Duke Shelley – Noteworthy
Duke Shelley wasn’t sure how well he performed at Kansas State’s Pro Day until a throng of 14 NFL scouts surrounded him for interviews at the conclusion of the event. That was a good sign. Shelley, a four-year starter at cornerback for the Wildcats, was considered a fringe NFL Draft prospect before he showed off his athleticism in front of scouts on Wednesday. He played well enough in college to get on the NFL radar, but a toe injury knocked him out of K-State’s final five games last season and left him with plenty to prove. He didn’t receive an invitation to the NFL Scouting Combine like former teammates Alex Barnes and Dalton Risner, so this was his only chance to turn heads before the draft arrives in April.
That made this a pressure-packed event for him, but that didn’t seem to bother him. He won over most scouts by running the 40-yard dash in 4.46 seconds. “This is confirmation that I’m back,” Shelley said, “from my injury.” That wasn’t an easy process for Shelley, who tore a ligament in his big toe while making an interception against Oklahoma State on Oct. 13. He didn’t think it was a serious injury at the time, but he knew something was wrong when he woke up the next day and couldn’t stand. Shelley was able to return from injury faster than expected and kept his body in good enough shape to impress at K-State’s Pro Day, with 30 NFL scouts watching. – Wichita Eagle