As Pro Days go for college football programs, the Wake Forest Pro Day has entered into a newer, bigger arena. Wednesday all 32 NFL teams were represented, with 40 personnel members in all, checking out the work of 12 Demon Deacon players ahead of the April draft.<\/p>\n
With everyone working out in front of the scouts and the media inside the McCreary Field House, there was abundantly more activity than in recent years. Some were trying to solidify what already appears to be a future in the NFL. Others were trying to get that last look in hopes of some individual team workouts.<\/p>\n
Wake Forest head coach Dave Clawson<\/strong> remembered that it was not that many years ago that the size and scope of Pro Day wasn\u2019t much to mention. \u201cI think we\u2019ve come a long way,\u201d he told reporters at the event. \u201cI think in 2014, we might have had four or five scouts here and it was outside on an old turf. And it was pouring freezing rain.\u201d Clawson said the program did not have a lot of players drawing the interest of NFL teams. The dozen on display Wednesday signifies a turning of the corner at least for the immediate future.<\/p>\n Clawson called the change in the tides, \u201cMomentum.\u201d He said, \u201cIt either goes up or down. Right now, we have it. And this is just another example of what can happen if you come to Wake Forest.\u201d<\/p>\n One of the more anticipated workouts was that of tackle Zach Tom<\/strong>. He did the full set of workouts at the Combine in Indianapolis last month. So he did not have to do things like the broad jump or the vertical jump again. Tom did do the bench press with an increase of five reps up to 25. He also tipped the scales at 307 pounds. He put on about 12 pounds since the end of the Wake Forest season, and about four pounds since the Combine. The additional weight in strength and body mass makes him a more appealing offensive line prospect at the next level.<\/p>\n Asked about his process for adding the weight, Tom said, \u201ceating.\u201d He has been conditioning at the well-known Exos training facility in Pensacola, Florida. Two scouts we spoke with after the event, one of whom was not at the Pro Day, said Tom projects well as a center at the next level.<\/p>\n Every NFL workout, whether it is for the Combine, Pro Days, or individual team workouts puts a big spotlight on the times in the 40. There has never been a play in the history of pro football where a player ran a straight line, with no gear, and no football in hand, for 40 yards. Yet, it is the number from that sprint, which gets everyone\u2019s attention.<\/p>\n There were no official times kept by the school. And the scouts are not overly eager to share their stopwatch results. By media handheld times, both defensive back Ja\u2019Sir Taylor<\/a> and receiver Jaquarii Roberson<\/a> ran in the neighborhood of a 4.35. Roberson says he was told he ran a 4.43. The scouts of course will use their numbers. Regardless, those are inarguably good times in the 40.<\/p>\n Roberson just barely missed the cut in getting an invitation to the Combine. He admitted that the snub was both disappointing and a catalyst for future workouts. \u201cIt definitely is motivation. For sure that was the biggest thing. I wanted to have some motivation going into Pro Day,\u201d he said. Roberson also said he was pleased with his workouts. \u201cI ran routes well. I tested well. That definitely helped me. I don\u2019t think it hurt me. Only up from here.\u201d<\/p>\n He said the next step in his preparation for the hoped-for NFL call is to focus on the playbooks and get used to it being a different game at the next level.<\/p>\n Roberson, Donald Stewart<\/strong>, and tight end Brandon Chapman<\/strong> benefitted from a recent rule change that allows currently active players to help in Pro Days on campus. That meant they were getting their throws from Sam Hartman<\/strong>. \u201cIt felt like old times,\u201d Roberson said.<\/p>\n The newly clean-shaven Hartman was in sync with his receivers, giving them catchable passes even on fly patterns, as he also gave the scouts a little preview of his own Pro Day this time next year.<\/p>\n Most of the players said they had a lot of nerves going into the day, with the lead-up to the event and with so much being at stake. Thirty-two pro football teams watching everything you do for a couple of hours, with your football future in their hands is no easy undertaking. But without fail, every one of the players we spoke with said once they hit the field, the instincts and football muscle memory kicked in and it helped ease them through the drills.<\/p>\n Defensive back Traveon Redd<\/strong> said he had to go to his music library while warming up in order to calm the nerves. \u201cI had to listen to some music to calm me down and just get moving and get my body right,\u201d he said. And what was the music that did that? \u201cI like to mix it up with a little bit of R&B and a little bit of rap.\u201d He said music from Lil Wayne usually gets him pumped up, so it was the R&B today to calm the nerves.<\/p>\nTom Adds To The Resume<\/h3>\n
Speed At Any Level<\/h3>\n
A Friendly Arm<\/h3>\n
Sciba Gets In His Kicks<\/h3>\n