Texas Pro Day draws crowd, despite 7-6 season

AUSTIN, Texas -- The University of Texas had its Pro Day on Wednesday and it was a hot ticket, with all 32 NFL teams represented. The thirst for information was high, perhaps too high, for a combined group of players leaving a team that went 7-6 in 2017 and earned its first bowl game in three seasons. But if there was any real news to come out of the event, it had to be gleaned from the comments of those 16 players who participated in the workout and not from eyewitness accounts. The media -- as well as family members and agents -- were limited to watching the event from the far end of the Longhorns' indoor practice facility, about 70 yards from where the action was going on. There's no secret that Texas produces great players, even in years when the team fails to achieve overall success. And that was part of the draw on Wednesday. Six of the 16 players who were involved in the workouts on Wednesday -- which included weight room weigh-ins, bench press, vertical jump and broad jump, 40-yard dash, 60-yard shuttle and position workouts -- participated in the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis last month. Of that group, linebacker Malik Jefferson, offensive lineman Connor Williams, cornerback Holton Hill and punter Michael Dickson shined the brightest, while safety DeShon Elliott and running back Chris Warren III also turned plenty of heads. Ten others from Texas' team from the last two years joined that six-pack of players on Wednesday: defensive tackle Poona Ford, linebacker-tight end Caleb Bluiett, offensive linemen Terrell Cuney and Tristan Nickelson, defensive backs Antwuan Davis and Jason Hall, linebacker-defensive end Naashon Hughes, and wide receivers Armanti Foreman, Lorenzo Joe, and Dorian Leonard. Of all the players not invited to the combine, Ford has received the most attention. He was the Big 12 Conference's Defensive Lineman of the Year, and showed those kudos were legit with dominant performances in both the East-West Shrine Game and the Senior Bowl. On Wednesday, Ford -- who goes at 5-foot-11 and around 300 pounds -- made the most of his time in the spotlight, producing a 9-foot, 3-inch broad jump and a 7.4-seconds time in the three-cone shuttle that would have been among top five of all defensive tackles at the combine. Texas coach Tom Herman emphasized the importance of Ford throughout the 2017 season and reiterated that thinking as the Longhorns began spring drills last week. "Poona, as I've said numerous times last year, is probably one of the hardest practicing defensive lineman I've ever seen," Herman said. "Obviously it showed on game day. Why he wasn't invited to the combine I'll never know. He's the DL of the Year in our conference. He's a team captain, and a guy that's had unbelievable production." NFLDraftScout.com ranks Ford as the 19th-best defensive tackle prospect in the draft and projects that he will be taken in the sixth round. Williams, one of the few players to speak to the media after the drills, is a likely first-round pick and has been projected by NFL Network analysts to play tackle, guard or even center. He wants to play between 300-305 pounds in the NFL. NFLDraftScout.com ranks Williams as the No. 1 offensive tackle prospect in the draft and the 24th-best prospect overall. Rob Rang and Dane Brugler, both of NFLDraftScout.com, project Williams to be taken with the 24th pick by the Carolina Panthers in their mock drafts. "Wherever a team needs me, I'll be willing to play," said the 6-5 Williams, who weighed in at 298 pounds on Wednesday. "I firmly believe I'm the best offensive lineman in this class." Another standout performance on Wednesday came from Davis, a little-used safety last season who excelled when pushed into the lineup by injuries. It was reported, unofficially, that Davis, a 6-1, 200-pound former prep track star, ran a 4.46-second 40-yard dash on Wednesday. He jogged over to tell his dad he put up 28 reps on the bench press set to 250 pounds. Davontae Harris of Illinois State led defensive backs at the combine with 22 reps on the bench.