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The Daily OrangeFB | NFL hopefuls feature at SU's Pro Day
By Zach Berman
Posted: 3/19/08, 12:41 AM EST Section: Sports
"I trained with a chip on my shoulder," Davis said. "If they don't think I'm good enough, wait until they see what I can do. Put some weight on, get stronger, get faster, get quicker, jump higher."
Fields, battling a quad injury and an illness, could not do all the individual drills but was satisfied with his results despite the setbacks. He was in the "4.5 range" on both of his 40-yard dashes and cleared the 10-foot benchmark in his broad jump. Fields, who projects as a safety and special teams player in the NFL, tallied a 33-inch vertical jump.
The most impressive 40-yard dash times came from Smith, who actually ran three dashes instead of the normal two. Smith ran a 4.39 on the first run, a blazing number even for a receiver. During his second run, scouts recorded him between 4.39, 4.49 and 4.52. Because of the wide discrepancy, scouts asked Smith to run again. The third dash was timed at 4.40 seconds. The times surprised even Smith, who was hoping to run a 4.50.
The improvement was the result of fixing the first 10 yards, which is the most important part of the 40-yard dash. Hicks worked with Smith by working on the weight distribution of his feet. Smith also used bands and tubing to work on firing his hip flexor to add power at the beginning of the run.
"I knew I could run, but today I definitely surprised myself," Smith said.
McClain's main focus was the 40-yard dash after recording a 4.76 at the Combine. He said he ran a 4.55, 4.56. He also showed off a trimmer frame - the former defensive end is down to 240 pounds from 252 pounds.
The other SU players who participated included Rice Moss, Carroll Madison, Jeremy Sellers, Eugene Newsome, Jawad Nesheiwat, Kyle Bell, Larry Norton, Ian Hammond, Marvin McCall, Lee Williams, Cornelius Campbell and Arthur Kapalanga. Among the 16 non-SU players who participated was former Orange fullback Breyone Evans, who transferred to Massachusetts.
The Super Bowl-champion Giants was the only team with two representatives - a scout and a defensive backs coach. Other teams in attendance included the Colts, New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers, among others.
"Considering Boston College had their pro day with Ryan," Hicks said, "it was a very a good turnout for us."
zberman@syr.edu
Fields, battling a quad injury and an illness, could not do all the individual drills but was satisfied with his results despite the setbacks. He was in the "4.5 range" on both of his 40-yard dashes and cleared the 10-foot benchmark in his broad jump. Fields, who projects as a safety and special teams player in the NFL, tallied a 33-inch vertical jump.
The most impressive 40-yard dash times came from Smith, who actually ran three dashes instead of the normal two. Smith ran a 4.39 on the first run, a blazing number even for a receiver. During his second run, scouts recorded him between 4.39, 4.49 and 4.52. Because of the wide discrepancy, scouts asked Smith to run again. The third dash was timed at 4.40 seconds. The times surprised even Smith, who was hoping to run a 4.50.
The improvement was the result of fixing the first 10 yards, which is the most important part of the 40-yard dash. Hicks worked with Smith by working on the weight distribution of his feet. Smith also used bands and tubing to work on firing his hip flexor to add power at the beginning of the run.
"I knew I could run, but today I definitely surprised myself," Smith said.
McClain's main focus was the 40-yard dash after recording a 4.76 at the Combine. He said he ran a 4.55, 4.56. He also showed off a trimmer frame - the former defensive end is down to 240 pounds from 252 pounds.
The other SU players who participated included Rice Moss, Carroll Madison, Jeremy Sellers, Eugene Newsome, Jawad Nesheiwat, Kyle Bell, Larry Norton, Ian Hammond, Marvin McCall, Lee Williams, Cornelius Campbell and Arthur Kapalanga. Among the 16 non-SU players who participated was former Orange fullback Breyone Evans, who transferred to Massachusetts.
The Super Bowl-champion Giants was the only team with two representatives - a scout and a defensive backs coach. Other teams in attendance included the Colts, New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers, among others.
"Considering Boston College had their pro day with Ryan," Hicks said, "it was a very a good turnout for us."
zberman@syr.edu
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