So close, yet so far: USF Pro Day just another step in the process

TAMPA, FL – Tucked away on the northeast side of campus at the University of South Florida on a sun-soaked and windy Thursday afternoon, a small crowd of friends, family and teammates gathered to watch the next small step towards reaching the biggest of dreams take place for some local young men; and some not-so-young-yet-not-old local players as well. As many as twenty-two different teams (listed below) from around the National Football League showed up to see if they could find the next piece to the puzzle for their franchise.

In years’ past, there have been some no-brainers for prospects and these same organizations’ reps would be showing up to negotiate first or second round financials, not just for Pro Day. This year it would be a bit of a stretch to do declare that any of that sort of thing is going to take place, however it is not a stretch to guarantee another year-another appearance of USF players on rosters or getting their shot at the next level. Things came full circle you could say for us as we watched Andre Davis going through his paces in front of the scouts. After a few shouts of encouragement that broke the anticipatory hush from the crowd, Davis sprung out of his stance and ran (unofficially) a 4.52 40-yard dash finished with some celebratory “hoots” and “hollers”, but that is not why the circle was completed. It was like watching all of the years flash right before your eyes.

Davis was one of the first interviewees for Big County Preps and it was a huge deal to us that his commitment came to USF shortly after his historic championship run with his beloved J-Boys. One of the spectators out there cheering for Dre was Nelson Agholor; the first time we ever interviewed this young man he was a sophomore and it was in the storage closet of a portable trailer at Berkeley Prep that doubled as Coach Ciao’s office. Agholor was just one-day removed from an appearance on The Jim Rome Show and looked like he had become a man while out in California, shaping that charisma and magnetic personality into an agent’s dream and soon-to-be nationwide brand that’s worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. As Davis began to run his routes during position drills and showcased his hands and his footwork, it became evident that he too, is going to get his shot at potentially showing scouts that he has the goods to be another agent’s dream. Certainly not at the level the Agholor will get, but let’s just say guys like Andre and Gaither’s Carlton Mitchell and Armwood’s Ryne Giddins are the norm, and guys like Nelson are the exception.

Mitchell and Giddins were in attendance in hopes of catching the attention of scouts; the same scouts for teams they have already played for in fact. Mitchell has even taken his talents to Edmonton and Ottawa in his quest to keep his dream alive and well. Mitchell even clocked a 4.46 in his first 40-yard dash. In a perfect world, everyone of the guys out there gets a look, but the business unfortunately will dictate otherwise. There are some guys that should have definitely turned some heads. Here are some additional players that USF fans and alumni can hopefully expect to see on their favorite teams’ roster in the future.

-Blake’s Mike McFarland ran a 4.66 unofficially in one of his 40-yard dash times and showed comfort finding the ball in tough wind conditions while maintaining good body control. Big frame at 6-6, 248lbs that looks like a runaway locomotive on a seam route which to some coaches equals mismatch. Footwork and change of direction in the 3-cone and Pro Shuttle were fantastic.

-Lakewood Ranch’s Austin Reiter was certainly getting some looks. Missed ONE SNAP is entire season at Center for the Bulls and showed some potential with his athleticism. At 6-3/295 and running a 4.91 40-yd, that’s not a bad start. Reiter also showed great athleticism in his cone drills.
-Pahokee’s Chris Dunkley ran a 4.40 in his first attempt at the 40 and was also in-step and well within control with his routes during position drills.

-LB Reshard Cliett from Thomasvile, Georgia stole the show with a 39″ vertical leap and 4.32 on his 40-yd dash. At 6-2, 235lbs there’s plenty of teams that can use that to match up with the absurd amount of TE’s and WR’s that look like they should be starting in the NBA.

-OL Quintarius Eatmon raised a few eyebrows when he clocked 5.32 40-yd dash and then danced through his 3-cone and Pro Shuttle like he was a skill player. At 6-6/313lbs, that’s bound to garner some attention.

-DL Elkino Watson had a nice day as well and was quick through his cone drills. Clocked a 4.97, 40-yard dash.

-PK Marvin Kloss was kicking everything literally out of the park. Although he had a nice little tailwind to help, the young man was clearing the backstop netting behind the goalposts from 55-yards. A scout from Cleveland was observed filming Kloss then having a lengthy conversation following his workout.

Confirmed teams in attendance at USF Pro Day 2015:
Pittsburgh
New York Giants
Indianapolis
Atlanta
Cleveland
Tampa Bay
Dallas
Jacksonville
Seattle
Baltimore
New England
San Francisco
St. Louis
Chicago
Houston
Miami
Kansas City
Oakland
Philadelphia
Washington
Minnesota
Denver

– Doug Pugh