Personnel from 27 NFL teams and two CFL teams were in attendance on Wednesday.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Seventeen former Vols showcased their skills at Tennessee’s annual Pro Day on Wednesday at the Neyland-Thompson Sports Complex indoor field and weight room.
Tennessee’s 2016 Pro Day participants included Ralph David Abernathy IV, Max Arnold, Alex Ellis, Matt Giampapa, Jacob Gilliam, Pig Howard, Marcus Jackson, Johnathon Johnson, Kerbyson, Curt Maggitt, LaDarrell McNeil, Marquez North, Von Pearson, Brian Randolph, Trevarris Saulsberry, Chris Weatherd and Owen Williams.
All of the time marks in this report are unofficial.
Randolph enjoyed a very impressive Pro Day, starting with 31 reps in the 225-pound bench press, which would have ranked first among all safeties at the 2016 NFL Combine and tied for seventh among all players. Randolph clocked the fastest 40-yard dash time of the day at 4.40, which would have been second among all safeties and tied for 10th among all players at the NFL Combine.
North improved on the strong 4.48 40-yard dash he ran at the NFL Combine, clocking a 4.42 on Wednesday. That time would have tied for third among all receivers at the combine.
Kerbyson also had impressive performances in all of his events. He started the day with 32 reps in the 225-pound bench press, a mark that would have tied for third among offensive linemen and tied for fourth among all players at the NFL Combine.
Williams displayed his great strength with an incredible 42 reps in the 225-pound bench press. That mark would have been the top mark at the 2016 NFL Combine. The NFL Combine record is 49 reps, set by Oregon State’s Stephen Paea in 2011.
Ellis was clocked at 4.58 in the 40-yard dash, which would have led all tight ends at the 2016 NFL Combine. His 20 reps on the 225-pound bench press would have tied for third and his 10’1″ broad jump would have tied for second among tight ends at the NFL Combine.
Arnold’s 4.06 20-yard shuttle time would have tied for eighth among defensive backs at the 2016 NFL Combine and his 11.10 60-yard shuttle would have tied for fourth.
Brian Randolph | Defensive Back
“They want to see speed. I tried to tell them, I don’t know where they got the numbers from but it was a bunch of nonsense, to be exact. I was hearing (a projected) 4.70 (on the 40). I was like, ‘Golly, I never ran a 4.70 in fifth grade. I don’t know how I’m going to do it now.’ So I’m glad I proved that one wrong.”
“I like to say I’m the strongest in the weight room, but Owen (Williams) got me (in the bench press). I didn’t know about 42 reps. I was surpised at that. But I’ve always been strong and I’ve been working out since I was a little kid. God blessed me with the strength of Samson, that’s why I don’t cut my hair any more.”
Kyler Kerbyson | Offensive Lineman
“It’s a little weird, but you have to go into it like an interview for a job. A lot of people don’t realize when they come in as freshmen that one day you’re going to leave, and you’re going to have to figure out what you’re going to do with your life. You’ve got to be ready for those scenarios where you’re going to have to impress somebody, either in the board room or out on the field. I think this program is really what got me there and what taught me how to be a professional.”
Reggie McKenzie | GM | Oakland Raiders
“It’s always good to, number one, come back to this place and see what we got. It really doesn’t matter, first-round, second-round type talent, or free agent talent. Back in 1985, I would have been one of those free agents. Everybody is trying to ask questions about if there are any first rounders. It really doesn’t matter. These guys gave it their all, and they showed some good stuff today. That was all we were wanting to see. They competed, and it was a good showing.”
Marquez North | Wide Receiver
“Tennessee is a prestigious and traditional program. It would be great to see a couple of us, or all of us, get drafted.”
Alex Ellis | Tight End
“I mean I have been here every day at 8:30 in the morning. Out here on the field until 9 o’clock at night training sometimes. I like a little bit of over training. Coach Miles keeps on me about keeping my body rested and I listen to him, but I like to work. I have my brothers on my back every day asking me how much I did and they are always competing with me so I’m trying to beat them out. They are older then me so the young buck has to carry on.”
Jacob Gilliam | Offensive Lineman
“I had surgery in February and by August I started lifting and running and I was on the field by December. I was working twice a day to get my knee healthy and it felt good so I just tried to get as fast as possible. This was actually a lot of fun because I really enjoyed being out with everyone and running again.”
SOUND BITES
Oakland Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie
(On what he looks for as a GM)
“I want to find a player. I could care less if it’s a long snapper, a top-notch quarterback or a game-breaking pass rusher. It doesn’t matter to me. I just want to find anybody that can help my football team.”
Defensive back Brian Randolph
(On drawing inspiration from VFL and current New England Patriots DB Justin Coleman)
“I hope that teams see that they made a mistake on Justin Coleman. I’ve been training with him for four years and I already knew how good he was. So hopefully he opened some eyes and (NFL teams) won’t let another athlete from Tennessee fall through the cracks like he did.”
Tight end Alex Ellis
(On his mentality entering Pro Day)
“I came out here thinking I have to prove myself in everything. Coming from our last game that was a break out game for me even though it was the last one. Hopefully I put up the numbers to interest people. If it catches someones attention I just need one chance.”
Offensive lineman Kyler Kerbyson
(On this draft class starting a new streak of drafted players for Tennessee)
“It’d be nice. We want to be seen as one of those teams that’s feeding the NFL. There’s a lot of players in the NFL now that are from Tennessee, and they wear it with pride. We want to be seen as one of those feeder teams to the NFL, and a great place for people to go and have a long career there.”