Analysis, opinion and observations from Pro Day ...
1. George Karlaftis did enough to maintain his status as a likely first-round pick. Ran the 40-yard dash in the 4.7 range, good shuttle (6.78) and position drills. He isn’t a freaky speed rusher like some in this draft--Oregon's Kayvon Thibodeaux. But Karlaftis is a great all-around anchor-type end who isn't a one-trick pony.
2. David Bell could go mid-to-late second round. But he could easily slide to the third round because his speed isn’t what the NFL wants. He didn't really do much to enhance his stock today (4.68 40), but he got to show off more of his route-running--which was good. And he catches everything.
3. Zander Horvath had a great day. Maybe the best of any Purdue player. The former walk-on may have worked his way from being a priority free-agent to being a late-round selection. He was late for interviews because he was detained in meetings with scouts. Horvath already has the Cowboys, Jets, Falcons and Dolphins sniffing around, among other teams. Expect him to be worked out by several teams in coming weeks. He ran a 4.57 40 and had 31 reps on the bench. The most any running back had at the Combine was 27. And his vertical (35.5) was higher than Jackson Anthrop (31) and Dedrick Mackey (30).
4. While Horvath has an impressive physique, DaMarcus Mitchell isn’t far behind. He looks like an NFL player is supposed to look like. For some reason, he didn’t run a 40-yard dash. But he had a 34-inch vertical and 10-5 broad jump. So explosive and strong. A freak. Will he get picked? Dunno. Some team may fall in love with Mitchell, but his issues always have been off the field. Can he keep it all together? Some team may take that risk. Mitchell already has been worked out by the Patriots and has the Saints coming to work him out soon.
5. Jackson Anthrop could get into a camp. He had a good agility run today. Ran a 4.68 40-yard dash, vertical was 31. He looked OK running routes. He even fielded some punts. His versatility is a plus.
6. Tyler Witt did OK. He had 35 bench reps, re-enforcing his reputation as a team strong man. And his 40 time (5.2) wasn’t brutal for an offensive lineman. He likely will be a free-agent.
7. Aidan O’Connell has another year of eligibility, but he may have turned some heads with scouts at Pro Day. O’Connell threw really well. He no doubt could become a draftable QB in 2023, especially with how he played down the stretch vs. good foes in 2021. He has a tight spiral that is easy to catch. By my count, just one pass hit the ground, and that was an overthrow to Anthrop on a deep-out. O'Connell could be poised for big things. No doubt, scouts took more note today.
8. Players ran 40-yard dashes on the outdoor field north of Kozuch Football Performance Complex. Why? Because it’s believed the outdoor turf is more firm than the turf in Mollenkopf. It was about 32 degrees outside. Still, some players took off their shirts for the dash: Karlaftis, Horvath and Mitchell.
9. At 263 pounds, Karlaftis almost looked thin. He attributed his sleek look to diet and workout from training at Exos in Frisco, Texas. Didn’t look like he had an ounce of fat on him.
10. Jaylan Alexander was solid today. Nothing really stands out physically about Alexander. He will work out for the Bears and Colts at there regional camps. Hard to see him getting drafted. But he should get into a camp.
11. Good to see former Purdue QB Joey Elliott, who is a scout with the Colts. He chatted up Jeff Brohm a lot. Local Bears scout Jeff Shiver was also on hand. A good man.
THANKS for reading!!
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