A large contingent representing all 32 NFL teams — including new Detroit Lions head coach Jim Caldwell, and Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin and general manager Kevin Colbert — were present for Notre Dame’s pro day on Thursday. There were 15 players who worked out indoors on FieldTurf. George Atkinson, RB (6-foot-1 3/8, 218 pounds) — Atkinson only ran the short shuttle (4.33 seconds) and the three-cone drill (7.08 seconds), and then did the positional workout. Bennett Jackson, CB (6-0, 191) — Jackson ran the 40-yard dash in 4.41 and 4.42 seconds. He has 31 3/4-inch arms. T.J. Jones, WR (5-11 3/4, 190) — Jones pulled his right hamstring on Wednesday and did not work out at Notre Dame’s […]
Lions coach, Steelers coach and GM at Notre Dame’s pro day

There were 23 NFL teams represented — including a defensive backs coach from the Jacksonville Jaguars — at Rice’s pro day on March 17, when 11 Owls players worked out outdoors on FieldTurf. Phillip Gaines, CB (6-foot-0 1/8, 191 pounds) — Gaines, who has 31 1/8-inch arms, ran really good at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis (he had the second-fastest 40-yard dash time among cornerbacks at 4.38 seconds). On a windy day in Houston for Rice’s pro day and on a new turf surface, Gaines only ran the 60-yard long shuttle (11.24 seconds). Gaines surprised everybody with his speed and quality of his overall pro-day workout; performing beyond expectations, due to his speed, ability to cover and backpedaling ability. […]
Phillip Gaines of Rice emerging as a top DB prospect

Representatives from 15 NFL teams were present for Sam Houston State’s pro day on March 18, when a workout was held outdoors in 64-degree temperatures and wind gusts that varied between 15 to 30 miles per hour. Timothy Flanders, RB (5-foot-8 3/8, 206 pounds) — Flanders ran the 40-yard dash in 4.70 seconds against the wind and 4.56 seconds with the wind. He had a short shuttle time of 4.31 seconds and did the three-cone drill in 7.28 seconds. The runs took place on an AstroTurf-like surface. He stood on the rest of his numbers from the NFL Scouting Combine. Flanders is a small back who had some big games last season. He rushed for 108 yards and two touchdowns […]
Timothy Flanders is small back with big-game ability

Representatives from eight NFL teams — including three special teams coaches — were on hand for Kent State’s pro day on Thursday, when 11 players worked out. The runs, jumps and most positional drills took place indoors on AstroTurf, but part of the workout took place outdoors where Kent State’s electric running back fielded punts. Dri Archer, RB (176 pounds) — Archer only ran a 60-yard shuttle (11.76 seconds) before taking his workout outdoors in cold and windy conditions. Once outside, Archer worked out as a punt returner, fielding balls from a JUGS machine as well as kicks from a punter from Youngstown State. Due to the conditions, it was very difficult to catch punts, but those are conditions he […]
Roosevelt Nix of Kent State is intriguing football prospect

Representatives from six NFL teams were present at Lindenwood’s pro day on March 19, where cornerback Pierre Desir was the main attraction in the workout held outdoors in 30-degree temperatures and run on FieldTurf. Desir — who was at the NFL Scouting Combine — ran the 40-yard dash in 4.52 and 4.58 seconds. He also had a 38-inch vertical jump at the pro day. Desir — who has 33 1/4-inch arms — did positional drills and performed better at the pro day than at the combine. Carolina Panthers secondary coach Steve Wilks worked out Desir. Lindenwood has never had a player selected in the NFL draft. Filed under: Pro Days Tagged: Carolina Panthers, Lindenwood, Pierre Desir
Pierre Desir could be Lindenwood’s first-ever draft pick

Potential late-round 2014 NFL Draft selection or priority free-agent pickup following the draft Dashaun Phillips worked out in front of representatives from eight NFL teams at Tarleton State’s pro day on March 18. The workout was held indoors and run on FieldTurf. Phillips, a 5-foot-11 3/8, 182-pound cornerback, ran the 40-yard dash in 4.48 and 4.51 seconds. He had a 39-inch vertical jump and 11-foot-3 broad jump. His 20-yard short shuttle (3.97 seconds) and three-cone drill (6.65) times were great. He also posted 14 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press. Phillips had a really good positional workout. Phillips only posted one interception in each of the past two seasons, but did lead his team and the Lone Star […]
Potential late-round pick stands out at Tarleton State’s pro day

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Ryan Mathews emerges as ‘bell cow’ back for 2014

Philadelphia Eagles head coach Chip Kelly and San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh were among those from NFL teams on hand for Virginia Tech’s pro day Wednesday. The event was held indoors and run on a tartan surface, which is a little faster than the FieldTurf featured inside most indoor facilities. Antone Exum, CB (5-foot-11 3/8, 219 pounds) — Exum ran the 40-yard dash in 4.53 and 4.55 seconds. He had a 33 1/2-inch vertical jump and 9-foot-11 broad jump. He did the short shuttle in 4.18 seconds and the three-cone drill in 7.01 seconds. Exum is a well-built individual, and showed good fluidity in pass coverage and also an ability to track the ball well. Exum was a […]
Chip Kelly, Jim Harbaugh on hand for Virginia Tech’s pro day

Representatives from 28 NFL teams — including Cincinnati Bengals tight ends coach Jonathan Hayes — were present Wednesday for Utah’s pro day, which was held indoors on FieldTurf. Anthony Denham, TE (6-foot-4 1/8, 237 pounds) — Denham — who was at the NFL Scouting Combine — had a 32 1/2-inch vertical jump and a 9-foot-5 broad jump. Denham — a former wide receiver — was put through the position drills by Hayes. Jake Murphy, TE (6-3 1/8, 213) — Murphy — who was at the combine — just did position drills led by Hayes, and looked exceptional catching the ball. Murphy is the son of former major league baseball player Dale Murphy, who was a two-time National League MVP and […]
Dale Murphy’s son gets worked out by Bengals TE coach

Representatives from all 32 NFL teams — including the head coaches from the Atlanta Falcons (Mike Smith), Houston Texans (Bill O’Brien), Jacksonville Jaguars (Gus Bradley), Minnesota Vikings (Mike Zimmer) and Oakland Raiders (Dennis Allen), and general managers from the Jaguars, Texans, Vikings and Tampa Bay Buccaneers — were on hand for Central Florida’s pro day on Wednesday. The workout was held indoors on FieldTurf. Blake Bortles, QB (6-foot-4 3/4, 229 pounds) — Bortles only went through the on-field positional workout, standing on his numbers from the NFL Scouting Combine in the runs and jumps (he was a top performer in his position group in both the vertical and broad jumps). Bortles had an impressive workout, only missing on a couple […]
Blake Bortles cements status as top draft prospect