Spring Break
The Daily OrangeFB | NFL hopefuls feature at SU's Pro Day
By Zach Berman
Posted: 3/19/08, 12:41 AM EST Section: Sports
Dowayne Davis and Joe Fields, former defensive backfield mates for Syracuse, did not receive an invitation to February's NFL Scout Combine. Their chance to impress NFL scouts was Tuesday in the Carrier Dome in the university's annual Pro Day workouts for SU senior prospects and other senior standouts from New York schools.
The one obstacle came a few hours away in Chestnut Hill, Mass., where Boston College held its Pro Day for quarterback Matt Ryan, a candidate for the No. 1 overall selection in next month's draft.
BC originally scheduled its Pro Day for Monday, so SU coordinated a Tuesday event. When BC's plans changed, scouts who would have been at the Dome traveled to BC instead. That left a fewer-than-normal 12-15 NFL teams with representatives at SU's event.
The clear attractions were Davis and Fields, who performed testing drills such as the 40-yard dash, broad jump and long jump for the first time in front of NFL scouts.
It was also an opportunity for SU's top two draft candidates - linebacker Jameel McClain and receiver Taj Smith - to participate in drills outside of the high-pressure Combine held in Indianapolis each year for the best prospects.
SU's other seniors, who are unlikely to be drafted but have an outside shot at signing for an NFL team's training camp, used Tuesday to put their names in the scouts' books.
"This is a day for Taj and Jameel to improve, this a day for Dowayne and Joe to be noticed, this a day for all our other guys to make a mark," said Will Hicks, SU's strength and conditioning coach.
That appeared to happen. Each scout came with his own stopwatch and measuring tapes - a New York Giants scout and Indianapolis Colts scout patrolled the finish line of the 40-yard dash - and SU players reported impressive results.
Davis said he was in the low 4.4s, a noteworthy time for a safety/cornerback number. He ran two dashes in two different sneakers after scouts instructed him to switch from a track shoe to a football shoe. His time didn't change, although he purchased the "waffle bottom" sneakers specifically for the event, setting him back $108. He was particularly pleased about his performance, especially after the Combine snub.
The one obstacle came a few hours away in Chestnut Hill, Mass., where Boston College held its Pro Day for quarterback Matt Ryan, a candidate for the No. 1 overall selection in next month's draft.
BC originally scheduled its Pro Day for Monday, so SU coordinated a Tuesday event. When BC's plans changed, scouts who would have been at the Dome traveled to BC instead. That left a fewer-than-normal 12-15 NFL teams with representatives at SU's event.
The clear attractions were Davis and Fields, who performed testing drills such as the 40-yard dash, broad jump and long jump for the first time in front of NFL scouts.
It was also an opportunity for SU's top two draft candidates - linebacker Jameel McClain and receiver Taj Smith - to participate in drills outside of the high-pressure Combine held in Indianapolis each year for the best prospects.
SU's other seniors, who are unlikely to be drafted but have an outside shot at signing for an NFL team's training camp, used Tuesday to put their names in the scouts' books.
"This is a day for Taj and Jameel to improve, this a day for Dowayne and Joe to be noticed, this a day for all our other guys to make a mark," said Will Hicks, SU's strength and conditioning coach.
That appeared to happen. Each scout came with his own stopwatch and measuring tapes - a New York Giants scout and Indianapolis Colts scout patrolled the finish line of the 40-yard dash - and SU players reported impressive results.
Davis said he was in the low 4.4s, a noteworthy time for a safety/cornerback number. He ran two dashes in two different sneakers after scouts instructed him to switch from a track shoe to a football shoe. His time didn't change, although he purchased the "waffle bottom" sneakers specifically for the event, setting him back $108. He was particularly pleased about his performance, especially after the Combine snub.
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