Pro Day Information

[ChrisPozz]

Chris, what's the word on Oklahoma State's surface? Fast, slow, average?

It's considered a semi-fast to fast surface by the majority and the times produced by them in the past in comparison to the old/new Indy surface seem to back that up for the most part. The Oklahoma State coaching staff has always denied or downplayed that belief, though.

 

[optimist4720]

Sleeper Watch...

Sleeper Alert- Troy WR Stanley Arukwe (5-11.6, 180) a track star who played WR for the Trojans last year, ran a blistering 4.19 forty-time in his first attempt with the wind, and 4.29 forty-time against the wind, at the Trojans pro day workout on Friday. My take is we need to get faster on offense in the skill positions..and a bit bigger in the REd Zone..draft 2 WR for the future..a fast slot/wr guy and a Biggy for Jump ball situations. And they dont have to be 1st rders.. Lot of depth with medium speed big guys...and this guy if he can catch is doable. His youtube stuff suggests he can catch. JMHO

 

[optimist4720]

TROY – Stanley Arukwe could think of only one thing after he made a catch on third and 6 for six yards last week at Clemson, and got drilled by a Tiger defender while maintaining possession.

Karma.

“When I was playing defensive back (in high school), I was a hard-hitting cornerback,” Arukwe said. “Basically, karma came back and got me.”

Arukwe, a fifth-year senior Trojan student-athlete, has waited a long time for this opportunity. He’s only officially been a member of the Troy football team since the beginning of August. Arukwe transferred to Troy from Modesto (Calif.) Junior College in 2009, but came to run track.

He ran sprints in the 100 and 200-meter dash, and on the 4X100 and 4X400 relay teams. After he made regionals as a track senior, but didn’t qualify for nationals, he decided to pursue his first love and join the football team.

He had shown interest two years ago in playing football, but the scholarship logistics didn’t work out.

Now, he’s making the most of his second chance to play his first love. Arukwe went to the University of Washington for a semester after high school to play football, but didn’t like it and transferred to Modesto to trade his pads for the runner’s shoes.

“It paid for my school, so I went with it,” Arukwe said. “I always loved playing football. I didn’t start running track until my sophomore year of high school and it became natural to me.”

He picked a good time to come back to Troy football, as the Trojans were rebuilding their receiver rotation. Arukwe was friends with several football players over the years, but had to prove to his new teammates that he could still play the game, first in voluntary pass drills over the summer and again during fall camp.

“Probably some of the defensive backs gave me a lot more headaches,” Arukwe said. “They’d be like, ‘Oh yeah, he can’t catch, don’t worry about him.’

“After seeing me catch the ball a lot, they realized this guy can really play so we better step up our game.”

Arukwe’s speed – normally running a 10.3 in the 100-meter dash – stood out as coaches debated giving him a shot to walk on for his final year of eligibility. He proved his worth as a receiver during fall camp, and carved his way onto special teams as well. He finished with 1.5 tackles on kickoff coverage at Clemson, and serves as a blocker on punt returns.

“There’s too many instances of walk-ons that earn their way because they busted their tails,” Troy offensive coordinator Kenny Edenfield said. “Coach (Larry) Blakeney’s always played guys like that and we’re going to continue to do it.

“One thing you noticed in practice is that he’s running by people a lot, and he’s getting better and better at finishing those plays. I really felt like we had a chance to get him down the field where he’d have an opportunity, but maybe we will next time.”

Arukwe didn’t mince words when asked if he was the fastest player on the team.

“Yeah. I probably am. I’m not just saying that just to say it, but I probably am,” he said.

But his work ethic impressed Troy coaches quickly. That helped him earn his way into the playing rotation after just four weeks of practice. He’ll again suit up for the Trojans Saturday at Arkansas.

“I’m really pleased he’s here,” Edenfield said. “He is a great worker and a great kid. Before it’s said and done, if he continues to get better, he’ll make some big plays down the field.

“You can see the first day of practice to the last day of camp how much he improved, and how much he improved as we prepared for Clemson. That’s how he got himself in there.”

Arukwe was grateful to track coach Jill Lancaster, who had a connection with his coach in Modesto and helped him get across the country to Troy.

“She gave me the chance to continue my track career,” Arukwe said. “I had gotten hurt my sophomore year and my times weren’t as fast.

“She gave me a chance and really helped me bring me back to my speeds that I was running in high school. She gave me my opportunity and I took it. If you get a second chance, you always take that second chance because you never know how many times you’ll get it.”

 

[optimist4720]

Not a lot of production to go by..but genuine speedburner track guy. 10.3 100 mid 4.2 speed (4.19+4.29/2) 4.24 ave. UDFA or late pick and Im a buyer.

 

[ChrisPozz]

From Aaron Wilson:

Appalachian State RB-WR Travaris Cadet has private workout for the Dolphins on April 5 and a dinner with the 49ers on Saturday per a source

 

[ChrisPozz]

2012 NFL draft pro day updates - Tony Pauline - SI.com

Monday, March 12, 9:52 a.m.
• The pro day schedule starts a bit light today, as we'll focus on Pittsburgh and Tulsa. Later this week scouts will be attending pro day workouts at Cal, Florida, Oklahoma, Penn State and Arizona State, to name a few.

Several performances that slipped through the cracks late last week are worthy of mention.

At Washington State, linebacker Alex Hoffman-Ellis may have worked himself into the late rounds with his performance Friday. He measured just over 6-0 and 233 pounds. His 40 time clocked at 4.54, seconds while he completed 36 reps on the bench and touched 36.5 inches in the vertical jump. He's a smart and tough football player who will do well on special teams while backing up at outside linebacker.

Syracuse senior cornerback Kevyn Scott consistently ran in the mid 4.3s in the 40 after measuring 5-10 and 201 pounds. Teams love Scott's athleticism and now its just a matter of making him a consistent football player.

Columbia offensive tackle Jeff Adams participated in the pro day at Northwestern and looked good. He measured 6-6, 308 pounds, ran a solid 40 time of 5.11 seconds and touched 34.5 inches in the vertical jump. Adams completed just 19 reps on the bench, a pedestrian number, but scouts feel he possesses the underlying ability to develop into a backup at a number of offensive line spots for an NFL team.

Monday, March 12, 6:54 p.m.

• Almost 20 teams were on hand for Pittsburgh's pro day and they saw a good performance from Panther offensive lineman Lucas Nix, who's recovering from a bout of strep throat.

The big blocker stood on most of his numbers from the combine but also worked position drills for almost twenty minutes. He looked fluid, athletic and impressed scouts with his versatility. Nix, who lined up at both tackle and guard for Pittsburgh, is getting consideration for both of those positions as well as center by NFL teams.

Defensive tackle Myles Caragein completed 20 reps on the bench press and ran 5.05 seconds in the forty. The two-year starter on the Panther defensive line was later tried at multiple offensive line positions, at one point snapping the ball from center for scouts.

Cornerback Antwuan Reed improved his forty time from the combine, timing 4.48 seconds, then looked smooth in drills.

Fiery linebacker Max Gruder completed 26 reps on the bench press after measuring 6-foot, 1-inch and 236 pounds. He later timed 4.1 seconds and posted a mark of 32.5 inches in the vertical jump. Gruder projects as a back-up linebacker that can handle the inside or outside spot and scouts feel he will excel on special teams.

• Nineteen teams were on hand in Tulsa as two prospects were the focus of attention.

Multipurpose skill player Damaris Johnson, who was suspended from the team in August after being charged with then eventually pleading guilty to felony embezzlement, performed well for scouts. The NCAA's career all-purpose yardage leader measured a small 5-feet, 7.6-inches and 178 pounds. His fastest forty time clocked at 4.48 seconds. Johnson participated in receiver drills in addition to showing his skills returning punts and kick. The diminutive ball handler is being projected as a slot reciever/return specialist by NFL teams.

Quarterback GJ Kinne looked better than expected. Kinne, whose been working with former NFL starters Chad Pennington and Scott Brunner since January, was sharp throwing the ball. Scouts questioned Kinne's arm strength and asked the signal caller to hurl the ball as far as he could. When they were finished measuring the ball sailed past the 80-yard mark, quelling any concerns about Kinne's arm.

 

[ChrisPozz]

NFL.com Blogs Blog Archive Steelers’ Tomlin attends Ohio State pro day

NFL.com Blogs Blog Archive Pro day roundup: Mississippi, Northwestern, Ohio

NFL.com Blogs Blog Archive Crick shows strength at Nebraska pro day

 

[ChrisPozz]

NFL Scouts Attend Ole Miss Football's Annual Pro Day - OLEMISSSPORTS.COM - OLE MISS Official Athletic Site

 

[ChrisPozz]

Purdue Football Hosts Pro Day

 

[ChrisPozz]

Scouts get a good look at Griz

 

[ChrisPozz]

Consider Tulsa a school who did a good job with their pro day notes:

SEVENTEEN NFL TEAMS REPRESENTED AT TULSA PRO DAY - Twenty Tulsa players go through workout - The University of Tulsa Official Athletic Site

 

[ChrisPozz]

Football Program Hosts Annual Pro Day - CMUChippewas.com—Official Web Site of Central Michigan University Athletics

 

[ChrisPozz]

Nine Jacksonville players among dozen at JU Pro Day - Jacksonville University Official Athletic Site

 

[ChrisPozz]

Pro Day roundup: Alabama, USC and more | National Football Post

 

[ChrisPozz]

Rob Rang - CBSSports.com Four under-the-radar Pro Day workouts that opened eyes

We'll start off at Western Kentucky where scouts from the Tennessee Titans and San Francisco 49ers likely traveled to get a closer look at star running back Bobby Rainey but left buzzing about the raw athleticism of wide receiver-turned cornerback Derrius Brooks.Brooks, who incidentally led the Hilltoppersin interceptions after each of the two seasons in whichheplayed defense (seven total through 2010-2011), was reportedly timed at4.29 and 4.35 secondsin two attempts at the 40-yard dash. Each would have been ranked as the fastest time recorded at the 2012 Combine.

Rainey, a legitimate NFL-caliber back in my opinion that should have been invited to the Combine, also posted solid numbers, including a 4.51 second 40-yard dash time that is at least a tenth of a second faster than most scouts had anticipated from the 2011 All-American and two-time defending Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player of the Year.

As impressive as the WKU workout was, some will argue that the fact that only two teams were represented speaks to the relative lack of buzz about the prospects.

 

[Crimsoncrew]

Rob Rang - CBSSports.com Four under-the-radar Pro Day workouts that opened eyes

We'll start off at Western Kentucky where scouts from the Tennessee Titans and San Francisco 49ers likely traveled to get a closer look at star running back Bobby Rainey but left buzzing about the raw athleticism of wide receiver-turned cornerback Derrius Brooks.Brooks, who incidentally led the Hilltoppersin interceptions after each of the two seasons in whichheplayed defense (seven total through 2010-2011), was reportedly timed at4.29 and 4.35 secondsin two attempts at the 40-yard dash. Each would have been ranked as the fastest time recorded at the 2012 Combine.

Rainey, a legitimate NFL-caliber back in my opinion that should have been invited to the Combine, also posted solid numbers, including a 4.51 second 40-yard dash time that is at least a tenth of a second faster than most scouts had anticipated from the 2011 All-American and two-time defending Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player of the Year.

As impressive as the WKU workout was, some will argue that the fact that only two teams were represented speaks to the relative lack of buzz about the prospects.

What're the odds we take this kid in the 7th?

 

[ChrisPozz]

Chris Steuber:

I'm told #BAL, #CIN, #CLE, #HOU, #IND, #JAX, #NE, #NO, #NYJ, #PHI, #SEA, #SF, #STL, #TB & #TEN attended #Toledo Pro Day. #NFLDraft

 

[ChrisPozz]

Matt Miller:

LSU Cornerback Ron Brooks will workout with #Patriots, #Cowboys

 

[NinerSickness]

From NFP:

DE Whitney Mercilus
The college sack artist was said to look good during OLB drills as he showcased the fluidity to open up his hips and play in space. At nearly 6-4 and 260-pounds he’s a physically imposing threat with elite production in 2011. I have some questions about him as a pure pass rusher. However, after his strong pro day performance, I expect him to go in round one.

 

[Ray_Dogg]

He's been expected to go in round one for months. Welcome to the party.