UNI Pro Day displays talent left out of Combine

WATERLOO - Northern Iowa hasn't had a Pro Day as popular as Tuesday's in quite some time.

That'll happen when likely mid-round NFL Draft pick David Johnson is in attendance. But while the scouts and assistant coaches from 24 NFL teams showed up for the main course in Johnson, they also got a look at 11 other players trying to make their pro football dreams come true.

'We all grow up with that dream, and this is their time they get to live it and see the results, both good and bad,” said UNI head coach Mark Farley, who came to Cedar Valley Sportsplex to take in the action. 'It's a great opportunity for them, but it's great exposure for us.

'The interest is definitely high. I think David draws that interest because of the level he's at right now. About every few years you get a guy like this that's a draftable guy that draws a lot of attention. But it actually draws a lot of exposure to everyone on our team and to our community.”

UNI had nine players in addition to Johnson go through the major combine/Pro Day workouts, highlighted by defensive tackle Xavier Williams and offensive tackle Jack Rummells.

Linebacker Jake Farley, offensive tackle Ryan Bingaman, wide receivers Kevin Vereen and Chad Owens, defensive back Ray Mitchell and linebacker Max Busher were the other former Panthers in attendance. Former Upper Iowa tight end Lucas Hefty and offensive lineman Casey Beck also were invited to participate. Former UNI QB Brion Carnes also participated, both throwing, and running routes to catch passes as a receiver. He said he was, 'just finding any options for me. I'm willing to do whatever any team, coach or GM wants me to do.”

Each took their turn running the 40-yard dash, lifting 225 pounds on the bench press, the vertical jump, the broad jump, the 3-cone drill and the 20- and 60-yard shuttle. As he watched some of the best players he's had come through the program in many years, Farley was a mixture of proud and sad.

'That was the hardest thing about today. You sit here and watch what's leaving and know you've got to go to practice tomorrow,” Farley said with a laugh. 'You're proud of watching them do what they do, but it's very sad when you sit there and watch what you've lost and have to replace for next season.”

For Williams and Rummells, who have gotten NFL Draft consideration, Pro Day was the first time either got a chance to go through the workouts in front of scouts and assistant coaches, as neither received an invitation to the NFL Scouting Combine.

Williams played in the Shrine Bowl in January and said he learned and gained a lot from that experience, and really wanted the chance to give scouts a look at his workout numbers to supplement that performance. His day was productive, even with a minor setback after his 40-yard dash where he pulled up a bit holding his hamstring. Williams said after a quick stretch out he felt great and did his shuttles and positional drills after that.

He also said watched the combine closely, and had an eye on what he wanted to hit in those drills and measurements. The 6-foot-4, 314-pound defensive lineman hit 30 reps on the bench press, which would've put him seventh among linemen at the Combine. With a varying range in draft prospects - 'I've seen third round to seventh to free agent,” Williams said - having the Pro Day was his biggest and best chance to show those scouts what he had to offer.

'It's really big, especially coming from a smaller school. Guys want to see how athletic you are, how well you move; they want to see if you're worth investing time in,” Williams said. 'I was hoping to hit 34 (reps in the bench press), so not far off. I just had that number in my head since I saw other d-linemen hit it had the combine, that number's been in my head.

'I saw their numbers and thought in my head, ‘OK, I can get these numbers.' That kind of gave me another wind, a little breath of life because I was disappointed I didn't get invited. Then I saw what numbers they were hitting and I was like, ‘I have a chance. I could match them on my own Pro Day.' Tried to go out and do the best I can, hopefully match some of them, beat some of them and show I'm just as good as the other guys.”

It was much of the same for Rummells, who if he's selected is likely to be taken in a late round or sign a free agent deal to get into a camp.

His was a message of consistency. His hallmark on the UNI offensive line was being that steady presence, and Rummells said if he's going to make a team, that's what will do it for him. Like everyone else at Pro Day, he was trying to put the best image forward for the scouts.

'Just be consistent, really. Don't have some big flaw standing out. That's probably my big emphasis, that I'm a very consistent across the board kind of guy and that's what I like to bring,” Rummells said. 'It was great. I was happy with the performance - can't expect that you're going to do a personal best in everything, so I'm very happy all around.”

VEREEN EYES FREE AGENT DEAL AFTER SURGERY

Former UNI wide receiver Kevin Vereen played the entire 2014 season with a torn ACL.

Let that sink in for a moment.

The Panthers' leader at wideout injured his knee about a year ago before spring ball started while playing intramural basketball on campus. He said he didn't think it was fully torn and that the pain was 'nothing unbearable,” so he played through it and still caught 31 passes for 569 yards and six touchdowns in UNI's playoff season. He had surgery over Winter break, and since he's not fully recovered, was limited to just the bench press at Pro Day, at which he hit 15 reps.

'The knee's doing pretty good. I'll be cleared to do everything in May, so I'm excited for that. My rehab and everything is going great,” Vereen said. 'I wasn't able to catch any (passes for scouts) because I'm not cleared to run on land yet. … I felt pretty good with my bench today.”

Without the chance to showcase his talent for the scouts, Vereen has to become pitchman now.

He said he had business cards for them, directing them to videos, and assured them he'd be ready to work out in May. Because of the setback and timetable, Vereen said he's not really thinking draft, rather a free-agent contract and working his way onto a team through camp.

'I haven't really heard much from (scouts). They just asked when I'd be able to work out,” Vereen said. 'So hopefully by today they've seen what I can do (on the field).

'Luckily my agent was able to put together a website for me, and I'll hand out promo cards with that website here. They'll be able to check out highlights on there, as well as videos from my rehab.”

l Comments: (319) 368-8884; jeremiah.davis@thegazette.com