Football hopefuls flock to pro day

Many colleges and universities across the country hold “pro days” for NFL scouts to get a better look at players who did not attend the NFL scouting combine. Most schools only have players from their team participate, but MU invited players from other Missouri schools such as Missouri State, Northwest Missouri State, Southeast Missouri State, Missouri Valley and Missouri Western State to come and participate Thursday at the Devine Pavilion.

Scouts from more than 16 NFL teams were at MU’s pro day, including those from both the Chiefs and Rams.

Guessing game

Quarterback? Receiver? Safety? Take your pick. Brad Smith, who played quarterback for the Tigers, still has no clue where teams might want him to play.

“I’ll play at any position I get drafted to play,” Smith said. “But I still believe I can be a great NFL QB. Today went well for me, so we’ll see what happens.”

Smith was officially measured at 6 feet, 2 inches tall, and he weighed 208 pounds. His hand measured 10 1/4 inches from thumb to pinkie finger, and his arms were listed as 33 1/4 inches long. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.44 seconds, the short shuttle in 4.13 seconds, and the 3-cone drill in 6.50 seconds. Smith chose not to participate in the long shuttle run and did not lift in the 225-pound bench press.

His chances to be a quarterback might have taken a shot after he under-threw three consecutive passes. Those watching were wearing concerned expressions while muttering to each other behind clipboards.

Look over there

Among the crowd at the pro day were two national sports figures: Pro-Bowl receiver Joe Horn of the New Orleans Saints and U.S. track star Maurice Greene.

Horn was there to see his 275-pound “little” brother audition for the assembled scouts. Scorpio Horn, a former linebacker for Missouri Western, didn’t draw much attention from scouts but did talk about how he and Joe used to play together.

“I had five brothers and a sister growing up,” Scorpio Horn said. “We’d all go out in the front yard, and Joe would go to the other end. He’d have us throw the ball way up high, then try to shake through all of us to the other end. We could never stop him.”

Maurice Greene was on hand to watch a player from Northwest Missouri State who he had worked with on speed and conditioning. While chatting with some players who were observing the short shuttle run, they asked Greene how fast he thought he could do it.

“What do you think you could run in this?” they asked. “A 4.2...4.1?”

“Naw,” Greene said. “You’re forgetting I do this for a living. I could get a 3.9 or 3.8.”

To put that number in perspective, compare it with the receiver most thought to be the fastest in last year’s draft, Troy Williamson of South Carolina. Williamson ran the short shuttle in 4.03 seconds.

Where did he go?

Early on during the pro day, former Missouri receiver Sean Coffey suddenly had to leave. Wondering where he had gone, many of the scouts started asking what happened. Coffey had hurried away to see the birth of his child at a nearby hospital. He had got a call saying his girlfriend had gone into labor. His absence couldn’t help his draft hopes, seeing as how his injured shoulder prevented the 6-4 wideout from participating in the lifting drills.

Out of nowhere

Looking for an unknown name in April’s NFL Draft? Don’t be surprised to see Tarrence Rhodes, a cornerback out of Missouri Valley, go sometime on the second day. Scouts were asking each other “who is this kid?” after the Crystal River, Fla., native turned in a 4.36 in the 40-yard dash, the fastest time at the event Thursday.

His speed and his 6-2 frame had scouts from teams such as the Bears, Cardinals, Panthers, Saints, and Texans chatting with him, with many more looking for their opportunity. Teams were requesting video of his play in college to see if it matches up with the numbers he was putting up Thursday. If it does, don’t be shocked to see his name on draft day.

Notes from the Pavilion

• Derrick Ming, a former starting linebacker for the Tigers, was lining up at fullback while the players were running drills. Ming, who played fullback before coming to MU, would be returning to his natural position.
• Many in the crowd, including the scouts, were wowed when former Missouri defensive back Melvin Washington ran a surprising 3.94 in the short shuttle run.
• Former Missouri offensive lineman Tony Palmer had many in the crowd impressed with his speed and blocking ability while matching up against linebackers and defensive lineman during drills.
• Jason Simpson, former Missouri safety, had difficulties early on by standing up too soon and not starting from the correct position. He made up for the struggles later in the day by turning in a solid performance in the defensive back drills.