BATON ROUGE – Nearly 100 NFL personnel ranging from general managers, head coaches, assistant coaches and scouts along with 100 members of the media were on hand here Friday as LSU’s held its annual Pro Timing Day at the Charles McClendon Practice Facility.
LSU’s Pro Day was also televised live on the SEC Network. The NFL Network and analyst Mike Mayock were also on hand for the event and will have a complete wrap-up of today’s activities on tonight.
“This is a great day for these players who have worked so hard to get to this point in their career where they are now in a position to take their game to the NFL,” LSU coach Les Miles said. “To look around and see close to 100 NFL personnel here to watch our players is a testament to our program and the players that LSU football produces.”
A total of 22 players took part in LSU’s Pro Day, which included 19 members from the 2014 team and three players from the 2013 squad. Junior cornerback Jalen Collins was unable to workout and he continues to recover from offseason surgery. Some players, including senior offensive tackle La’el Collins, went through a limited workout and did not test in the 40-yard dash or the bench press.
Pro Day consisted of a series of tests with the NFL scouts that included the 40-yard dash, the 225-bench press, vertical leap, broad jump, shuttle run and the 3-cone drill. Players also went through the individual workouts by position group.
“It looks like we had some really good performances today,” Miles said. “This is a quality group of young men who have done a great job of representing not only our football program, but this university. It’s a fun day to be their head coach and to have a chance to watch them basically go through a job interview.”
Some of the top performers in the 40-yard dash were wide receiver Quantavius Leslie with a time of 4.45. He was followed by running back Terrence Magee (4.53), safety Ronald Martin (4.59), and running back Kenny Hilliard (4.6).
Defensive end Danielle Hunter led the group with a 36.5-inch vertical leap. He was followed by linebacker D.J. Welter, wide receiver Jeffrey Lang and Martin, who all recorded jumps of 33.5-inches.
Hunter was also first in the broad jump with a leap of 10-feet, 10.5-inches, while Martin was second at 10-feet, 1-inch and Leslie at 9-feet, 7-inches.
Center Elliott Porter banged out 34 reps in the 225-pound bench press, the most by a Tiger player in several years. Offensive lineman Evan Washington had 25 reps in the bench press, followed by fullback Connor Neighbors with 23 and tight end Logan Stokes with 21.
Next up for the group will be the NFL Draft, which will be held on April 30-May 2 in Chicago.
For a complete listing of LSU’s Pro Day results, go to www.LSUsports.net/proday.
LSU Football Pro Day Quotes
March 27, 2015
Offensive Lineman La’el Collins
On his goals entering the pro day…
“I was really focused on coming in here and having a good day individually. I think I came out and did that. Today was a good day.”
On his conversations with NFL teams…
“I really can’t keep count. A lot of coaches, I’ve been able to sit down with them and really talk football. It’s been a great process. I’ve been learning a lot of things from each and every one of them. Throughout this whole process, my biggest goal has been to become a sponge. I wanted to soak in everything that I could from each guy. All the information that I’ve been able to get has helped me tremendously.”
On if he’s met with any NFL teams….
“I’ve visited one. I can’t say, but I’ve visited one so far… I have about 15 different visits set-up, so I look forward to it. Next month is going to be a really busy month for me.”
On his meeting with the New Orleans Saints….
“For me, it’s eerie being able to speak with that team, especially a program that’s winning. They’re very successful and have great coaches. For me to get the opportunity to sit with them and talk football is great. I look to meeting more with them later on today and seeing what they have to say.”
On the possibility of being moved from left tackle…
“For me, all that is just talk. Every team, every scout, every coach, offensive line coach from teams who have worked me out said ‘Definitely, I’m a left tackle.’ So, that’s just talk. Whoever drafts me, they’ll put me where they want me and where they need me.”
Running Back Kenny Hilliard
On his goals at today’s pro day…
“I definitely feel comfortable being here, this is home. I’m grateful that I was able to improve my stance here. Those guys at Traction have prepared me for this day. I came out and showcased my talents again.”
On his 40-yard dash performance…
“It felt good. I’ve been running those times since I left the combine. It was just from my 10-splits, I had to get those steps down. Coming from the combine, that’s what I’ve been anticipating on. I came out and did a great job.”
On speaking with NFL teams…
“Well, I talked to a couple of teams yesterday. They were asking me what I was going to run. I didn’t tell them anything. I told them ‘Just be prepared and watch what I run.’ I think I kind of shocked those guys with the great time that I ran. It was a great job on my part.”
On comparing his combine performance with his pro day performance…
“At the combine, you have so much going on … But once you come home, you’re in your setting. You’re comfortable here. You’ve played in front of these people before. That’s what it was like, I think we all did a great job today of competing and showing what we can do.”
Running Back Terrance Mage
On his performance at pro day…
“I did pretty well. I’ve been training for it for a long time, but I’m glad it’s over now. We can get back to more football specific things.”
On his goals for pro day…
“To come out here and run every route – do everything they ask me to do, and catch every ball. I just wanted to come out here and showcase my talent.”
On his conversations with NFL teams…
“I’ve been talking to a lot of teams that like me as a third down back. Somebody that can get in, block, pass protect and win those one-on-one matchups and get out there in routes. I play a lot special teams. I kind of see that as where I’m going to fit. If that’s my role on whatever team I go to, then I’m going to embrace it and be the best at it.”
On if he had nerves at Pro Day…
“Not really because even during the season, they’re always watching. You have some GM’s and head coaches out there. It might rattle you a little bit, but it’s exciting. It was fun and a once in a lifetime experience. I enjoyed it.”
LSU Pro Day – Defense
March 27, 2015
Linebacker Kwon Alexander
On his goals and his performance at pro day…
“I added a lot. I felt like I moved pretty well doing the drills and everything. I was more prepared, and I just came out here to show everybody what I can do.”
On his pro day experience …
“Football is football. Wherever I go, I’m going to play football so it doesn’t matter where I work out at. It felt good playing with my family here and some of my old teammates but it doesn’t matter.”
On his conversations with NFL teams …
“I’ve been getting a lot of good feedback. I really don’t know where I’m going, nobody knows where they are going yet. A couple of teams have talked to me. I enjoyed talking to them. I just feel blessed they are even coming and talking to me.”
Defensive End Danielle Hunter
On the feedback he’s heard from NFL teams from the combine and pro day…
“At the combine, I talked to more than half the teams. The positive things that they said to me, I have a motor. I have good attributes. My physique is awesome. The stuff that they told me to work on is work on my hands and my pad level.”
On the possibility of playing for the New Orleans Saints …
“It would be amazing thing. It really doesn’t matter whenever I get drafted, but I’m really comfortable with it. If I get drafted to the Saints, it would be an awesome job. It’s something I’d enjoy being able to come back to LSU only being an hour away.”