Nov 12, 2016; Fayetteville, AR, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks wide receiver Dominique Reed (3) makes the reception and scores a touchdown as LSU Tigers cornerback Tre’Davious White (18) trails the play during the second quarter of the game at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports
Report from Wednesday action:
Arkansas
After catching just 16 passes for 256 yards and two scores as a senior it was not a surprise that wideout Dominique Reed was not invited to the NFL Combine, but the 6-foot-2, 175 pass-catcher certainly turned heads during his Pro Day workout on Wednesday.
Reed showed rare explosiveness with a 4.38 second 40-yard dash, 40-inch vertical and 11-foot, 4-inch broad jump, which would have led all receivers tested in Indianapolis in 2017. Reed’s speed would have placed him third among receivers invited to the Combine this year, behind Washington’s John Ross (4.22) and Ohio State’s Curtis Samuel (4.31). Reed’s vertical jump also would have been good for third among all pass-catchers, behind Texas A&M’s Speedy Noil (43-5) and Georgia State’s Robert Davis (41-0).
Reed is currently ranked 110th on NFLDraftScout.com’s board but if teams are convinced that the scary neck injury he suffered at the end of his junior season is OK, he could earn late-round or at least strong free-agent consideration based on these numbers.
Tight end Jeremy Sprinkle also had a strong performance, clocking in the mid-4.5s in the 40-yard dash after recording a 4.69 at 6-5, 262 pounds in Indianapolis.
Georgia
This is a relatively down year for NFL prospects at Georgia but you wouldn’t know it based on the interest of NFL teams, with all 32 clubs represented Wednesday, including a massive contingent from the Atlanta Falcons that was led by head coach Dan Quinn and general manager Thomas Dimitroff.
The player who likely helped himself the most Wednesday was offensive lineman Tyler Catalina (6-4, 330 pounds), who showed surprising athleticism, recording a 31-inch vertical (which would have ranked second among guards tested at the Combine) and good strength with 29 repetitions of 225 pounds on the bench press — a solid indicator that he possesses the power necessary to inside after playing tackle for the Bulldogs and previously at Rhode Island.
Western Michigan
Projected first-round pick Corey Davis was unable to perform during the Broncos’ Pro Day workout as he is still recovering from the postseason ankle surgery which kept him out of the Combine. The 6-3, 209-pound Davis did attend the workout and spoke with scouts. Davis, the top receiver on NFLDraftScout.com’s board, is the only receiver in FBS history with over 300 receptions, 5,000 receiving yards and 50 touchdowns scored over his career.
Offensive tackles rarely earn the same attention as receivers (especially ones as productive as Davis), but right tackle Taylor Moton continued the positive momentum he’d built for himself at the Senior Bowl and Combine on Wednesday, starring during positional drills that were taken in by offensive line coaches from the Carolina Panthers and Cincinnati Bengals. The 6-5, 319 pound Moton is currently NFLDraftScout.com’s No. 4-rated offensive tackle and is viewed as a solid second-round option.
Wisconsin
Like at Western Michigan, the Badgers’ top-rated prospect — projected first round offensive tackle Ryan Ramczyk — attended Wednesday’s Pro Day but was unable to participate much after recent hip surgery.
Running back Corey Clement helped himself the most, recording a 4.55 second time in the 40-yard dash after struggling in this event (4.68) at the Combine. The 5-10, 220 pound runner also improved in his vertical jump (32-0) and broad jump (10-0) and caught the ball very well. Clement recorded a 28-5 vertical and 9-7 broad jump, respectively, in Indianapolis.
Linebackers Vince Biegel and T.J. Watt were also more than happy to steal the spotlight, faring well in positional drills attended by an estimated 65 NFL talent evaluators, including a strong contingent from the Pittsburgh Steelers starting with head coach Mike Tomlin and general manager Kevin Colbert. Green Bay Packers’ general manager Ted Thompson, Seattle Seahawks’ co-director of player personnel Trent Kirchner and Cincinnati Bengals linebacker coach (and former New Orleans Saints head coach) Jim Haslett also attended the workout.
Both linebackers largely opted to sit on their Combine numbers, though Biegel shaved approximately two-tenths of a second off his short-shuttle time from Indianapolis (4.30). Each moved very well during positional drills, demonstrating agility, balance and acceleration. Watt is currently ranked fifth among outside linebackers on NFLDraftScout.com’s board, with Biegel checking in at 11th and a Day Three projection. Both are athletic and instinctive enough, however, to ultimately outplay these projections.
Virginia Tech
After setting a Combine record (among tight ends) with an 11-2 broad jump, leading all players at the position with a 39-inch vertical and recording a 4.57 time in the 40-yard dash at 6-6, 257 pounds, tight end Bucky Hodges opted to sit on his measureable numbers Wednesday, though he did show power and aggression in blocking drills, according to a scout on the scene, and caught the ball well.
Receiver Isaiah Ford shaved a tenth of a second off of his disappointing Combine 40-yard dash time (4.61) and also caught the ball well. Hodges and Ford rank sixth and 15th, respectively, among their position groups.
Rob Rang is a Senior Analyst for NFLDraftScout.com, distributed in partnership with The Sports Xchange and CBSSports.com.
