Yesterday scouts from NFL teams got to see what outgoing UB Seniors had to offer at the Ralph Wilson Field house.I don't have all the official results yet, still waiting on the scouts to get those numbers to UB.
Josh Thomas:
Much to my suprise Thomas took part in all the workouts. He was not content to rest on his impressive combine showing. Instead he went out and improved on them. His 40-yard dash went from 4.46 seconds to 4.43. He also improved his jumps, the vertical from 38.5 to 40 inches and the broad jump from 10-6 to 10.8.
According the the SBNation blog 'Mocking the Draft' Thomas was already a likely late round pick before pro-day, bringing down his numbers will only help assure he is drafted.
Thomas' Combine performance probably helped himself from being a fringe draft pick to being a sixth or seventh round pick. He has decent size for the position and he tested fairly well. After Texas' Curtis Brown, Thomas tied with Clemson's Marcus Gilchrist with the second highest vertical among corners (38 1/2 inches). That's important considering he may be going against bigger receivers in the NFL. If Thomas can learn to play with a little more discipline, there's no reason he shouldn't make an NFL roster. He's shown that he's athletic and experienced enough. -- Dan Kadar, "Mocking the Draft"
Some sites are now pegging Thomas a a possible 5th round pick. It says a ton about Thomas's confidence that he decided to challege what was already a great combine showing.
Until he tweaked his hamstring Shannon was having a break out day day with 18 reps on the bench, a 41 1/2 inch vertical and 10’6″ broad jump. His first 40 time was 4.57 a key number for someone who's time at last years combine had been casting a shadow.
- His lone 40 would have tied him for 6th at the NFL combine among all safeties.
- 18 reps on the bench would have tied him for 7th
- His broad jump would have been second at the combine
- His Vertical would have been the third greatest.
Mocking the Draft also had a few notes on Davonte, the only other Bull they really followed this season.
Shannon is a tough player to gauge as an NFL prospect. He's clearly an in-the-box safety who can be a detriment in pass coverage. It was nice to see an improved 40-yard dash time this year. That will at least get him a training camp invitation. He also showed in other drills that he's explosive and strong. So what you're looking at with a player like Shannon is someone who will have to play special teams at the next level and be a backup safety. -- Dan Kadar, "Mocking the Draft"
Given Shannon's durability as a four year starter I don't think the hamstring injury itself will impact him but it would have been nice for him to rip off a couple more good 40 times. Draft insider has him as a free agent prospect who will help out in zone defenses.
Winters spent the day doing drills with the defensive backs. He does not have the measurable to be an every down inside linebacker in the NFL but he has everything else. By showing he can play inside linebacker, outside linebacker, and safety he may get a call just after the draft.
His 20 reps on the bench stands up very well against other defensive backs and would have put him in the middle of the pack against Linebackers at the NFL combine.
Cook had a mid 4.5 40 time did 18 on the press and showed good feet in positional drills.
His time in the 40 is important because its hard for a defensive back under 5-9 to be seen as a legitimate cover guy in the NFL. When his score on the vertical jump are published things will be a little more clear.
Others:
Thermilus was a beast on the bench, 31 reps beat out everyone else including Peter Bittner (18). Sherrod Lott looked good in his positional drills.
Tid-Bits
James Potts reportedly ran a 4.37 40, laser timed. Just a jaw dropping number that, if true, would have been tied for the third best time at the NFL combine.