Texas' Pro Day shines bright By Gil Brandt NFL.com Senior Analyst AUSTIN, Texas (March 25, 2003) -- Every year I go to Austin to watch the Texas Longhorns' Pro Day, and every year I come away impressed with how head coach Mack Brown and his staff run their event for NFL coaches, scouts and GMs. If scouting was like this when I was working with the Cowboys, it would have been a much easier job. From the moment NFL personnel arrived (as early as 6:30 a.m.), the people at Texas did everything to make them feel right at home. They even distributed orange ID tags to everyone there, complete with their team's logo. Even Texans head coach Dom Capers got a name tag! They also offered up a whole spread for those that missed breakfast that morning. Texas also made it easy for scouts to review tape. You've probably heard the horror stories of film rooms being cramped and dusty, with only one remote to control the tape and several scouts wanting the remote. At Texas, it was easy for scouts to look at anyone they wanted. The school has a nice, big film room just for them. Another reason why people in the NFL loved Texas' Pro Day is because every single coach and trainer Texas employs was on hand to answer any questions, along with the players. Getting the chance to speak individually with these people really helped out the scouts -- all of their questions and concerns were answered in one place. One joke circulating was that the Pro Day was like NFL Network because everyone had "total access." Nathan Vasher shows off his stuff at Texas' Pro Day. The first half of the workout was held in this huge room at their practice facility with top-of-the-line equipment. All the personnel in attendance had a good view of everything that was going on, as did the parents of the players working out, who were on a separate balcony above everyone else. It made for a great atmosphere because these people would cheer for guys that do well. For example, Roy Williams slipped on his first vertical jump attempt, which drew some encouraging cheers from the parent section. Sure enough, he jumped much higher on his second attempt. Once the workouts were done indoors, everyone was able to make an easy move outdoors to the Longhorns' grass practice field. This was the perfect place for everyone to view the various position drills. It was a first-class field with first-class players. Truthfully, more and more schools are beginning to make their Pro Days just like this. I've heard rave reviews from other places around the country. But there's one aspect about Texas' Pro Day that is different from all the rest -- lunch! Thanks to a little place called Bert's Bar-BQ in Austin, the NFL's scouts, coaches and GMs are treated to a one-of-a-kind Texas-style meal. So not only do they leave with their notebooks full of measurables and notes, but with a full stomach as well. The results ... Let's fill you in on the details -- here are the results from Texas' Pro Day: TEXAS: MARCH 24 The teams started showing up at 6:30 in the morning and there were 30 teams here. In total, about 105 NFL people were in attendance, including one head coach (Dom Capers) and three GMs (Rod Graves, Charley Casserly, Rick Spielman). The players ran indoors on what can only be described as "soft AstroTurf," which makes for a slow track. Everything is so well done as far as organization and facilities, I think the scouts enjoyed being here for the Pro Day. Player Position Gil's comments Roy Williams WR Williams (6-2½, 211) ran the 40 twice. Everyone had him under 4.4 on his second run, some as low as 4.37. He didn't run quite that fast the first time. He also had a 39½-inch vertical, an 11-foot long jump, a 3.97 short shuttle and a 6.75 three-cone drill. Willams is scheduled to visit the Texans in the near future. Brock Edwards TE Edwards (6-3 3/8, 254) ran his 40s in 4.89 and 4.90. He also ran the 10-yard dash in 1.77. He also had a 30½-inch vertical jump, a 9-8 long jump, a 4.42 short shuttle and a 7.52 in the three-cone drill. We inadvertently forgot to put his results up at first, but we've got them now. In fact, it's good that we're getting this up because a lot of people on hand said he looked good in the position drills, and we needed to pass that information along. B.J. Johnson WR Johnson (5-11¾, 202) had been hurt and didn't run. He tried but pulled up before he could finish. Johnson will try to run in the first part of April because so many teams are interested in him. Cullen Loeffler LS Loeffler (6-4¾, 241) ran his 40s for an average time of 5.25. It should be noted here that Loeffler is an excellent deep snapper. Sloan Thomas WR Thomas (6-1¼, 199) ran his 40s in 4.47 and 4.50. He added a 36½-inch vertical, did not long jump, a 4.24 short shuttle and a 6.99 three-cone drill. Kalen Thornton DE Thornton (6-2½, 245) ran 4.82 twice. He had a 34-inch vertical, a 9-9 long jump, a 4.30 short shuttle and a 7.25 three-cone drill. Marcus Tubbs DT Tubbs (6-4¼, 318) ran a 4.96 to a 5.10 in the 40. They wanted to run him a third time but he was worried he'd pull up. He added a 4.66 short shuttle and a 7.77 three-cone drill. He did not do the vertical, opting to stand on what he did at the combine. Nathan Vasher DB Vasher (5-10, 179) ran his 40s in 4.65 and 4.68. He had a 36½-inch vertical, a 4.02 short shuttle and a 6.74 three-cone drill. http://www.nfl.com/draft/story/7205983
It's going to be nice having two friends in the pros this year. Sloan and AJ Ricker of Missouri both went to high school with me. Two well deserving people.
You must be from Klein. I went to Klein Forest. I used to play football there too. I used to hate Sloan after playing Klein.
Vasher was totally overrated as a corner. I thought he was lights out as a safety. I was surprised he ran so poorly. Nonetheless, he's still a fast guy.
im from klein forest too. i heard something about how klein had a receiver that was supposed to be going to KF. i was wondering if this might have been sloan or was it someone else? it was a few years back, so i was thinking its possible.
That was Ryan Hamilton. His parents were separated and his mom lived in the KF attendance zone. His dad, whom he lived with, lived in the Klein attendance zone. It was a stupid issue that for only some stupid reason was only brought up 2 days before the playoffs started.
I was on the team when that happened my senior year. I thought it was kinda dumb too but if it would've gotten us in the playoffs then cool. Bottom line even though we had a good season that year we lost the ones that count. 7-3 and missed the playoffs. That was tough.
Kinda sorta. He was a good shortstop. He wound up signing with Blinn to play football. He gave up baseball.
Everyone knows RW, but I like Sloan and BJ... This draft is deep, but you can't get enough quality players...
