Proday Recap: Kentucky, Miami Hurricanes, and Western Kentucky
The Proday reporting is tough to get good information on and it’s impossible to get to every Proday for all analysts so that’s we have to rely on the reporting of others. I’ve complied the best news I can find on Kentucky’s Proday to inform, you, the reader.
Let’s start with information about Western Kentucky
Rainey, who finished his WKU career as the program’s all-time leading rusher, ran the 40-yard dash on Thursday in an impressive time of 4.51 seconds, which exceeded the expectations of many.
“Bobby is Bobby,” WKU head coach Willie Taggart said. “I had talked to some other people and everyone expected him to be around a 4.6 in the 40-yard dash. I was glad everyone thought that because that is what he thrives off of. He thrives off the motivation and for him that is people telling him what he can’t do. I told some people that if he ran a 4.6 then I would give them my month’s paycheck. Bobby came out here and once again proved people wrong.”
Rainey also completed the three-cone drill in 6.61 seconds, which would have ranked second among running back times at the 2012 NFL Combine. The three-cone drill is a drill to test the ability to plant, cut and change direction.
Rainey also turned in 24 repetitions of a 225-pound bench press, which would have ranked fourth among running backs at the 2012 NFL Combine. stern Kentucky’s Proday
Rainey is one of our favorite generally unknown prospects. He’s like a poor man’s Maurice Jones Drew at 5’8 and about 210 pounds. Rainey was one of the most productive players in all of college football last year and has decent breakaway speed and a pretty good all around game.
Miami Hurricanes Proday featured a bunch of really fast guys. Though the top prospects: Tommy Streeter, Sean Spence, and Lamar Miller stood on their combine times.
Receiver Aldarius Johnson, who was suspended for the 2011 campaign due to off-field infractions, and Laron Byrd, a highly rated senior wideout who put up pedestrian numbers last season, both sizzled on at their pro day.
Johnson measured just under 6-2 and weighed 208 pounds. His 40 times clocked in the low 4.4-second range, with a few watches reading 4.40. Byrd, who is slightly larger and was considered a potential third-round choice entering the season, ran a tad slower, timing 4.45 seconds. Both wideouts caught the ball well during workouts, showing the ability to easily adjust and catch the errant throw in stride.
Also impressing was underrated safety JoJo Nicolas. He measured 6-0, 196 pounds and ran a time of 4.56 in the 40. During drills, Nicolas showed impressive ball skills and the ability to cover large amounts of area in a short time. He performed much better than expected and set himself up as a potential late-round choice.
Defender Olivier Vernon ran under 4.7 seconds today, the time he hoped to clock at the combine. His weight was 262 pounds and afterward Vernon looked explosive and fast in linebacker drills.
But Washington and Vernon — two of five UM players who declared early for the draft — were glad they did.
Both players impressed, with the 6-2, 262-pound Vernon recording a best time of 4.68 seconds (after a 4.80 at the NFL Combine) and the 6-3, 315-pound Washington going from a 5.1 in Indy to a 5.07 at Greentree.
Defensive back Lee Chambers led the Hurricanes with a 40.5-inch vertical jump and a 4.41 40-yard time. Byrd ran a 4.46.
Spence, who has been criticized by analysts for only doing 12 bench-press reps of 325 pounds in Indianapolis, explained that he sustained a deep bone bruise in his left shoulder at the Senior Bowl and is still recuperating. He said he normally does about 19 reps.
Here are all the results of drills:
| Name | Pos. | Ht | Wt | 40 Yd Dash | Vert. Jump | Bench Press | L Drill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Travis Benjamin | WR | combine score | combine score | combine score | 6.96 | ||
| Ben Bruneau | WR | 4.49 | 39.5 | 15 | 7.03 | ||
| LaRon Byrd | WR | 4.46 | 35 | 15 | 7.07 | ||
| Lee Chambers | DB | 4.41 | 40.5 | 10 | 7.07 | ||
| Joel Figueroa | OL | – | 28.5 | 32 | – | ||
| Chase Ford | TE | 4.76 | 33 | 20 | 7.34 | ||
| Marcus Forston | DL | combine score | combine score | combine score | 7.56 | ||
| Jordan Futch | LB | 6’000 | 245 | 4.89 | 31.5 | 13 | 7.29 |
| Nathan Gholston | DB | 5’600 | 188 | 4.60 | 34.5 | 18 | 7.17 |
| Harland Gunn | OL | 6’000 | 319 | 5.29 | 23.5 | 28 | 8.28 |
| Jacory Harris | QB | 6’030 | 200 | combine score | combine score | combine score | combine score |
| Tyler Horn | OL | 6’035 | 297 | 5.26 | 25.5 | 19 | 8.16 |
| Chris Ivory | LS | 5’117 | 226 | 5.06 | combine score | 16 | 7.60 |
| Miles Levine | LB | 5’100 | 216 | 4.75 | 33 | 25 | 7.53 |
| Lamar Miller | RB | 5’110 | 213 | combine score | 35.5 | combine score | 6.94 |
| JoJo Nicolas | DB | 6’002 | 196 | 4.58 | 37.5 | 14 | 7.08 |
| Adewale Ojomo | DL | 6’030 | 255 | 4.95 | 31 | 23 | 7.91 |
| Micanor Regis | DL | 6’023 | 304 | 5.10 | 30.5 | 26 | 7.99 |
| Marcus Robinson | LB | 6’007 | 243 | 4.85 | 32.5 | combine score | combine score |
| Andrew Smith | DL | 6’023 | 244 | 4.88 | 29.5 | 18 | 7.14 |
| Sean Spence | LB | 5’112 | 229 | combine score | combine score | combine score | 7.08 |
| Tommy Streeter | WR | 6’050 | 218 | combine score | combine score | combine score | 6.97 |
| Olivier Vernon | DL | 6’027 | 262 | 4.68 | combine score | combine score | combine score |
| Brandon Washington | OL | 6’032 | 315 | 5.07 | combine score | combine score | 7.96 |
| Mike Williams | DB | 5’116 | 184 | 4.57 | 35 | 13 | 7.11 |
Now onto Kentucky’s Proday-There were 23 scouts at Kentucky’s Proday. Kentucky’s best prospect is S Winston Guy Jr. The other prospect of importance to note is LB Danny Trevathan. Unfortunately Guy Jr. Set out his proday with a groin injury.
Trevathan, the Southeastern Conference tackles leader the past two seasons, ran his first 40-yard dash Wednesday, but declined the second opportunity citing a right hamstring pull. He did participate in the other drills, but looked to be struggling throughout.
Other players working out at Kentucky’s Proday
Defensive backs Mychal Bailey, Randall Burden, Anthony Mosley and Taiedo Smith went through workouts, along with wide receivers Nik Brazley and Matt Roark, tight end Nick Melillo, offensive linemen Billy Joe Murphy and Chandler Burden, and defensive linemen Mark Crawford and James McDevitt.Phillips is hopeful this class will be able to add to Kentucky’s recent success in the NFL. Over 30 Wildcats have been drafted or signed as free agents over the last four years, most recently highlighted by Randall Cobb, who was drafted in the second round by the Green Bay Packers last season. The 2012 NFL Draft will be April 26-28 in Radio City Music Hall in New York.
Really the Kentucky Proday seems to be uneventful. But at least Bobby Rainey showcased his stuff.