For FCS players, Pro Days are their last chance to show they deserve a shot in the NFL. For some, it solidifies them as a draft pick and rises or lowers their stock. A majority of the others, though, are performing just to get on the radar.
That’s especially true for Cal Poly’s Caleb Melton. Melton was a 6-foot-3, 265-pound reserve defensive lineman for the Mustangs. He admits the stats and game film aren’t there to attract many NFL scouts. But he gave Cal Poly’s Pro Day a shot anyway and caught some eyes of the seven scouts in attendance.
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“I wanted to come in and show everyone what I was all about,” Melton told HERO Sports. “I don’t have much game film because I played behind some pretty good guys the last couple of years. But I wanted to show people what I was about and the work I've been putting in.”
The work showed. His Pro Day numbers are ranked among the best of FCS defensive tackles.
- 2nd: 40-yard dash – 4.8 seconds
- 3rd: Bench Press – 34 reps
- 3rd: Vertical Jump – 31.5 inches
- 2nd: Broad Jump – 115 inches
- 6th: 3-Cone Drill – 7.65 seconds
- 4th: 20-Yard Shuttle – 4.55 seconds
His 40-yard dash, bench press and broad jump numbers would have ranked him in the Top 10 of defensive tackles at the NFL Combine. Melton said he had a couple conversations with scouts during his Pro Day and hopes he gets even more interest once his Wonderlic scores are back.
He believes he showed his athletic ability but faces an uphill climb on attracting more scouts.
“It’s definitely that lack of game film,” Melton said. “I only played limited reps. I don’t have the film to show I can play. I liked playing defensive line, but I also feel I could have excelled at other positions like linebacker, tight end or fullback. But d-line was where I was at. That’s been the biggest struggle is having those game stats or the film to show everyone.”
In the meantime, Melton is finishing up his last quarter of school as a geography major. He’s set to be done in June, although his future is uncertain come April and May, which is when teams began to fill out their rookie rosters. He’s staying in shape in case he gets that call. And if the playing route doesn’t end up going his way, Melton said he’d like to get into coaching.
But the hope is his Pro Day was enough to extend his playing days further.
“Any opportunity I can get, any minicamps or rookies camps, anything I can get to just go out and show everyone what I can do,” Melton said. “It doesn’t matter what avenue it is, just as long as I get a shot I’d be ecstatic."
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