AP Photo/Michael Conroy
This past Friday the University of Kentucky hosted their annual Pro Day and thirteen former football cats were able to show off their talents. Players went through various drills and workouts such as the vertical jump, shuttle runs and the 10, 20 and 40-yard dash. They also did the bench press and positional drills. 20 scouts representing NFL teams were on hand as well as one scout from an Arena football team.
Former Wildcats that showcased their skills were running backs Jonathan George and Raymond Sanders, fullback Cody Jones, wide receiver Muhammad Saifullah, tight ends Jordan Aumiller and Anthony Kendrick, defensive tackles Mister Cobble and Donte Rumph, linebacker Avery Williamson and punter Joe Mansour. Seniors from the 2012 team who joined the workout were running back CoShik Williams, wide receiver Aaron Boyd and cornerback Cartier Rice.
The players began the morning with the vertical jump and 40-yard dash and shuttle runs before going through their position drills. Some (6) also did the bench press. Fullback Cody Jones, a native of Williamsburg, Ky., posted the best mark on the bench press with 29 repetitions.
A lot of of current players showed up to support their former teammates as did the coaching staff to include head coach Mark Stoops.
"I’m proud of these guys, which is what I’ve said all along,” said Stoops, who is entering his second year as head coach. “It’s a very good group. I love these guys, they put their heart and soul into this program and they really embraced us and the new coaching staff during the change. None of these kids asked for that. It’s never easy for the seniors to come in and deal with a new coaching staff and have to learn a new system, but they’ve been very good, worked hard and I’m very proud of these guys. They are doing very well in representing us the right way."
Avery Williamson has the best chance to get drafted by an NFL team and is back in Lexington after going through the NFL combine last month in Indianapolis, In. Avery only competed in the positional drills as he was happy with his results at the combine. Williamson ran 4.66 seconds in the 40-yard dash, posted the third-best time out of all linebackers with a 20-yard shuttle time of 4.07 seconds, did 25 reps on the bench press and 30.5 inches in the vertical jump. Avery has received positive feedback from NFL scouts and is staying upbeat about his chances in the draft.
Head coach Mark Stoops said that he knows Avery has what it takes to play at the next level.
"It’s no mystery that he’s probably our top prospect,” Stoops said. “He’s done right every minute that he’s been here. I know prior to me being here that he’s done the right thing. He’s always worked hard, set a good attitude and I know since the minute we stepped on campus he’s represented us the right way. He’s a great leader. He does well on the field, off the field and we’re wishing him well."
The NFL draft will be held on the second week of May in New York City. The 1st round will be Thursday, May 8, followed by the 2nd and 3rd rounds on Friday, May 9. The 4 through 7 rounds will be held Saturday, May 10.