On March 26, SUU Football hosted their annual Pro Day at Desert Hills High School in St. George. The event allowed several former Thunderbirds, as well as a few Dixie State players, to showcase their talents in front of 15 different NFL Scouts.
Teams that attended the Pro Day include the Washington Redskins, Minnesota Vikings, Green Bay Packers, Cleveland Browns, San Francisco 49ers, as well as many others.
Participants in the event included defensive backs Taelin Webb and Jermain Doubs Jr., tight end Logan Parker, and offensive lineman Marquez Tucker, among others.
The event started with the vertical jump. Most participants were measured between 26 inches and 31 inches. Taelin Webb turned heads as he posted a 41 inch vertical jump. That mark would have tied Webb for the sixth best vertical in the country had he been invited to the NFL Combine.
Webb said he would have been disappointed if he did not have a jump like that, knowing that the vertical jump was his strong suit.
“It was good. Of course a lot of anxiety and emotion,” Webb said. “But it’s over… I can’t take it back. Gotta live with the results… It’s in God’s hands now.”
Tucker also stood out during his bench press. He would end up pressing 31 times, a mark that would have been tied for the seventh best among NFL Combine prospects.
Tucker was the main focus for NFL Scouts, as he is projected to be drafted in the sixth or seventh round. He currently has a workout scheduled with the Arizona Cardinals on April 1. The Arizona native also was invited to a college all star game this season, allowing him one-on-one time with NFL Scouts.
“I’m probably going to get drafted,” Tucker said. “I gotta keep that edge on. Stay hungry [and] keep training. Make sure I stay in shape and get ready for the NFL.”
Doubs Jr. also had a big day. Although he did not participate in many individual drills such as the broad jump and vertical, he was able to turn heads during defensive drills, out performing many other defensive players.
“I know I didn’t have a good 40 [yard dash]. My hamstring has been messed up,” Doubs Jr. said. “I just knew that once I got to the drills I was gonna kill it so I wasn’t really worried about the 40.”
With the NFL Draft on April 26, each participate will look to have their name called on one of the three days.
Complete numbers and participants can be found here.
Story by: Kurt Meacham
kurtleymeacham@gmail.com
Photo courtesy of SUU Athletics Strategic Communication
