Rudolph 40 times
Notre Dame TE Kyle Rudolph ran in the high 4.7s at his pro day in South Bend today (Thursday).
A torn hamstring suffered in the middle of last season kept him from working out at the combine, leaving it all for Rudolph’s pro day. The athletic tight end ran a 4.78 and a 4.8 in the 40 according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
Mid 4.6s was the goal time Rudolph was shooting for. Even NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock said if Rudolph could run in the mid 4.6s he’d be a first-round pick. The folks at Rotoworld also bring up a good point in noting that Zach Miller (Raiders TE) ran in the 4.8s at the combine back in 2007 and wound up being the 38th overall pick.
Coming off a severe hamstring injury however, some NFL clubs might cut him a break. At worst he comes off the board in the first 10 picks of round two by most projections.
Bowers 40 times
Clemson DE Da’Quan Bowers has run his two 40-yard dashes and the times might not help him much.
According to DraftInsiders the first time was a 4.92 and the second time was a 4.85. They also report that he had a broad jump of 9’2″ and a 34 1/2 inch vertical. He had a time of 6.95 in the three cone drill.
As we mentioned earlier if Bowers workout proves disappointing, it doesn’t necessarily mean that he’s going to be taken off the draft boards of NFL clubs. As Bills GM Buddy Nix said, he may just need more time to get healthy.
But without quieting concerns about his recovery from knee surgery it could have teams concerned about risk.
Mayock says Quinn fits 3-4
Tags: 2011 NFL draft, Marvin Austin, Pro days, Robert Quinn
NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock was in attendance at the North Carolina pro day Thursday and after watching DE Robert Quinn’s workout believes he could be an OLB in a 3-4.
Mayock said that he’s ideally a 4-3 defensive end, but believes he’s capable of playing an OLB role in a 3-4. His reasoning?
“He can do that because 90 percent of the time he’s going to be a rush linebacker in the 3-4 and go after the quarterback and only drop occasionally,” said Mayock.
Mayock has said he wouldn’t be surprised if Quinn is a top 10 pick come draft day.
As for Quinn’s teammate DT Marvin Austin, Mayock believes he could now wind up going in the bottom of the first round, as he’s addressed his off the field concerns satisfactorily in the eyes of NFL personnel executives. Austin was suspended by UNC and did not play in his senior season for accepting improper benefits from an agent. Prior to his suspension Austin was considered one of the best defensive tackle prospects in the draft class.
Big day for Bowers
Tags: 2011 NFL draft, Buddy Nix, Chan Gailey, Da'Quan Bowers, Pro days
It’s the biggest day of the pre-draft process for Clemson DE Da’Quan Bowers. He has his personal pro day today (Friday) to show that the torn lateral meniscus in his knee that required surgery at the end of his senior season is 100 percent healed and he’s back to being the top flight pass rushing terror that most NFL clubs believe he is.
Bills GM Buddy Nix and members of his scouting staff will also be on hand for the workout. Nix however, does not feel a poor workout means you pull Bowers off your board.
“I think it’s big for him,” said Nix. ”I’m not sure that you would write him off if he’s not completely healthy Friday, but it’s time for him to show he either is healthy or that he needs more work or more time.”
Bills head coach Chan Gailey was asked on Tuesday during a season ticket holder teleforum if Bowers was a fit for Buffalo’s 3-4 scheme. Knowing the plans are to go to more of a hybrid scheme in 2011, Gailey is confident they could find a place for Bowers.
“I think that if we ended up taking that guy we’d find a place for him,” said Gailey. ”We’d make it work. You can’t take a guy that is that good of a player and not make him fit in to what you’re trying to get done defensively. We’re not going to pass up a very, very good football player just because he might not fit perfectly. We’ll adjust to get good football players on our team.”
Quinn’s pro day numbers
Tags: 2011 NFL draft, Buddy Nix, Marvin Austin, Pro days, Robert Quinn
North Carolina DE Robert Quinn had his last chance to perform for scouts and GMs in attendance at the Tar Heels pro day in Chapel Hill. Here are some of his results.
Quinn at 6’4 3/8″ and 264 pounds ran a 4.59 40 time, had a 33-inch vertical and 10’5 1/2″ broad jump. That according to the University of North Carolina official site. He also had 24 reps on the bench. All of those numbers were superior to the figures he put up at the NFL combine last month. No one will deny Quinn’s pass rush ability. What talent evaluators worry about is Quinn being out of football all last year. Nevertheless his talent will still have him go in the first 15 picks.
His teammate who was also suspended this past year, DT Marvin Austin stood on his numbers from the combine with the exception of the broad jump where he posted a 9’1″ leap. That was three inches shy of his 9’4″ jump at the combine. He’s seen as a second-round pick.
The two inside linebackers Bills GM Buddy Nix wanted to look at were Quan Sturdivant and Bruce Carter. Sturdivant stood on most of his numbers from the combine, but ran the 40 and posted a slightly slower time of 4.68, from the 4.63 at the combine. Carter, who is coming off of ACL reconstruction in December, went through positional drills according to Gil Brandt, but I don’t know if that’s possible. Most reports out of Chapel Hill had indicated he wouldn’t be football ready until the fall.
Lombardi calls Locker ‘a project’
Washington QB Jake Locker a year ago was considered a lock to be a top 10 pick had he entered the 2010 NFL draft. A year later he’s expected by most analysts to still be a first-round pick, but NFL Network analyst Michael Lombardi paints a much different picture after watching his pro day.
Lombardi called Locker “a project” quarterback after witnessing Locker’s pro day Wednesday.
“I think he’s a project,” Lombardi said. ”I think he’s a potential starter. I don’t think you can believe, if you draft Locker, that he can be the guy to come in and turn your franchise around next year. It’s going to take time, and you must have the patience to handle the project to get him to where he is a pro quarterback.”
Lombardi took it a step further on his twitter account saying that Locker is not a first-round prospect in his book.
Locker’s strength is his elite athleticism, but with accuracy being a consistent knock on his game most likely agree with Lombardi’s assessment that Locker won’t be an instant answer to an NFL team’s quarterback deficiencies. Whether that keeps him from being a first-round pick or not remains to be seen.
Brandt says Smith a RT only
USC OT Tyron Smith doesn’t have much experience at left tackle, having played on the right side for most of the two years he was a starter for the Trojans. But with his physical skill set and being just 20-years old, there are some NFL clubs that feel he’s athletic enough to play on the left side after his pro day workout Wednesday. NFL.com’s Gil Brandt feels differently.
Smith is coming off a knee injury that limited him to just the bench press at the combine last month. So he did everything at USC’s pro day Wednesday.
At a ripped 310 pounds the 6’5″ Smith ran a 4.98 40-time, had a 29-inch vertical and topped his bench total at the combine by two putting 225 up 31 times. Brandt interestingly enough did not sound convinced that Smith projects as a left tackle in the league. Here’s what he wrote in his pro day report on NFL.com.
Although his quickness and agility rate well, Smith doesn’t appear to have the natural ability that teams covet in a left tackle… Overall, Smith solidified his status as a top talent. But he should be considered as a right tackle for most offenses.
Change of direction skills seems to be the knock on Smith, which is essential in responding to counter moves by opposing pass rushers. Still with a ton of upside it would be shocking if the USC lineman was not a first-round pick.
Nix in Chapel Hill
Tags: Bruce Carter, Buddy Nix, Pro days, Quan Sturdivant, Robert Quinn
Bills GM Buddy Nix will be one of the many in attendance at the University of North Carolina for the pro day workout of DE Robert Quinn. But that’s not the only guy Nix will have his eye on.
After addressing premium season ticket holders in a State of the Bills event Monday night, Nix said there were a couple of other players he wanted to see up close.
“I’m going Thursday to North Carolina and see Robert Quinn and the two inside backers,” said Nix. “It’s due diligence. We’ve put too much stock in it and it’s our job to do what we’re doing.”
Nix is presumably talking about Tar Heel inside linebacker Quan Sturdivant and Bruce Carter. Sturdivant has been forecast as a late second or early third round pick, while Carter could come off the board around the same time. He played outside linebacker for the Tar Heels, but projects inside at 6’1 1/2″ and 241 pounds.
Carter is unlikely to do much at the pro day workout. A highly touted linebacker with elite athleticism entering his senior season, a torn ACL this past December threw his draft status into doubt. He had surgery Dec. 14th and likely won’t be ready to perform fully for scouts today.
Sparse HC turnout for Locker
The head coaching turnout for Jake Locker’s pro day at Washington is reportedly sparse.
That according to NFL Network analyst Michael Lombardi, who posted that just one was on hand to this point for Locker’s workout.
michaellombardi So far only 1 head coach—Seattle’s Pete Carroll here at Jake Lockers pro day. Im thinking Locker must have some private workouts scheduled
Going up to the University of Washington is a haul for a good many of the NFL clubs that are in the eastern half of the U.S., so it wouldn’t be surprising if most clubs were satisifed to dispatch their area scout for the workout, or perhaps the GM or college personnel directors are on hand instead. Especially considering the fact that most coaches are hosting prospects for pre-draft visits at their NFL facilities this time of year.
Heyward pro day numbers
The pro day workout is not complete, but Cameron Heyward has put out the following numbers for his pro day thus far.
According to DraftInsiders, Heyward has run a 4.95 40 time and had a 35-inch vertical leap. More to come later.
Heyward is seen as a late first or early second round pick.
3 big school pro days
Three big programs will be holding their pro days today (Tuesday).
Texas, UCLA and Utah will all be hosting NFL scouts and personnel executives as their draft prospects work out. Here’s a rundown of some of the more notable prospects at each of the schools.
Texas – OLB Sam Acho, CB Curtis Brown, CB Chykie Brown, CB Aaron Williams
UCLA - OLB Akeem Ayers, S Rahim Moore, K Kai Forbath
Utah – CB Brandon Burton
Nix on Bowers pro day
Clemson DE Da’Quan Bowers will have his much anticipated pro day this Friday (April 1st). Bills GM Buddy Nix will be in attendance and admits it’s going to carry a lot of weight for the top flight pass rusher.
“I think it’s big for him,” said Nix. ”I’m not sure that you would write him off if he’s not completely healthy Friday, but it’s time for him to show he either is healthy or that he needs more work or more time.”
There have been reports in some national publications that Bowers failed a pair of physicals by NFL clubs at the combine last month. At the combine Bowers declared himself fully healthy.
“I am 100 percent,” he said. ”It was a small meniscus tear. It hampered me from my first three weeks of training, which is why I was not doing anything at the combine because I feel that I want the same amount of time that everybody else had to train and fully prepare for the combine. I am going to do all my workouts on pro day.”
Bowers was initially going to perform with his college teammates at Clemson’s pro day March 10th, but set his personal pro day back a few weeks to April 1st, which has led to a ton of speculation about his knee.
Boise St. WR shaves down 40
Tags: 2011 NFL draft, Austin Pettis, Pro days, Titus Young
WR Titus Young had one last shot to prove he was faster than the disappointing 4.53 40-time he ran at the NFL combine last month. At Boise State’s pro day he did not disappoint.
Young, who has been training with former Olympic sprinter Maurice Greene in California, ran a 4.41 and a 4.42 at the pro day. That according to the Idaho Statesman. That would’ve been the fourth fastest 40 time at the combine. Young is seen as a late second or early third round pick. His teammate and fellow receiver, Austin Pettis just ran positional drills after doing everything at the combine.
Broncos RB Jeremy Avery, who wasn’t invited to the combine ran a 4.45 40 time, got 20 reps on the bench, had a broad jump of 10’5″ and a 38-inch vertical.
Last chance for Titus Young
Boise State WR Titus Young predicted he’d run a 40 time in the 4.2s at the NFL combine. Unfortunately for him he didn’t. Instead he clocked in at an unexpected 4.53. His last chance to make good comes today (Thursday) at Boise State’s pro day.
Young along with fellow Broncos receiver Austin Pettis, Jeron Johnson, Brandyn Thompson and Ryan Winterswyk will perform for pro scouts today.
Other notable pro days with draftable prospects include the following.
Fort Hayes State: WR O.J. Murdock
San Diego State: WR Vincent Brown, WR DeMarco Sampson
South Florida: DT Terrell McClain
Slate of pro days
A handful of pro days for some of the notable college programs today (Wednesday).
Here’s the run down of schools and top prospects.
Boston College – OT Anthony Castonzo, LB Mark Herzlich
Central Florida – OT Jah Reid
UCONN – RB Jordan Todman, OLB Lawrence Wilson, G Zach Hurd
East Carolina - WR Dwayne Harris, OT Willie Smith
Iowa State – SS David Sims
North Carolina State – ILB Nate Irving, WR Owen Spencer
Tennessee-Chattanooga – CB Buster Skrine
Kaepernick pro day results
Nevada QB Colin Kaepernick stood on his numbers for the combine and just did positional drills at his pro day Tuesday in Reno. A total of 26 NFL clubs were represented, including the Bills.
According to ProFootballTalk, Kaepernick completed 36 of 38 passes in his workout. Kaepernick, who is viewed by draft analysts as a project QB, has been working on his deep ball accuracy, shortening his wind up and making his drops quicker. Some now think he could be a second-round prospect.
According to the Reno Gazette Journal, Kapernick had a private workout with 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh last week. He also has 10 private workouts/pre-draft visits set up with NFL clubs according to his agent.
Good day for Georgia’s OLB
Georgia held their pro day today (Tuesday) in Athens and OLB Justin Houston reportedly improved on his 40 time at the NFL combine last month.
According to Yahoo Sports, Houston was clocked at 4.57 at his pro day on campus. That’s a shade faster than his official 4.62 at the combine where he also put up an impressive 30 reps with a 36 1/2 inch vertical and 10’5″ broad jump. At 6’3″ 270 pounds, Houston’s showing today could lock him in as a late first-round pick.
He finished the 2010 season with 10 sacks, second only to Nick Fairley in the SEC. He has private workouts set up with the Giants and Falcons according to reports.
Houston will reportedly conduct pre-draft visits with Buffalo, Minnesota and Kansas City.
Kentucky, Maryland pro days
Here are some of the results of the Kentucky and Maryland pro days where receivers were the top talents.
NFL.com’s Gil Brandt provides his take on how receiver talents like Torrey Smith and Randall Cobb fared at their campus workouts in addition to some other hidden talents leading up to the draft.
At Buffalobills.com we begin our draft position previews featuring the top five players at each position, which will run every Monday, Wednesday and Friday for the next three weeks. The series begins today (Monday) with safeties in the media center.
Wilkerson pumped for pro day
Temple DL prospect Muhammad Wilkerson is pretty excited about his pro day.
Here is his series of tweets to that effect.
Impactmo9 BIG FRIDAY!!!!!!!
Impactmo9 Pro Day today leeegoooo
Impactmo9 Lets eat, it’s money to be made today
Wilkerson is forecast as a mid to late first-round pick. He had 9.5 sacks in his last season at Temple and is seen as an end in a 3-4 defense. He was initially thought to be a possible option for the Bills at the top of round 2, but he’s not expected to get out of the first round and a solid pro day today would eliminate that completely.
Nix at Gabbert pro day
With virtually the entire league at Blaine Gabbert’s pro day Thursday, it’s no surprise to see the reports that Bills GM Buddy Nix was there as well.
NFL.com’s Gil Brandt reported that Nix was in attendance along with a handful of NFL head coaches from other clubs. Brandt, who said after Cam Newton’s workout that he should be the number one pick, now admits he’s not so sure after witnessing Gabbert’s pro day performance.
He considered just one of Gabbert’s 49 passes uncatchable.
DE/OLB Aldon Smith also solidifed himself as a mid-first round pick with his workout.
