Let’s do a Deep Dive on Pro Day …
1. We all knew about Rondale Moore and Derrick Barnes. But the third player who NFL scouts were asking Purdue coaches the most about was Tyler Coyle.
He arrived prior to last year as a grad transfer from UConn. But Coyle played in just four games (120 defensive snaps) after breaking a foot in camp and missing the first two games.
I am told Coyle helped himself a lot today.
He measure 6-0 1/2, weighed 209. Ran two 40s: 4.36 and 4.46. His vertical was 39 inches. And his 4.00 shuttle was faster than Rondale Moore’s 4.06.
Coyle was miscast at Purdue as a DOG in Bob Diaco’s defense. He should have been a safety, which is where he projects at the next level and where he played at UConn.
Coyle could be a late-round pick but at the least probably has earned a camp invite.
2. Grant Hermanns is in the same boat as Coyle: Possible late pick, but a likely lock to be in a camp as a free agent. He looks the part of an NFL offensive tackle, measuring 6-7.5 and weighing 300. He almost looks slender. He ran two 40s: 5.21 and 5.26 with 4.81 shuttle. He had 26 reps at 225 pounds on the bench.
Whether he makes it or not, we'll see. He’s a good player who probably looks slightly better than he plays. He's a tall tackle. Those are hard to get. But he lacks explosion.
Hermanns is built like former Purdue OT Dave Steinmetz, who is still kicking around the NFL.
Grant Hermanns passes the eyeball test.
3. Another guy who helped himself today was safety Brennan Thieneman.
He measured 6-0 5/8 and weighed 202. He ran a 4.71 40 and a 4.21 shuttle with a 37-inch vertical. He had 14 bench reps. Thieneman could get in a camp, like older brother Jacob did. BTW: The youngest Thieneman may be the best: Dillon, who will be a junior DB at Westfield High.
4. DT Lorenzo Neal measured 6-2 3/8 and weighed 318, his lightest in a long time. He ran a 5.6 40 with a 25.5 vertical. His shuttle was 4.84 and he had 27 bench reps.
Neal is actually a better football player than a “tester.” His positional work looked pretty good, I’m told, but his numbers were descried as average to me.
5. Jacob Thieneman was in attendance along with his mother. Also spotted Oscar Brohm, Grady Eifert and Brandon Brantley.
6. Rondale Moore’s physique look exquisite. As they used to say about former 1980s WBA heavyweight champ Mike Weaver: Moore has muscles in places where other people don’t have places. The same goes for Derrick Barnes. Chiseled.
Derrick Barnes continues to see his stock rise.
7. Aidan O’Connell got a nice opportunity to throw passes today to Rondale Moore. All of those NFL scouts got their eyeballs on the kid. He throws a nice ball.
8. Rondale Moore’s uncle, Gino Rowan, was on hand, along with his trainer, Chris Vaughn.
9. The players ran 40-yard dashes on the outdoor practice field before moving inside for other drills. Am told the surface in the Mollenkopf is considered to be “slow.”
10. Derrick Barnes is a lock to be picked. He excelled in the Senior Bowl and continued today. All of his numbers were described to me as being "good for a linebacker." The 40 was 4.57, vertical 37, shuttle was 4.32, bench press was 29. He could go as high as the fourth round ... but likely a bit later.
Thanks for reading ...
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