Today was supposed to be Chase Edmonds' exclamation mark day after an impressive NFL Combine, but he mostly stood on his impressive combine showing and then another guy stole the spotlight on the first day of FCS Pro Days — the two-time all Ivy League linebacker out of Yale, Foyesade Oluokun
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Oluokun, who stands 6-foot-2, 229 pounds at linebacker for the defending Ivy League champions, posted times in the 40-yard dash and the 20-yard shuttle that would have been elite in the NFL Combine for linebackers. His 40-yard dash time of 4.56 seconds would have been sixth best. Oluokun's 20-yard shuttle time — which measures quickness and change of direction — was 4.12 seconds and would have placed second with linebackers only behind Clemson's Dorian O'Daniel (4.07).
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Both Oluokun's vertical jump of 37 inches (would have been 6th at combine for LBs) and his broad jump of 10 feet, 3 inches (tied for 4th) would also have been Top 10 marks. Not only was he the talk of the Pro Day held at Columbia's indoor facility, he would have turned heads in Indianapolis, too. Host Columbia University reported that 20 NFL teams and 33 total scouts were on hand for the Pro Day, which several attended because of the snowstorm hitting the New York City area currently.
"Nine teams have reached out in the past three hours," agent Evan Brennan told HERO Sports after the Pro Day.
It was @dylancole31 last year, but now I have another sleeper client in @foyelicious LB for @Yale
6-1, 230
4.48 40
37 vert
10 – 3 broad
4.12 shuttleMy phone is gonna detonate!
Congrats Foye! @LandowPerform strikes again! pic.twitter.com/RiZvzHxgUS— Evan Brennan (@brennansports) March 8, 2018
Athletes from Fordham, host Columbia, Colgate, Cornell and Bryant were also on hand for the Pro Day. While Edmonds mostly stood on his combine numbers and worked on showing scouts he could work from the slot position during position drills, Fordham offensive lineman Anthony Coyle recorded 30 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press (would have tied for fifth at the NFL Combine for O-lineman), while Columbia DB Cam Roane went 4.42 seconds in the 40-yard dash, 19 in the bench press, 39 inches in the vertical jump, and 130 inches in the broad jump — all four of which would have been a Top 10 performance at the NFL Combine for a cornerback.
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Colgate DE Pat Afriyie, one of the most productive defensive players in the Patriot League during his four years, had a rock solid Pro Day at Columbia with a 4.81 time in the 40, a 33-inch vertical, a 10'2" showing in the broad jump and showed, in general, that he'll be earning a second look. Afriyie's marks in the vertical and broad jump would have been Top 10 performances at the NFL Combine for D-ends/edge.
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At Alabama State's Pro Day that went a bit late on Thursday, defensive back Ronnie Scott had the big day. The cornerback posted a 41-inch vertical jump, which would have been the top mark for a cornerback at the NFL Combine by half an inch. He also ran a 4.38-second time in the 40 (Top 10 time for CBs in the combine). Scott began his college career at Florida Atlantic before transferring to Alabama State in 2016 and starting two years with the Hornets. An explosive playmaker in the secondary, in 2017 he had 3 INTs and 162 return yards on those three picks. For his two year career at Alabama State, he had 62 tackles, 7 TFLs, 6 INTs and 18 passes broken up.
Scott's ASU teammate, WR/KR Willis White, also put in an impressive performance by posting a 4.40-second time in the 40-yard dash, while also going 39 inches in the vertical and 10'5" in the broad jump — all three would have been Top 10 combine marks. White, a former junior college player who transferred to Alabama State, is originally from south Florida, and he certainly impressed. His DL teammate Daniel McGhie posted 28 reps on the bench press.
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At Samford's Pro Day in Alabama, the Bulldogs worked out in front of 22 NFL Scouts and 2 CFL Scouts. Eight Samford players took part. Samford's LB Deion Pierre, LB Shaheed Salmon, DB Omari Williams and DT Ke'Tyrus Marks posted some of the top results.
Unofficially, Pierre had a 38.5-inch vertical jump (38.5 was 4th among LBs at the NFL Combine) and a 10-foot, 5-inch broad jump (also 4th at the combine). Both marks — should they hold up as official — would have put Pierre in the top five in the combine for linebackers. Marks led all Samford players in the bench press, with 22 reps of 225 pounds. Williams ran a 4.56 40-yard dash, while Salmon finished the event in 4.68. Salmon also ran the 20-yard dash in 2.71, while Williams ran the race in 2.72. Alabama A&M players also participated, but results were unavailable.
"These coaches really prepared me for anything,” Pierre said in a statement afterwards. “The game of football prepares you for all things in life. I kind of had to step back from football to experience that. I’m so grateful for everything football and these coaches put in our lives just to get us ready for this moment.”