The FCS will have on-campus Pro Days beginning March 7th with Samford and wrapping April 4 with national runner-up Eastern Washington. With only 14 FCS players invited to the NFL Combine, this is an athlete's big chance to show out in front of NFL scouts.
Austin Peay, Jacksonville State, Montana State and Tennessee State all held Pro Days on Monday, and all four programs had results that would have put its athletes in the Top 10 at the NFL Combine for their positions. In all, six prospects posted those kinds of numbers, and five of those six actually posted what would have been in the Top Five.
MORE: All FCS to the NFL Coverage
The prospect headliners were clearly Jacksonville State's B.J. Autry and Tennessee State's Chidi Okeke. Both drew large crowds and both have draftable grades on the offensive line. Autry sat out for the drills due to a right meniscus injury, but measured in at 6-foot-3, 337 pounds with an impressive 84.5-inch wingspan, something that undoubtedly had the NFL scouts in attendance buzzing. Okeke — a former LSU signee — impressed with a Top 10 combine-like run in the 40-yard dash (see full numbers below) and did just about every drill with a reported 22 NFL teams looking on.
SCHEDULE: All FCS Pro Days
Here's a school-by-school look:
AT AUSTIN PEAY: The uber productive LB Gunnar Scholato hit a bench press total (25 reps of 225 pounds) that would have tied for fourth at the combine for his position, and put up solid marks in all of the other drills he performed. Combined with his on-field work over the years at APSU, one has to think he helped his cause and will get a solid shot in a May camp, while safety Malik Davis showed his athleticism with impressive times in the 3-cone and 40-yard dash.
AT JACKSONVILLE STATE: While Autry attracted the crowd of scouts, the guy who may have impressed most was running back and special teams standout DeMarcus Flowers. His vertical (see below) would have been a Top Fiver for the combine, and his 3-cone a Top 10, showing his athleticism. He led the Gamecocks in kick return yardage in 2018, and we all know special teams contributors are in high demand in the NFL.
AT MONTANA STATE: Defensive tackle Tucker Yates was just one bench rep under what the top DT did at the NFL Combine, while his partner on the D-line, defensive end Tyrone Fa'anono would have made the Top 10 in the bench press for "Edge" prospects. They were the only two Bobcats participating.
AT TENNESSEE STATE: Okeke surely set the tone and brought eyeballs to several other teammates/prospects who may benefit with a second look. Full results are below, thanks to the Tennessee State athletic department.
NFL COMBINE: Top 2019 FCS Performers[divider]
MONDAY'S FULL RESULTS
NOTE: 40, shuttles and 3-cone are listed in seconds, vertical and broad jumps are in inches and bench is in reps of 225 pounds
| ATHLETE | POS | FCS SCHOOL | BP | 40 | VERT | BROAD | 20 YD SHUT | 3-CONE | 60 YD SHUT |
| Gunnar Scholato | LB | Austin Peay | 25$ | 4.67 | 32.5 | 114 | DNP | DNP | DNP |
| Malik Davis | S | Austin Peay | 16 | 4.51 | 36.5# | 120 | 4.3 | 6.86$ | DNP |
| B.J. Autry | OG | Jacksonville State | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
| Tyler Scozzaro | OL | Jacksonville State | DNP | 5.83 | 26 | 88 | 5.05 | 8.57 | DNP |
| Connor Christian | DL | Jacksonville State | 22 | 5.24 | 34.5 | 104 | 4.83 | 8.4 | DNP |
| Shaq Davidson | WR | Jacksonville State | 15 | 4.8 | 37 | 109 | 4.81 | 7.53 | 12.38 |
| Emmanuel Fennell | DE | Jacksonville State | 18 | 4.96 | 34 | 113 | 4.7 | 7.96 | 13.35 |
| DeMarcus Flowers | RB | Jacksonville State | 11 | 4.72 | 40.5$ | 114 | 4.55 | 7.22# | 12.32 |
| Lajarett Ford | WR | Jacksonville State | DNP | 4.75 | 32 | 112 | 4.3 | 7.25 | 11.89 |
| Cade Stinnett | PK | Jacksonville State | 25 | DNP | 28 | 98 | DNP | DNP | DNP |
| Quan Stoudemire | LB | Jacksonville State | 15 | 4.94 | 33 | 108 | 4.75 | 7.73 | 12.46 |
| Justin Thomas-Thornton | DE | Jacksonville State | DNP | 4.97 | 30.5 | 111 | 4.86 | 7.59 | DNP |
| Tucker Yates | DT | Montana State | 35$ | 5.27 | 30.5 | 98 | 4.75 | 8.04 | DNP |
| Tyrone Fa'anono | DE | Montana State | 29$ | 4.93 | 33.5 | 95 | DNP | DNP | DNP |
| Chidi Okeke (*) | OT | Tennessee State | 21 | 5.06# | 25.5 | 110 | 4.8 | 7.99 | DNP |
| Treon Harris | WR | Tennessee State | DNP | 4.66 | 29.5 | 117 | 4.55 | 7.28 | 12.46 |
| Justin Brooks | OL | Tennessee State | 17 | 5.49 | 22 | 102 | 4.93 | 8.27 | DNP |
| LaQuarius Cook | S | Tennessee State | 11 | 4.67 | 29 | 115 | 4.52 | 7.19 | 11.87 |
| Blair Edwards | LB | Tennessee State | 12 | 4.96 | 28.5 | 113 | 4.69 | 7.57 | 12.59 |
| DeVon Johnson | WR | Tennessee State | DNP | 4.65 | 29 | 119 | 4.35 | 7.13 | 11.73 |
NOTE: $ means a top five mark for his position at the NFL Combine, # means a top 10 mark. Results above were only what HERO Sports could find. (*) means declared early for the draft as an underclassman.
