On a busy Monday Pro Day for FCS schools, several players had rockstar performances — and one school (Furman) had to cancel its Pro Day when pro scouts sidestepped the planned three-school event (Gardner-Webb and Wofford, too).
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Delaware's Bilal Nichols has had an impressive couple of months, and that helped attract 23 NFL teams to Delaware's Pro Day on Monday, which in turn benefited other Blue Hens players who put on impressive showings at the annual event.
Nichols, a standout defensive tackle, stood on his NFL Combine numbers of 4.95 seconds in the 40-yard dash and 29 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press, but showed his impressive quickness for a big man by running a 4.44-second time in the 20-yard shuttle — a top five mark among FCS linemen. His 3-cone run was also of the top 10 variety for a lineman, a classification grouping which also includes edge rushers who are DEs and OLBs. That shows how quick Nichols (6-4/306) truly is, in comparison.
Taking advantage of the crowd assembled, fellow DT Blaine Woodson also showed his athleticism and undoubtedly impressed the scouts on hand. He ran a 5.09-second time in the 40-yard dash, and while not as quick as Nichols in other drills, he wasn't far behind. Also, linebacker Anthony Jackson ran a 4.71 in the 40, did 21 reps on the bench and posted some of the best times of the spring among FCS linebackers in the quickness drills.
Some big days today for these #BlueHens.
Excited to see what the future holds. #ProDay#BlueHens#BleedBlue302 pic.twitter.com/O7ULshYhSq
— Delaware Football (@DelawareFB) March 20, 2018
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At Penn, not surprisingly it was Justin Watson who put on a show. The Quakers' do-everything offensive weapon turned in a 4.41 second time in the 40 yard dash, nailed down 20 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press, posted one of the top vertical jump marks in the FCS in 2018, and went 124 inches in the broad jump. The Shrine Game and Senior Bowl participant was catching passes from Josh Allen and Baker Mayfield back in January, and he may be catching passes from other big-name quarterbacks this fall. He has been impressive in the entire leadup to the draft.
Watson leaves Penn as the school's all-time leader in receptions (286), receiving yards (3,777), receiving touchdowns (33) and the Ivy League's all-time leader in 100-yard games (19), and consecutive games with a reception (40).
If you don't draft Justin Watson fire yourself
— swan (@eriksteelo) March 20, 2018
