Cedar Rapids, IA, USA  
Digital Edition Digital Edition
Log in Log In My Account My Account
Subscribe Today
The Gazette The Gazette
The Gazette The Gazette
  • COVID-19
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Food and Drink
  • Business
Digital Edition Digital Edition
Log in Log In My Account My Account
Subscribe
CLOSE
The Gazette
Subscribe
My Account
  • News
    • All News
    • Election 2020
    • Coronavirus
    • Business News
    • Community
    • Crime and Courts
    • Education
    • Government
    • Health
    • Nation and World
    • Time Machine
    • Search Archive

    Our Journalists

    • Rod Boshart
    • Lee Hermiston
    • Erin Jordan
    • James Q. Lynch
    • Trish Mehaffey
    • Vanessa Miller
    • Kat Russell
    • Grace King
    • John Steppe
    • Gage Miskimen
    • Marissa Payne
  • Sports
    • All Sports
    • Iowa Hawkeyes
    • Hawkeye Football
    • Hawkeye Basketball
    • Prep Sports
    • Prep Volleyball
    • Prep Football
    • Prep Basketball
    • Prep Wrestling
    • Iowa State Cyclones
    • UNI Panthers
    • Small College Sports
    • Minor League Sports
    • Outdoors

    Sports Desk

    • Mike Hlas
    • Jeff Johnson
    • Jeff Linder
    • J.R. Ogden
    • K.J. Pilcher
    • Leah Vann
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Editorial Mission
    • Guest Columnists
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Political Cartoons
    • Staff Columnists
    • Staff Editorials
    • Submit a Letter or Column

    Our Columnists

    • Todd Dorman
    • Adam Sullivan
  • Food and Drink
    • All Food and Drink
    • Chew on This
    • Recipes
    • Restaurants
  • Business
    • All Business
    • Agriculture
    • Business Notes
    • Companies
    • Personal Finance
    • Economy
    • Employment
    • Energy
    • Manufacturing
    • Openings & Closures
    • Real Estate
    • Retail
    • Small Business
    • Transportation

    Our Journalists

    • Rod Boshart
    • Erin Jordan
    • John Steppe
  • Obituaries
    • All Obituaries
    • In Memory Of
    • Submit an Obituary
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • Daily News Podcast
    • Fact Checker
    • Hlastradamus Odds
    • Iowa Prep Sports
    • On Iowa
    • On Iowa Politics
    • On UNI
    • Pinning Combination
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • Art
    • Books
    • Museums & Galleries
    • Music
    • Theater
    • Things To Do
  • Living
    • All Living
    • Health & Wellness
    • Home & Garden
    • Milestones
    • People & Places
    • Pets & Animals
    • Recreation
    • Religion & Belief
    • Travel

    Our Writers

    • Diana Nollen
  • Kids Gazette
    • See All
    • Kids Cooking Series
    • Kids Galleries
    • Printables
    • Activities
    • Articles
    • Submissions
    • Resources
  • Photos
    • All Photos and Videos
    • The Iowa Photo
    • Photo Store

    Our Photojournalists

    • Andy Abeyta
    • Liz Martin
    • Rebecca Miller
    • Jim Slosiarek
    • Gazette Visuals
  • Milestones
    • All Milestones
    • Anniversaries
    • Days To Remember
    • Engagements
    • Holidays
    • In Remembrance
    • New Arrivals
    • Thank Yous
    • Submit a Milestone
  • Data
    • Arrests
    • Building Permits
    • Interactive Maps & Charts
    • Salaries
  • Gazette Sites
    • Classifieds
    • Corridor Careers
    • Garage Sales
    • Gazette Gives Back
    • Gazette Rewards
    • Gazette Store
    • Green Gazette
    • HER
    • Iowa Wedding Experience
    • Holiday Light Finder
    • Hoopla
    • Iowa Ideas
    • Photo Store
  • Special Events
  • Special Sections
  • Other
    • About The Gazette
    • Archives
    • Article Removal
    • Business Directory
    • CR Arrest Database
    • Mobile Apps
    • Customer Care
    • Order Back Issues
    • Privacy Policies
    • Puzzle Answers
    • Sponsorship Requests
    • Submit a Letter
    • Weather
  • Digital Edition
Daily News PodcastDaily News Podcast
Daily NewslettersDaily Newsletters
Log out

FOLLOW US

The Gazette
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Food and Drink
  • Business
  • Obituaries
  • Podcasts
  • Entertainment
  • Living
  • Kids Gazette
  • Photos
  • Milestones
  • Data
  • Gazette Sites
  • Special Events
  • Special Sections
  • Other
  • Digital Edition
  • All News
  • Election 2020
  • Coronavirus
  • Business News
  • Community
  • Crime and Courts
  • Education
  • Government
  • Health
  • Nation and World
  • Time Machine
  • Search Archive

Our Journalists

  • Rod Boshart
  • Lee Hermiston
  • Erin Jordan
  • James Q. Lynch
  • Trish Mehaffey
  • Vanessa Miller
  • Kat Russell
  • Grace King
  • John Steppe
  • Gage Miskimen
  • Marissa Payne
  • All Sports
  • Iowa Hawkeyes
  • Hawkeye Football
  • Hawkeye Basketball
  • Prep Sports
  • Prep Volleyball
  • Prep Football
  • Prep Basketball
  • Prep Wrestling
  • Iowa State Cyclones
  • UNI Panthers
  • Small College Sports
  • Minor League Sports
  • Outdoors

Sports Desk

  • Mike Hlas
  • Jeff Johnson
  • Jeff Linder
  • J.R. Ogden
  • K.J. Pilcher
  • Leah Vann
  • All Opinion
  • Editorial Mission
  • Guest Columnists
  • Letters to the Editor
  • Political Cartoons
  • Staff Columnists
  • Staff Editorials
  • Submit a Letter or Column

Our Columnists

  • Todd Dorman
  • Adam Sullivan
  • All Food and Drink
  • Chew on This
  • Recipes
  • Restaurants
  • All Business
  • Agriculture
  • Business Notes
  • Companies
  • Personal Finance
  • Economy
  • Employment
  • Energy
  • Manufacturing
  • Openings & Closures
  • Real Estate
  • Retail
  • Small Business
  • Transportation

Our Journalists

  • Rod Boshart
  • Erin Jordan
  • John Steppe
  • All Obituaries
  • In Memory Of
  • Submit an Obituary
  • All Podcasts
  • Daily News Podcast
  • Fact Checker
  • Hlastradamus Odds
  • Iowa Prep Sports
  • On Iowa
  • On Iowa Politics
  • On UNI
  • Pinning Combination
  • All Entertainment
  • Art
  • Books
  • Museums & Galleries
  • Music
  • Theater
  • Things To Do
  • All Living
  • Health & Wellness
  • Home & Garden
  • Milestones
  • People & Places
  • Pets & Animals
  • Recreation
  • Religion & Belief
  • Travel

Our Writers

  • Diana Nollen
  • See All
  • Kids Cooking Series
  • Kids Galleries
  • Printables
  • Activities
  • Articles
  • Submissions
  • Resources
  • All Photos and Videos
  • The Iowa Photo
  • Photo Store

Our Photojournalists

  • Andy Abeyta
  • Liz Martin
  • Rebecca Miller
  • Jim Slosiarek
  • Gazette Visuals
  • All Milestones
  • Anniversaries
  • Days To Remember
  • Engagements
  • Holidays
  • In Remembrance
  • New Arrivals
  • Thank Yous
  • Submit a Milestone
  • Arrests
  • Building Permits
  • Interactive Maps & Charts
  • Salaries
  • Classifieds
  • Corridor Careers
  • Garage Sales
  • Gazette Gives Back
  • Gazette Rewards
  • Gazette Store
  • Green Gazette
  • HER
  • Iowa Wedding Experience
  • Holiday Light Finder
  • Hoopla
  • Iowa Ideas
  • Photo Store
  • About The Gazette
  • Archives
  • Article Removal
  • Business Directory
  • CR Arrest Database
  • Mobile Apps
  • Customer Care
  • Order Back Issues
  • Privacy Policies
  • Puzzle Answers
  • Sponsorship Requests
  • Submit a Letter
  • Weather
Daily News PodcastDaily News Podcast Daily NewslettersDaily Newsletters
LOG OUT

FOLLOW US

More Stories

University of Iowa medical expert takes questions on J &…

Iowa orders pause on Johnson & Johnson vaccine

Marion school board votes 5-2 to no longer consider ’Mavericks’

Cedar Rapids clinic to receive federal COVID-19 allocation starting this…

Public funeral in Independence planned Friday for slain Iowa trooper…

'A way to start over again’: Collaboration aims to replant…

House GOP calls for freezing funding for ‘bloated’ regents universities

Iowa City schools relaxing coronavirus quarantine practices after almost 1,000…

Home / Sports / UNI Panthers

Elerson G. Smith, Spencer Brown polish NFL draft resumes at UNI Pro Day

Cole Bair, correspondent Mar. 23, 2021 10:23 am Updated: Mar. 23, 2021 10:23 am
Elerson G. Smith, Spencer Brown polish NFL draft resumes at UNI Pro Day

CEDAR FALLS - Former Northern Iowa defensive end Elerson G. Smith and offensive tackle Spencer Brown polished their NFL draft resumés at Monday evening's Pro Day inside the UNI-Dome.

Forty-four NFL scouts and personnel came to Cedar Falls to watch the two former FCS All-Americans who arrived at UNI in 2016 as under-recruited, undersized prospects with personality and promising frames to stir coach Mark Farley's instincts enough to offer both scholarships.

'It was a surreal moment sitting and watching these guys. They had the entire NFL sitting here watching (them),” Farley said. 'Throughout all the years what nobody saw was all the hard work these two put into it. I remember when Elerson came to our first football camp and I remember the day that I stopped at the school of Spencer Brown's. I'm very, very happy for them.”

Smith - regarded as a likely day two or three selection (rounds 2-7) - sent scouts' eyes wide when he posted a 41 1/2-inch vertical jump.

A veteran NFL scout told The Gazette when asked how many defensive ends he's seen jump that high, 'You can count them on one hand.”

Smith reached 26 repetitions in the bench press, broad jumped 10 feet, 7 inches, ran a 4.39 pro-agility drill and a 4.71 40-yard dash.

'I was expecting to jump high, but I didn't know that I had that in me, so I was excited about that,” Smith said. '(I've) enjoyed the process. I don't want to take anything for granted at this point. I'm excited with what happened today.”

Asked about going from a little-known, undersized and underrecruited prospect to a possible second- or third-round pick in the NFL Draft, the Minneapolis native credited position coach Bryce Paup, along with going up against Brown in practice each day.

'I can't give (coach Paup) enough credit,” Smith said. 'He's pretty much taught me everything I know about the position at this point.”

'Other than Tristan Wirfs - probably a guy to compare (Brown) to on a skill level - I'd maybe even put him above that just because I've seen Spencer's best.”

Brown - who's appeared in mock drafts as high as late first round - put up 29 bench press repetitions, ran a 4.88 40-yard dash and completed the pro-agility drill in 4.44.

Brown said training with former San Francisco 49ers left tackle Joe Staley has 'blown the door open” on his preparation for the NFL.

'It went well (today),” Brown said. Everybody has good things to say, but with that is things I've got to work on. It's just really awesome to see all these coaches (and scouts) here and just incorporate things that they want to see me grown on.”

National Team defensive lineman Elerson Smith of Northern Iowa (FCS) (47) runs a drill with defensive lineman Tarron Jackson of Coastal Carolina (99) during the National Team practice for the Senior Bowl college football game in Mobile, Ala., Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
University of Northern Iowa

Trending

  • University of Iowa presidential finalist Osofsky tackles questions of free…

    Vanessa Miller

  • Gazette Daily News Podcast, April 13

    Stephen Schmidt

  • University of Iowa hospitals expert takes questions on J&J concerns

    Vanessa Miller

  • 24-hour vaccine clinic in Cedar Rapids this weekend open to…

    Michaela Ramm

  • Cooper DeJean, Iowa’s everything football player

    Leah Vann

Give us feedback

We work hard to provide fair, accurate coverage because we value your trust. If you find an error or omission in our reporting, please tell us here.

Submit a story idea

Do you have a story idea that we should look into? Please tell us here.

Related Stories

UNI cancels Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccine clinic

UNI cancels Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccine clinic

Vanessa Miller Higher Ed 4h ago

University of Northern Iowa, Iowa State hold mass vaccination clinics…

University of Northern Iowa, Iowa State hold mass vaccination clinics…

Vanessa Miller Higher Ed Apr. 12, 2021 11:23 pm

Iowa universities promise more traditional fall experience

Iowa universities promise more traditional fall experience

Vanessa Miller Higher Ed Apr. 12, 2021 11:08 am

UNI Panthers

Kelly Proesch finds her own niche, writes her own success…

Kelly Proesch finds her own niche, writes her own success…

Jeff Linder

High School Track and Field Apr. 13, 2021 10:06 am

UNI football hangs with, but can’t beat, No. 2 North…

UNI football hangs with, but can’t beat, No. 2 North…

UNI Panther Football Apr. 10, 2021 8:50 pm

Photos: UNI Panthers vs. NDSU Bison

Photos: UNI Panthers vs. NDSU Bison

Gazette Visuals

UNI Panther Football Apr. 10, 2021 8:34 pm

UNI football vs. North Dakota State: Live stream, point spread,…

UNI football vs. North Dakota State: Live stream, point spread,…

Cole Bair

UNI Panthers Apr. 10, 2021 9:00 am

Sports

Iowa football takeaways: Tory Taylor’s quest, Spencer Petras’ accuracy and…

Iowa football takeaways: Tory Taylor’s quest, Spencer Petras’ accuracy and…

Leah Vann

Hawkeye Football 2h ago

Kirkwood sweeps way into national volleyball quarterfinals

Kirkwood sweeps way into national volleyball quarterfinals

K.J. Pilcher

Sports 2h ago

At Lisbon, a track program, then a track ... and…

At Lisbon, a track program, then a track ... and…

Jeff Linder

High School Track and Field 4h ago

Bowling alleys, like universities, are melting pots

Bowling alleys, like universities, are melting pots

Mike Hlas

Iowa Hawkeyes Apr. 13, 2021 11:16 am

News

Iowa Senate wants Department of Public Safety cold case unit

Iowa Senate wants Department of Public Safety cold case unit

Rod Boshart

Government & Politics 36m ago

Senate boosts higher education spending

Senate boosts higher education spending

Rod Boshart

State Government 35m ago

UNI cancels Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccine clinic

UNI cancels Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccine clinic

Vanessa Miller

Higher Ed 4h ago

House GOP proposes nearly $78 million for economic development

House GOP proposes nearly $78 million for economic development

James Q. Lynch

Government & Politics 2h ago

Opinion

Vaccines: A shot in the arm as an act of…

Vaccines: A shot in the arm as an act of…

Timothy Walch

Guest Columnists 3h ago

Reynolds puts politics before people in passport debate

Reynolds puts politics before people in passport debate

Bruce Lear

Guest Columnists Apr. 13, 2021 7:57 am

Most Iowa Republicans plan to get jabbed — so should…

Most Iowa Republicans plan to get jabbed — so should…

Adam Sullivan

Opinion Apr. 12, 2021 3:06 pm

Women in agriculture hit hard by pandemic

Women in agriculture hit hard by pandemic

Sara Todd

Opinion Apr. 12, 2021 2:04 pm

FOLLOW US

The Gazette is Iowa’s independent, employee-owned source for local, state, and national news coverage.

© 2021 The Gazette

All Rights Reserved.

  • Advertise with us
  • Privacy
  • Web Accessibility

Contact Us

  • 116 3rd St SE
    Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
  • customercare@thegazette.com
  • (319) 398-8333
  • Live Chat

Links

  • Puzzle Answers
  • CR Arrest Database
  • Article Removal Request
  • Archives
  • Green Gazette
  • Corridor Careers Jobs
  • Work at The Gazette
  • Customer Care

© 2021 The Gazette

All Rights Reserved.

  • Advertise with us
  • Privacy
  • Web Accessibility
Folience A Folience Company