The pro day for Da'Quan Bowers has ended and now the decision rests with NFL general managers and head coaches as to where he fits in at the top of the draft.
Bowers looked solid during position drills, displaying good movement skills and flexibility. He showed a good degree of quickness throughout the session and was smooth on his feet. Bowers also looked winded at times, huffing and puffing his way through the workout.
Afterwards he addressed reporters, and Bowers admitted struggling with his conditioning while recovering from the knee surgery. Bowers told the crowd he was disappointed in his 40 time yet satisfied with his performances in the three cone and shuttle. Bowers pegged the North Carolina State game on Nov. 6 as the day he tore his meniscus.
Bowers, along with Tyron Smith of USC and a handful of other players, will travel to Indianapolis next week for the combine re-check. The annual re-check gives NFL teams another opportunity to re-examine players who were medically red-flagged during February's combine.
• Two small school prospects who must be mentioned as we close out the week.
During the South Carolina State pro day, offensive tackle Johnny Culbreath (6-5 and 321 pounds) posted 40 times as fast a 4.94 seconds and completed 27 reps on the bench. The left tackle prospect looked solid in position drills, displaying footwork and skills as a pass protector. He could squeak into the last few spots of the draft and at the very least Culbreath will be highly sought as a free agent.
In Nacogdoches, Texas, more than a dozen NFL teams had representatives on hand to watch Jabara Williams at the Stephen F. Austin pro day. The Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Year did not disappoint as his marks included 40 times as fast as 4.54, a short shuttle time of 4.24 and 36.5 inches in the vertical jump. Measuring just under 6-2 and weighing 228 pounds, Williams was out of position at middle linebacker in college yet is getting a lot of consideration as a late round weak-side linebacker prospect.
• Former South Carolina tight end Weslye Saunders, who hobbled around on one leg during the Gamecocks pro day earlier this week, had the bothersome stress fracture in his foot surgically repaired today. Usual rehabilitation from the procedure is up to 60 days.
Friday, April 1, 10:17 a.m.
The first day of April has one major pro day, and it's a workout that could shape the top of the draft.
Getting the day started early, Clemson defensive end Da'Quan Bowers already has finished the initial testing with results that were somewhat disappointing. Bowers measured 6-3½ and 276 pounds. His broad jumps were between 9-feet, 2-inches and 9-feet, 6-inches with a vertical jump that touched 34.5 inches. Bowers' 40 times ranged between 4.83 and 4.92 seconds. He did rebound with a solid three-cone time of 6.95 seconds. Bowers average times in the short shuttle clocked in the upper 4.4-second area with his fastest being 4.34.
For Bowers, the 40 time don't stack up against some of the top defensive linemen who participated at the combine. By comparison, California's Cameron Jordan ran in the mid-4.7s and weighs 11 pounds more than Bowers. But Bowers' best three-cone and short-shuttle times were right in line with the upper echelon of performances by the defensive linemen at the combine.
The workout took place outdoors on a strip of field turf at Memorial Stadium. A large crowd was in attendance, including NFL general managers, head coaches, assistants and scouts.
Interest was hight to see Bowers today, after he only completed the bench press at the combine. He continues to recover from a minor surgical procedure performed on his knee in January to repair a torn meniscus.
