide into the late part of Round 1.
Quarterback Russell Wilson threw the ball well during a scripted workout. His down field passes were on the money and Wilson displayed solid arm strength on all his throws. This did not come as a surprise to scouts as they expected Wilson to do well in an open space workout with no defenders trying to knock him around.
Peter Konz looked solid in limited action snapping the ball. There's a feeling in the scouting community the all-Big Ten center and his 6-foot, 5-inch frame can lineup at guard or right tackle as well as center.
Safety Aaron Henry was slightly disappointing posting times in the low 4.6-second area in the 40-yard dash and did not look prepared for the workout. Offensive tackle Josh Oglesby, who clocked in at 5.81 seconds during the combine, looked very sluggish during the workout.
One small school player that turned heads during Wisconsin's pro day was Beloit receiver Derek Carrier. The three sport athlete (Carrier also played basketball and ran track in college) ran under 4.5-seconds after measuring 6-foot-3 and 240 pounds. His other marks included a 40-inch vertical jump, 10-foot, 2-inch broad jump and 6.69 seconds during the three cone run. The three cone time was topped by just one receiver at the combine.
Carrier is more than just a good athlete as the Division III wide out caught 75 passes for 1,100 yards and 12 touchdowns last season. He left teams scrambling after the workout and received more than two dozen requests for game film from scouts and NFL team officials on hand.
There was another small-school prospect that impressed NFL teams today.
Nine franchises made their way to Hamilton, N.Y. to watch running back Nate Eachus workout during the Colgate pro day. The four-year starter whose amassed 4,485 rushing yards and 53 touchdowns, posted a best time of 4.56 seconds in the 40 after measuring 5-foot-10 and 214 pounds. His other marks included a vertical jump of 37.5 inches as well as 24 reps on the bench.
After position drills Eachus sat privately and met with a pair of NFL teams for two hours.
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Wednesday, March 7, 9:58 p.m.
• After years of a carnival like atmosphere for the USC pro day, an event that was used as a tool to recruit top high school prospects under former coach Pete Carroll, today's workout could be described as nondescript at best.
The Trojans top players in April's draft, offensive tackle Matt Kalil and defensive end Nick Perry, both sat on their outstanding combine numbers and took part in a few position drills. They both looked solid in their limited participation. Most on hand said Kalil and Perry both looked and played the part of first-round picks.
Defensive tackle DaJohn Harris, who was not allowed to workout at the combine after doctors discovered a small hole in his heart, a condition known as patent foramen ovale or PFO, did participate in the pro day. Weighing just over 300 pounds Harris ran 40 times between 4.96-5.05 seconds.
Running back Marc Tyler ran his 40 in the mid-4.7's, slightly better than his combine result. The conditions were tough for the players, who ran into a strong headwind during the 40.
FBS program Eastern Washington had about a half dozen scouts on hand for its pro day.
Safety Matt Johnson, who missed most of the season's second half with a torn biceps tendon, put on a show for scouts. The hard hitting run defender measured just over 6-feet and 211 pounds. His fastest 40 time clocked 4.54 seconds and Johnson's other marks included a vertical jump of 38.5 inches and 18 reps on the bench.
Defensive tackle Renard Williams, highly rated coming into the season, measured 6-feet, 1/2-inch and 302 pounds. His marks included 23-reps on the bench press, 32-inches on the vertical jump and a fast 40 time of 5.20 seconds.
Record-setting quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell was unable to throw as the facility where the workout was held was not conducive to a passing workout. Mitchell will participate in the SMU pro day later this month.
Thursday, March 8, 11:47 a.m.
• The pro day schedule for Thursday gets started quickly, as the Miami Hurricanes and Clemson Tigers are well into their workouts. But there are other workouts to keep on eye on as well. More than a dozen offensive line coaches from around the league will make their way to Miami, Ohio to watch offensive lineman Brandon Brooks today. Brooks, who turned in a tremendous athletic workout, will be put through offensive line drills this afternoon.
Clemson tight end Dwayne Allen, defensive end/outside linebacker Andre Branch and cornerback Coty Sensabaugh all chose to stand on their 40 times from the combine and will participate in position drills.
Late word from yesterday had some very fast times at the Louisville pro day, starting with receiver Josh Bellamy, who timed in the low 4.4-second range and ran as fast as 4.38 seconds on a few watches. Bellamy, who was well thought of coming into the 2011 season before struggling with injuries throughout his senior year, also posted marks of 37 inches in the vertical and 10-5 in the broad jump.
Underrated linebacker Dexter Heyman, who led the Cardinals in tackles (90) and tackles for loss (16), ran in the 4.76 range, faster than many expected. The 6-foot-3, 238-pound defender also posted a vertical jump of 35 inches.
Tight end/wide receiver Josh Chichester ran times as fast as 4.57 seconds and touched 38 inches in the vertical after measuring 6-8 and 245 pounds. Finally, defensive end Greg Scruggs, who played in just nine games last season then was arrested in December for a DUI, ran in the mid 4.6s at 280 pounds. Always considered a tremendous athlete, Scruggs has never translated his natural physical gifts into full-time football production.
Thursday, March 8, 1:12 p.m.
• Tight end Dwayne Allen stood out in position drills and caught the ball extremely well from former Tiger quarterback Willy Korn, who delivered passes all day. Allen looked fluid and smooth moving about the field. Many were surprised Allen did not try to improve his 40 time of 4.89 seconds from the combine, but he told people after the workout, "I'm not a 40 guy," and said he has no plans to run again prior to the draft.
Andre Branch also looked solid in position drills. The college defensive end was put through a battery of linebacker drills by the New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan, and for the most part looked solid. Though Branch was overthinking at times, the scouts on hand were impressed with his athleticism and movement skills. He's locked himself up as someone who will go in the top half of the second round.
Cornerback Coty Sensabaugh also drew positive reviews for his positional work. The senior stood on his combine 40 time of 4.42 seconds but looked smooth and crisp in defensive back drills.
Two offensive linemen also looked solid. Landon Walker, who was not invited to the combine, ran 5.30 seconds in the 40 after completing 32 reps on the bench. He and teammate Antoine McClain showed terrific power in drills and the ability to quickly move their feet.
Scouts had mixed feelings on the performance of defensive tackle Brandon Thompson. The big lineman ran a 40 time near 5.10 seconds, but showed little balance and was slipping throughout his workout. Teams like his underlying athleticism and feel Thompson will contribute at the next level, but this was not the workout he needed to push himself into the late part of round one.
Thursday, March 8, 4:42 p.m.
• In Coral Gables, Florida a number of former Miami Hurricanes impressed scouts with athletic workouts.
Receiver Aldarius Johnson, who was suspended for the 2011 campaign due to off-field infractions, and Laron Byrd, a highly rated senior wideout who put up pedestrian numbers last season, both sizzled on at their pro day.
Johnson measured just under 6-2 and weighed 208 pounds. His 40 times clocked in the low 4.4-second range, with a few watches reading 4.40. Byrd, who is slightly larger and was considered a potential third-round choice entering the season, ran a tad slower, timing 4.45 seconds. Both wideouts caught the ball well during workouts, showing the ability to easily adjust and catch the errant throw in stride.
Also impressing was underrated safety JoJo Nicolas. He measured 6-0, 196 pounds and ran a time of 4.56 in the 40. During drills, Nicolas showed impressive ball skills and the ability to cover large amounts of area in a short time. He performed much better than expected and set himself up as a potential late-round choice.
Defender Olivier Vernon ran under 4.7 seconds today, the time he hoped to clock at the combine. His weight was 262 pounds and afterward Vernon looked explosive and fast in linebacker drills.
Working out next to Vernon was Bethune-Cookman sackmaster Ryan Davis, who looked equally impressive. The small-school prospect, who finished the season with 12 sacks and 21.5 tackles for loss from his defensive end position, measured 6-2 1/2 and 259 pounds. His vertical jump was a respectable 35 inches, with a 40 time just over 4.8-seconds. Davis looked much faster in linebacker drills and displayed athleticism moving in open space.
Most of Miami's top prospects, including running back Lamar Miller, receiver Tommy Streeter and linebacker Sean Spence stood on most of their combine numbers.
In Boulder, Colorado offensive lineman Ryan Miller shrugged off a disappointing season and received positive reviews for his pro day effort. The big lineman concentrated on position drills and was thoroughly tested by the Indianapolis Colts. He displayed terrific power and hand punch, and moved better than many expected. Miller was highly considered after his sophomore season, but never truly improved his game. He could be a sleeper in the late rounds.
Rodney Stewart, who led the Colorado offense in both rushing and receiving last season, also impressed during the Buffalo's workout. The small skill player measured just 5-6 1/2 and 179 pounds but performed big, completing 21 reps on the bench press, touching 36 inches in the vertical jump and posting a broad jump of 10-4. His best 40 time clocked in at 4.53 seconds, and Stewart timed 6.72 seconds in the three-cone run. He's a slippery skill player who creates his own yardage and does not back down to a challenge. Stewart projects as a Leon Washington-type of player in the NFL.
At the Mississippi State pro day, several of the Bulldogs who participated at the combine were able to improve their 40 time, but the story remains Fletcher Cox.
The athletic defensive lineman stood on his impressive combine numbers, but looked outstanding in drills. Today's display, coupled with his ability to line up at three different spots on the defensive line, could push Cox into the top 10 of the first round.
Running back Vick Ballard and safety Charles Mitchell, who both ran 4.64 seconds in Indianapolis, timed in the mid 4.5s today. Ballard also improved his time in the three-cone, clocking 6.90 seconds compared to 7.04 at the combine.
Offensive tackle James Carmon turned a few heads today. He measured a massive 6-6 and 330 pounds, timed 5.24 seconds in the forty and 4.17 seconds in the short shuttle and completed 22 reps on the bench. Carmon came to Mississippi State as a defensive lineman from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College and totaled eight tackles while blocking a kick in 2010. He moved to the offensive line as a senior and held down the left tackle position for the Bulldogs all last year. Scouts feel his upside is enormous and fully expect Carmon to make an NFL roster in one form or another this coming season.
Oklahoma State WR Justin Blackmon reportedly ran his first unofficial forty in the 4.45-4.50 range at the team's Friday Pro Day.
His second forty was in the neighborhood of 4.41 to 4.46. This is undoubtedly a quick time for Blackmon, who declined to run at the Combine after a hamstring tweak. Blackmon rarely was able to show off this kind of straight line speed in college while consistently facing off coverage that allowed quick completions. Keep in mind certain teams could add as much as .1 of a second onto this forty because of the notorious fast track at Stillwater. Without a clear top receiver in this class, Blackmon certainly has the production to warrant being the first one selected.
Source: Josina Anderson on Twitter
Mar 9 - 12:25 PM
Most of Miami's top prospects, including running back Lamar Miller, receiver Tommy Streeter and linebacker Sean Spence stood on most of their combine numbers.
Things would be so much easier for fans if schools were required or felt more obligated to make charts like the one contained in this link and then post it to the school's official football page. Oklahoma and Miami have been two of the best at this for several years now.