Corey Coleman (1) carries the ball past Kansas State Wildcats defensive back Kaleb Prewett (4) and linebacker Elijah Lee (9) during the first half at Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium last year. Photo Credit: Scott Sewell-USA TODAY Sports
With all 32 NFL teams represented, Waco, Texas, was buzzing for Baylor’s on-campus Pro Day.
There were 16 prospects who worked out for teams, but the star attraction was junior wideout Corey Coleman, who had been sidelined since November after sports hernia surgery.
Although he admitted after the drills that he wasn’t 100 percent yet, Coleman looked fully healthy, clocking a hand-timed 4.37 seconds in the 40-yard dash. He also looked smooth running routes and catching the ball.
After the workout, Coleman said he belongs in the first round.
“I feel like I’m the best receiver in the draft,” Coleman said Wednesday. “I can do pretty much everything: kick return, punt return, inside receiver and outside receiver.”
Coleman bench-pressed (17 reps) and performed the vertical jump (40.5 inches) and broad jump (10 feet, 9 inches) at the NFL Combine. Not that his speed was ever in question, but the 4.37 matches his explosive numbers from Indianapolis.
The main questions for Coleman moving forward are his size (5-11, 194) and the Baylor offense, which is mostly half-field reads and unchallenged routes, making it tough to compare his college film to what he will see in the NFL.
Coaches Bill O’Brien of the Houston Texans and Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers were among the NFL heavyweights at Baylor’s indoor complex for the workout.
While Coleman was the headliner, there were several other Baylor prospects with NFL futures who also participated:
— Defensive tackle Andrew Billings improved his 40-yard dash time from the Combine (5.05), running 4.92 at Pro Day. The Waco native, who dined with Steelers hall of famer Mean Joe Greene on Tuesday night, tipped the scales at 311 pounds, matching his weight from Indianapolis. The Steelers’ contingency, led by Tomlin and general manager Kevin Colbert, showed the most interest in Billings.
— Cornerback Xavien Howard is one of the better second-round corners in the draft class. He didn’t help himself at the Combine with a 4.58 40-yard dash, but he improved that number Wednesday, clocking a 4.47. He also leaped 10-5 in the broad jump and 38.5 inches in the vertical, which were both improvements from his numbers in Indianapolis. At 6-0 and 205 pounds, Howard will be an attractive prospect on day two of the draft — if he makes it that far.
— Tight end LaQuan McGowan produced unimpressive numbers for the position with a 5.41 40-yard dash, 24-inch vertical leap and 8.25-second three-cone drill. However, he was measured at 6-6 and 405 pounds (not a typo), making those workout results look much better. McGowan, who also had 30 reps on the bench, had three career catches at Baylor (all three touchdowns) is an intriguing prospect who will get a chance to make a NFL roster during camp.
— Wide receiver Jay Lee was a Senior Bowl standout who was snubbed from the NFL Combine, making his workout on Wednesday more important. He posted a 4.53 40, 9-11 broad jump and 33.5-inch vertical, also looking impressive catching passes from former Baylor quarterback Nick Florence. Lee secured his status as a day three draft pick.
Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) is a Senior Analyst for NFLDraftScout.com, distributed in partnership with The Sports Xchange and CBSSports.com.
