Randolph, others, helped themselves at Vols Pro Day
Tennessee’s Pro Day wasn't the kind of star-studded affair it has been on past occasions or will be in the coming years but the Vols had several former players who appeared to greatly enhance their NFL prospects with Wednesday performances.
Brian Randolph, Owen Williams and Marquez North all turned heads today and will likely see their stock enhanced noticeably.
Randolph answered any questions scouts had about having the speed to play safety at the next level, going sub-4.5 (4.47 and 4.42) in both of his attempts on Wednesday.
He may have been even more impressive in the weight room where he threw up 32 reps of 225 pounds, a huge number for a safety, especially one that paired that up with a couple of 40-yard dash times in the 4.4 range.
For Randolph, who has heard plenty of questions about his speed, it was exactly the kind of day he’d been hoping and training for. He delivered on the predictions he made for his performance on Tuesday.
“I told you all I was going to get that 4.4 and do thirty reps and that's what happened,” a very pleased Randolph said after the workout.
“I have never lacked speed or strength. I have just lacked hype. I don't like to talk too much till it's time. I gave you a little preview yesterday and had to back it up today.”
Randolph added that throughout the evaluation process the issue of his speed has continued to come up consistently with NFL-types. It seems safe to say that he answered any and all questions on that front today, something that he was more than a little happy about.
“They want to see speed. I tried to tell them. I don't know where they were getting numbers from. It's non-sense. I was hearing stuff like 4.7. Golly, I didn't run a 4.7 in 5th grade. I don't know how I'm going to do it now. I'm glad I got to prove that wrong,” he said after a day that will likely pay huge dividends for him down the road.
“I was having fun today. I didn't feel any pressure. I was suppose to run a 4.7. I don't think could get much worse than that. I probably could have backpedaled 4.7. There was no pressure. It was just fun.”
North’s decision to leave the program a year early and test the draft waters was a head-scratching move to many observers. He battled injuries all throughout 2015, playing sparingly in just seven games. He finished the year with just six catches for 58 yards and never seemed to regain the form that made him look like a potential star after his freshman season.
After announcing that he was foregoing his final season of eligibility North snagged an invite to the NFL combine last month where he measured in at 6-2, 223 pounds and put his name on some draft boards by running a 4.49 40-yard dash.
With that combine time, North had no reason to run on Wednesday and had even been advised not to. He threw caution to the wind though and bettered his previous times with a 4.42 and a 4.41, surprising many, but not himself.
“I was really happy with my times, I had confidence in myself to go ahead and run it again. I felt like I could improve just a little bit, which I did and that’s all that matters,” North said of his times and decision to run.
“I wanted to do it again just because I felt like I could do better. I’m pretty happy with it.”
North’s decision to leave early now looks more defensible than it did in January, when few gave him a chance to be a sought after NFL prospect.
He didn’t greatly elaborate on the decision today, but increasingly feels as though he made the right call.
“I just felt like it was the right decision for me after looking at everything,” North said. “It wasn’t a lot of specifics, that’s just the way I felt.”
Williams may have had the most eye-catching day of anyone.
He did an incredible 42 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press in a year where no one did more than 34 at the NFL combine.
That was impressive, but not entirely surprising to see from Williams, who’s been the strongest player on the team since he arrived on campus as a junior college transfer.
What was more than a little surprising was Williams’ breaking 5.0 in the 40-yard dash, turning in a 4.95.
That number put a huge smile on his face.
“That was great, that was all I was shooting for, I knew I would probably have a good day lifting, but I’ve really been focused on my 40-time,” Williams said. “I wanted to go under 5.0, that was my goal, so that was huge for me.”
Williams added that he’d already gotten some extremely positive feedback from scouts after his work today.
“It’s a blessing, I’m just working hard, trying to show people what I can do and hopefully it works out and I get a chance,” Williams said after what was an excellent day for him.
ELLIS HOPING TO GET NOTICED
One of the more intriguing prospects at Tennessee's pro day was tight end/h-back Alex Ellis. Weighing in at 253 pounds, Ellis had a 10'1” broad jump and vertical jumped 34.5 inches. Ellis ran a 4.58 and is hoping his versatility to go with his measurables will give him a chance.
"I'm a man of many traits,” Ellis said. “I can do anything. I can go in the backfield and do h-back, I can do back-side tight end, front-side tight end, I can run routes and catch the ball. Whatever you need me to do that's what I can bring to the table. I can do anything.
"Free agency is where I'm looking. All I need is a chance so that's all I'm looking for."
OTHER NOTABLE NUMBERS
Versatile offensive lineman Kyler Kerbyson benched 225, 32 times and ran 5.3 in the forty.
Walk-on Max Arnold had the best overall numbers. Arnold ran a 4.4-40, broad jumped 10-1, vertical jumped 36 inches which was he best of anyone. Arnold also had the best shuttle times of anyone as well.
Pig Howard ran a 4.56 weighing in at 184 pounds. Fellow receiver Von Pearson ran a 4.8 and Chris Weathered had a 4.8.