We are winding down the 2023 NFL Pro Day season. There are still a few schools that we are waiting on. We are also waiting on a few individual Pro Days to take place.
Today we are going to look at several notable results from all of the Pro Days that have taken place between March 7th and March 24th.
2023 NFL Pro Day Bonanza
UCLA
If the reported times from Pasadena are indeed true, we can probably close the book on WR Jake Bobo getting drafted. The productive wideout ran a 4.99 in the forty. There is no way you can draft a receiver that slow.
ARIZONA
Edge rusher Jalen Harris is the only draft-worthy prospect coming out of Tucson this season. The 6’4″ 258-pound prospect ran a 4.7 forty and had a vertical leap of 35.5″ vertical.
GEORGIA TECH
Yellow Jackets prospect EJ Jenkins is a massive ball of potential. Maybe one day that will be realized. Jenkins ran a 4.62 forty with a 10’2″ broad jump.Â
TULANE
We finally got testing data on RB Tyjae Spears and it was…solid. Spears plays faster than his 4.54 forty. You can see the explosion with his 39″ vertical. Spears is going to go on day two and be an instant impact player.
MICHIGAN
DL Mazi Smith was #1 on the Bruce Feldman freaks list for this year. He didn’t test freakishly. Smith bench pressed 225 pounds 34 times. But his 29.5″ vertical and 8’11” broad jump was underwhelming. Smith didn’t do any other testing.Â
BOWLING GREEN
One of the bigger Combine snubs was BG DL, Karl Brooks. Brooks had a great Senior Bowl week and should have been in Indy. His workout wasn’t overwhelming as he only tested as an average athlete. Brooks should still hear his name called early on day three.
SYRACUSE
RB Sean Tucker didn’t work out again after not working out at the Combine. Tucker was one of my favorite backs to watch on tape but he is going to get pushed down boards.
LB Mikel Jones also tested poorly at the Cuse Pro Day. Jones was a high-volume tackler for the Orange. But his size combined with his lack of athleticism means he is heading for the undrafted route.
VIRGINIA TECH
Chamarri Connor is going to be the only Hokie prospect selected in the Draft. Mammoth offensive tackle Silas Dzansi (6’5″ 333) should get a shot on a 90-man roster.
AUBURN
Speaking of finding their way into a camp, Auburn WR Shedrick Jackson may have run his way into one. Jackson ran a 4.31 in the forty with a 1.5 10-split. Jackson also had a 38.5″ vertical with an 11’2″ broad jump.Â
LIBERTY
Flames RB TJ Green caught my eye during the 2021 Lending Tree Bowl. He may have caught others’ eye after running a 4.49 forty at his Pro Day.Â
PRINCETON
We all knew Andrei Iosivas was a freak athlete. We didn’t know his teammates EDGE Matthew Jester (93%) and OT Henry Byrd (91%) were as well. While Iosivas is the only one that projects to be drafted, the others should be priority-free agents.
SOUTHERN CAL
A disappointing offseason continues for DL Tuli Tuipulotu. He was unable to test at the Pro Day and it is unknown if we will get testing numbers on him.
STEPHEN F. AUSTIN
EDGE BJ Thompson should have been at the Combine. The highly productive pass rusher shined at the Shrine Bowl. At his Pro Day, Thompson ran a 4.61 forty and had a vertical leap of 37.5″ vertical.
TROY
DL Shakel Brown was at the CGS and parlayed that into a great pro day. Brown, at 301 pounds, ran a 4.92 forty, benched 225 30 times, and had a vertical of 32.5 inches.
MARSHALL
RB Khalen Laborn was the best tester amongst the group of Marshall prospects. Laborn ran a 4.52 forty, adding a 38.5″ vertical, with 23 bench press reps.
NEBRASKA
The most athletic long snapper in this class is likely going to be the Cornhuskers’ Brady Weas. Weas tested in the 96th percentile.
OHIO STATE
Jaxson Smith-Njigba entrenched himself as a top 2 wide receiver prospect in this class. While 4.52 isn’t setting any records, it perfectly fits what JSN can do. He could go as early as the top ten.
SMU
IOL prospect Jaylon Thomas may get on the board as a later-round selection. Thomas ran a 4.95 forty with a 31″ vertical leap.
ALABAMA
QB Bryce Young looked fabulous throwing the football at the Alabama Pro Day. Young is likely to be off the board in the top two picks.Â
Rising up draft boards late is Crimson Tide offensive tackle, Tyler Steen. The Vanderbilt transfer can play 4 out of 5 positions on the offensive line. He tested in the 94th percentile. There are some beliefs that Steen can sneak into the second round.
CINCINNATI
Ivan Pace gets the headlines in the Bearcats LB room. Wilson Huber tested way better than Pace did. Huber was also half as productive. With that being said, he could make a special teams impact as a rookie if he makes a roster.
HOUSTON
I love Houston edge rusher, Derek Parish. He is undersized to be an every down player. But Parish will get to the QB with technique and hustle. He also played fullback at the Shrine Bowl. Parish ran a 4.62 at the Cougars’ pro day. He also added a 37″ vertical, a 4.09 short shuttle, and a 6.76 three-cone. I would love to see a team take a chance on Parish late in the process.
UTAH
Utes LB Mohamoud Diabate has had a roller coaster career in CFB. Both at Florida and Utah. Diabate ran a 4.51 40, added an 11′ broad jump, and a 6.96 three-cone. I think he is going to get selected on day three.
PENN STATE
Sean Clifford is a terrible passer. But he is a hell of an athlete. Maybe Clifford can become Sean Payton‘s new Taysom Hill. Clifford ran a 4.62 forty, with a 4.25 SS, and a 6.84 three-cone.
SAN JOSE STATE
Nehemiah Shelton saw his prospects of being drafted end when he ran a 4.77 forty at the SJSU pro day. No cornerback is getting taken running that slow.
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