Furstenburg is main attraction at Maryland’s pro day

Representatives from 16 NFL teams — including a running backs coach from the Indianapolis Colts — gathered at Maryland’s pro day on March 13, where 12 players worked out outdoors on FieldTurf in temperatures in the mid-40s and in light rain.
Matt Furstenburg, TE (6-foot-3 1/2, 244 pounds) — Furstenburg really ran fast at the NFL Scouting Combine — he was a top performer in his position group in the 40-yard dash, short shuttle and 60-yard shuttle) — so he stood on the numbers posted in Indianapolis in late February. He has three teams coming to see him: San Francisco 49ers, New York Giants and New York Jets.
A.J. Francis, DT (6-5, 309) — Francis ran the 40 in 5.21 and 5.19 seconds. He had a 29-inch vertical jump and a 9-foot-4 broad jump. He did the short shuttle in 4.58 seconds and the three-cone drill in 7.45 seconds. He also performed 24 lifts of 225 pounds on the bench press. Francis is a possible rookie free-agent pickup following the 2013 NFL Draft.
Kenny Tate, OLB (6-3 1/2, 221) — Tate ran the 40 in 4.76 and 4.66 seconds. He had a 33-inch vertical jump. He did the three-cone drill in 7.20 seconds and the short shuttle in 4.34 seconds. He also had 15 strength lifts. Tate was not at the combine, and was worked out as a safety at Maryland’s pro day.

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Patriots work out three Jayhawks following Kansas’ pro day

Representatives from 17 NFL teams gathered at Kansas’ pro day on March 15, where 15 players worked out outdoors on FieldTurf.
Tanner Hawkinson, OT (6-foot-5 3/8, 298 pounds) — Hawkinson kept his numbers from the NFL Scouting Combine, with the exception of the bench press. He did 13 lifts of 225 pounds at Kansas’ pro day. He also did position drills.
Bradley McDougald, FS (6-0 1/4, 211) — McDougald — who was at the combine — ran the 40-yard dash in 4.51 seconds with the wind and 4.52 seconds against the wind. He did the short shuttle in 4.33 seconds. McDougald stood on his combine numbers in the broad jump, three-cone drill and bench press. McDougald had a good positional workout.
Toben “Tobenuchukwu” Opurum, DE (6-1 3/8, 249) — Opurum ran the 40 in 4.59 seconds with the wind and 4.69 seconds against the wind. He had a 34 1/2-inch vertical jump and a 10-foot-4 broad jump. He did the short shuttle in 4.40 seconds and the three-cone drill in 7.28 seconds. He also had 24 lifts on the bench. Opurum worked out at both outside linebacker and fullback at Kansas’ pro day, and is a possible rookie free-agent pickup following the 2013 NFL Draft.
Dayne Crist, QB (6-4 3/8, 239) — Crist ran the 40 in 4.94 seconds with the wind and 5.00 seconds against the wind. He had a 29-inch vertical jump and an 8-foot-11 broad jump. He did the short shuttle in 4.46 seconds and the three-cone drill in 7.48 seconds. He also had 15 strength lifts on the bench press. They said Crist — who transferred to Kansas after three seasons at Notre Dame — looked pretty good in the workout. Kansas head coach Charlie Weis — who coached Crist in South Bend, Ind. — thinks very highly of the quarterback.
Three days after the pro day, the New England Patriots came into Lawrence and worked out Crist, McDougal and Opurum.

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NFL fantasy football: Kevin Kolb joining Bills

Kolb, Bills agree to deal: Add one more name to the Buffalo Bills’ list of QB contenders for 2013 – Kevin Kolb. The former Arizona Cardinals signal-caller agreed to a two-year deal with the Bills Saturday and joins Tarvaris Jackson and Aaron Corp as competitors to begin the season as the No. 1 quarterback. While Kolb’s on-field performance hasn’t been particularly scintillating, the bigger issue has been his health — or lack of it. During his two seasons in the desert, Kolb played just 15 total games. His move to western New York doesn’t move the needle much on his fantasy value … if anything, it’s good for C.J. Spiller and Fred Jackson, who could be leaned upon more heavily.

Hixon gaining interest: As the free agent carousel begins to slow down, some other names are starting to take center stage. Among them is Domenik Hixon, who has drawn some interest from the Oakland Raiders, Cleveland Browns and now the Carolina Panthers. Hixon has spent the vast majority of his career with the New York Giants, never really ascending above the level of a No. 3 or 4 receiving option, but any one of those aforementioned suitors could afford him the opportunity to compete for a No. 2 job. Nonetheless, he remains a No. 3 or 4 option for most fantasy owners.

Gabbert to be ready for OTAs: Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blaine Gabbert is hoping to be ready to go when the team takes the field for workouts with coaches in mid-April after rehabbing from a forearm injury that cost him the final six games of last season. He doesn’t enter the 2013 season with much fantasy value, but with a QB competition looming, the more reps he can take, the better his chances to hold on to the starting job.

– Marcas Grant
Follow Marcas on Twitter @MarcasG

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Speedy Lewis stands out at Alcorn State Pro Day

No players from Alcorn State were at the 2013 NFL Scouting Combine, but two NFL teams showed up for the school’s pro day on March 4. Eleven players worked out on a 65-degree day with 15-20 mph winds.
Terrance Lewis WR/KR (5-8¼”, 162 pounds) — Lewis, a return specialist, posted times of 4.34 (with wind) and 4.46 (against wind) in the 40, did a 34-inch vertical, a 10-foot-1 inch broad jump, 4.37 short-shuttle, 7.52 three-cone, and 12 reps on the bench press.

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Scouts brave the cold at Richmond Pro Day

 

The weather was crisp — about 35 degrees — for Richmond’s outdoor pro day on March 19. Scouts from 20 NFL teams braved the cold to watch seven players work out. Nobody there that had gone to combine, but there were three players of note:
Kevin Finney TE (6-5¾”, 243 pounds) — Finney ran a 4.93 and 4.99, did a 30-inch vertical, a 9-foot-2 broad jump, 4.56 short shuttle and 7.49 three-cone. he did no bench presses and no positional workout.
Kendall Gaskins FB (6″, 226 pounds) — Gaskins ran 4.70 and 4.76, did 34 in the vertical, 9-foot-10 in the broad jump, 4.49 in the short shuttle, 7.32 in the three-cone, 20 reps on the bench press, and did a positional workout.
Cooper Taylor S (6-4¾”, 228 pounds) — Taylor ran 4.58 and 4.49, did 36½” in the vertical, 10-foot-7 in the broad jump, 4.29 in the short-shuttle, 6.96 in the three-cone and 23 reps on the bench press.
The coaches worked Taylor out as a linebacker. His official position will be strong safety, but he’s one of those guys who could possibly bulk up and play outside linebacker. Reminiscent of Kam Chancellor of the Seattle Seahawks.

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Martin the sole attraction at North Dakota State

Only one player worked out at North Dakota State’s pro day on March 4 — cornerback Andre’ Martin Jr. Only two NFL teams were there to watch the workout, held indoors on FieldTurf, but Martin has already had visits with four NFL teams.
Andre’ Martin Jr. CB (5-10¼”, 193 pounds) — Martin ran 4.46 and 4.49 40s, did a 35½” vertical, 9-foot-10 broad jump, 4.28 short-shuttle, 6.94 three-cone and 17 reps on the bench press.

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Louisville Pro Day draws 20 NFL teams

Twenty NFL teams sent representatives to Louisville’s pro day on March 19, where eight players worked out indoors on FieldTurf.
Here are snapshots of two standouts:
Adrian Bushell CB (5-9, 190 pounds) — Although Bushel participated at the 2013 NFL Scouting Combine, he did everything again at his pro day. He ran 4.53 and 4.57 in the 40-yard dash, posted a 36-inch vertical jump and 10-foot, 1-inch broad jump, did the short shuttle in 4.36 seconds and the three-cone in 6.93. Bushell had a good overall workout as a defensive back.
Andrell Smith WR (6-2¾”, 213 pounds) — Smith was not at the combine. He ran 4.61 and 4.63 in the 40, did a 38-inch vertical and a 10-foot-7 broad jump, posted 4.31 in the short-shuttle and 6.97 in the three-cone, and recorded 13 strength reps on the bench press. His arms are long at 34″ and he did a good job catching the ball.

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