At 6-1, 199 pounds, cornerback Byron Jones had Lucas Oil Stadium buzzing after setting a combine record in the broad jump (12-feet-3) and testing extremely well in the vertical (44 inches), 3-cone drill (6.78 seconds) and short shuttle (3.94). Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
January brought the all-star circuit, February had the NFL combine and March means it’s time for the pro day portion of the pre-draft process.
Hundreds of scouts and dozens of coaches travel the country over the next 45 days, going campus-to-campus to evaluate prospects in preparation for the 2015 NFL Draft on April 30-May 2.
Pro days are most crucial for the prospects with something to prove, those unable to work out at the NFL combine due to injury and others who didn’t receive an invitation.
Below are 20 important stops for NFL scouts on the pro day schedule:
March 2
TENN.-CHATTANOOGA
A versatile pass rusher, Davis Tull impressed in Indianapolis with a 42.5-inch vertical and 11-foot broad jump, also turning heads during positional drills at linebacker. However, he didn’t run the 40-yard dash and cut his combine workout short due to a pulled hamstring he suffered during training. Tull plans to do everything at his on-campus pro day.
MINNESOTA
Running back David Cobb ran a 4.81 40-yard dash, but that number is deceiving as he pulled up short with a strained leg muscle and was unable to run a second time. It is unknown if the injury, which also sidelined him for the on-field positional drills at the combine, will allow him to work out at the Gophers pro day. Tight end Maxx Williams, the top-ranked player at his position and possible first round pick, will try to improve upon his combine numbers also after pedestrian results in the 40-yard dash (4.78) and bench press (17).
March 10
UCLA
After a solid showing at the NFL combine, quarterback Brett Hundley has two weeks to get ready for his pro day and is reportedly training with Kurt Warner in preparation for his on-campus workout. While he’s not going to catch Jameis Winston or Marcus Mariota, he’s still competing for that No. 3 spot in the quarterback rankings.
March 11
COLORADO STATE
Another quarterback trying to separate himself as the next best option behind Winston and Mariota, Garrett Grayson pulled his hamstring Feb. 10 while training and was unable to participate in any drills at the NFL combine. He said he “should be good” to run and throw at the Rams’ pro day, allowing a full month for the injury to heal. Linebacker Max Morgan was snubbed from the combine, but he’ll receive his chance to audition for the scouts in attendance and running back Dee Hart should improve on his poor 40-yard dash time (4.80) from Indianapolis.
RICE
Despite a dislocated knee cap midway through the 2014 season, defensive tackle Christian Covington decided to skip his senior season. He has been running since January as he rehabs from the injury, but wasn’t yet full strength to work out at the NFL combine. However, the fringe top-100 pick said he will “definitely” be ready for his pro day.
RUTGERS
Tight end Tyler Kroft was already leaning toward entering the 2015 NFL Draft early so a high ankle sprain in the bowl game wasn’t enough to change his mind. However the injury flared up after the medical testing at the combine and kept him from working out for NFL teams at Lucas Oil Stadium. He expects to be fully healthy for his pro day with a goal of running a sub-4.7 time in the 40-yard dash.
March 12
OREGON
Center Hroniss Grasu, who battled injuries as a senior in 2014, couldn’t participate in the Senior Bowl and opted not to work out at the NFL combine. It is unknown if he plans to run or lift at the Ducks’ pro day, but scouts are eager to put him through drills. Quarterback Marcus Mariota did a nice job throwing at the combine, but his pro day will allow him to show more diversity with his footwork and arm talent. Similar to Johnny Manziel last year, Mariota’s pro day will be important for scouts to see him take snaps from under center and throw to the full route tree.
March 13
OHIO STATE
Still recovering from nagging injuries from their senior season, neither tight end Jeff Heuerman nor defensive tackle Michael Bennett was able to work out at the NFL combine. Heuerman, who is still recovering from a sprained ankle, said he is near 100-percent healthy and Bennett hopes to be at full health soon. Both expect to be full participants at the Buckeyes pro day. Wide receiver Devin Smith ran a blazing 4.42 40-yard dash at the combine, but it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him get into the 4.3 range on Ohio State’s notoriously fast track.
March 16
TOLEDO
Unfortunately offensive lineman Greg Mancz won’t be able to work out as he continues his recovery from a torn right labrum that he suffered at the East-West Shrine Game. But there are several other reasons for NFL scouts to make the trip, including linebacker Junior Sylvestre who was a surprise combine snub. At 6-feet and 220 pounds, he is expected to run in the 4.4 range in the 40-yard dash. Two notable “small school” prospects with NFL talent plan to work out at Toledo’s pro day: John Carroll quarterback Mark Myers and Notre Dame College offensive lineman Doniel Gambrell. Myers is one of the better Division III passing prospects in recent memory and Gambrell has the natural tools to have more than a cup of coffee at the next level.
March 18
BAYLOR
Baylor quarterback Bryce Petty struggled at the Senior Bowl but showed some improvements at the NFL combine and will have a chance to make a lasting impression in Waco at Baylor’s pro day. He has been working with quarterback guru George Whitfield since his sophomore season so it’s likely we’ll see garbage cans, broom sticks and other inanimate objects during his passing session, but NFL scouts will focus mostly on Petty’s footwork and timing on downfield throws.
March 19
MISSOURI
A possible top-10 pick, Missouri pass rusher Shane Ray was unable to work out at the combine due to foot injury, but he plans to go through every drill at his pro day. He has the best first step quickness in the draft, but NFL scouts are eager to put him through linebacker drills to see how he handles himself in space away from the line of scrimmage.
SAN DIEGO STATE
The Aztecs have a few players worth checking out, including wide receiver Ezell Ruffin, but the main attraction might be Colorado State-Pueblo quarterback Chris Bonner, this year’s top “small school” passer. He looks the part (6-6, 225) and has the arm to make every NFL throw so he could turn heads and create buzz after his workouts.
March 25
FRESNO STATE
Arguably one of the top five safety prospects in the 2015 class, Derron Smith is a tremendous competitor, but postseason hernia surgery sidelined him for the NFL combine. He has March 25 “circled” on his calendar as he plans to be fully healthy for the Bulldogs pro day.
CENTRAL FLORIDA
A possible first-round pick, wide receiver Breshad Perriman strained his hamstring during combine training and wasn’t cleared to run in Indianapolis. The son of long-time NFL receiver Brett Perriman, he is very well liked in the scouting community with some believing he could crash the top-20 with a strong pro day performance.
March 26
UTAH
After tearing the meniscus in his left knee in October, wide receiver Dres Anderson has been rehabbing the past few months and still wasn’t at 100 percent for the combine. The son of former NFL receiver Flipper Anderson, he is doing some light running now and told me the knee will be “good” by his pro day with goals of running in the “high 4.3” range in the 40-yard dash.
March 31
CONNECTICUT
At 6-1, 199 pounds, cornerback Byron Jones had Lucas Oil Stadium buzzing after setting a combine record in the broad jump (12-feet-3) and testing extremely well in the vertical (44 inches), 3-cone drill (6.78 seconds) and short shuttle (3.94). He had labrum surgery in October and is only a few weeks recovered so he passed on the 40-yard dash and positional drills, opting to wait for his pro day. One of the more underrated wide receivers in the draft, Geremy Davis performed well at the combine, but decided to wait for the pro day to run his 40-yard dash due to a lower leg injury.
FLORIDA STATE
Quarterback Jameis Winston will be the star attraction, but several other Florida State prospects will be under the NFL microscope, including defensive tackle Eddie Goldman, who sat out combine drills. Tight end Nick O’Leary (4.93 40-yard dash), cornerback P.J. Williams (4.57 40-yard dash) and offensive linemen Josue Matias (17.5-inch vertical, 7-foot broad jump) and Tre Jackson (25-inch vertical, 8-foot broad jump) were unimpressive during combine workouts and need to focus on improving those numbers between now and the Seminoles’ pro day.
April 1
SOUTH CAROLINA
Offensive guard A.J. Cann arrived in Indianapolis with the intention of performing every drill, but only participated in the positional workouts, skipping the 40-yard dash and other agility tests because of a sprain in his left calf. He didn’t participate in the Senior Bowl due to a sprained knee so performing at full health at the Gamecocks’ pro day will be imperative to his draft grade. Offensive tackle Corey Robinson had an MRI after the 2014 season that revealed a meniscus tear and required surgery so he was a non-participant at the combine as well. He hopes to be ready for the pro day, but that will depend on his rehab.
April 2
WASHINGTON
Linebacker Hau’oli Kikaha suffered two ACL tears in his career, but it was an illness that kept him from running the 40-yard dash and other drills at the NFL combine. Teams seem split on his NFL role so his performance at the pro day will be important. Cornerback Marcus Peters was dismissed from the team in November, but he has since mended his relationship with the coaches and was invited back to campus for the Huskies’ pro day. It will be an interesting dynamic to see his interaction with the Washington coaches and personnel. Linebacker Shaq Thompson made it known at the combine that he is a linebacker and would not perform any running back or safety drills, but there will be some scouts who will try and convince him to work out at the other positions at his pro day.
April 15
INDIANA
The Hoosiers’ pro day is set for March 30, but running back Tevin Coleman will have his own workout in mid-April as he rehabs an injury. He suffered a toe injury in the fifth game of the season, but played through the issue and became the fourth fastest in FBS history to reach 2,000 rushing yards in a season, needing only 264 rush attempts to hit the mark. Coleman had tendon surgery after the season and should be back to full health for his personal pro day.
