After numerous showcase games, workouts and interviews, all that’s left for Auburn’s 2013 NFL Draft prospects is to wait. Auburn’s Pro Day is over. With scouts from nearly every team on hand to scrutinize and speculate, former Auburn athletes worked to prove they belong with the elite. Here’s a breakdown of the top performers and the unofficial event results.
Onterio McCalebb
McCalebb might have benefited the most from the extra publicity provided by Pro Day. He continued to run blistering — if unofficial — 40 yard dashes with his fastest being unofficially clocked at 4.29 seconds. Scouts who buy into game film more than drills can see his productivity if plugged into the right system. For those looking for workout warriors, McCalebb did not disappoint. While the main knock on McCalebb is his seemingly frail 168-pound frame, he completed 10 reps in the bench press — seven more than 313-pound guard John Sullen — showing that he has the upper body strength to take a hit. McCalebb’s only falter came in receiving drills. Teams willing to buy into his speed must know if he can also catch the ball out of the backfield, and McCalebb dropped two passes early. However, once in a rhythm, McCalebb looked fluid coming out of routes.
Philip Lutzenkirchen
It was a tough day for Lutzenkirchen. Still only four months removed from hip surgery, Lutzenkirchen said he was still about two months away from being back to 100 percent. Still, Lutz’s workout showed his tenacity and work ethic if anything. Intangibles are all the rage in the locker rooms of the NFL elite. Sure, his 4.96 second 40 didn’t turn any heads, but Lutzenkirchen was right when he said he’s “never going to be a blazer” and that he’s more of a “tape guy.” Lutzenkirchen also ran a 4.27 20-yard shuttle which would have ranked second among all tight ends at the NFL Combine. That combined with his receiving skills and the news that teams will be mostly watching his junior tape bodes well for a team taking a shot on the 6-foot-3, 258-pound playmaker.
Corey Lemonier
Lemonier decided to stand pat on his combine results and only participated in linebacker drills with former teammate Jonathan Evans. Lemonier said afterwards that his goal was to prove he can move like a linebacker, and he’s committed to being prepared for possibly playing outside linebacker in the NFL. Lemonier looked fluid in the footwork and reaction drills. Lemonier is also a high motor player, and he tried to show that by going all out in the drills. It’s unclear whether or not the decision to not compete in the 40, the bench press or the other drills will hurt his stock, but he still remains a candidate to go anywhere in the first three rounds.
Emory Blake
In addition to a solid workout, Blake had a ringing endorsement from the man throwing him passes on Pro Day: his father and former NFL quarterback Jeff Blake. Emory Blake ran another sluggish 40, clocking in at 4.62 seconds. And yet, his vertical and broad jumps were second only to McCalebb. Blake also looked natural catching the ball, although his routes could have been more precise. The 6-foot-3-inch wideout may lack premiere speed, but with his hands and experience, Blake could have earned himself a late round selection as a possession receiver.
A.J. Greene
Of all the Pro Day participants who weren't on the team last season, Greene might have helped himself the most. Greene opted to skip workouts last year, but was still signed by the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent. After being cut right before the start of the season, Greene is once again trying to make a roster. He posted a respectable 25 reps in the bench press and looked powerful at the point of attack in lineman drills. Although he ran a 5.35 40, that time isn't far off the 5.3 posted at the combine by Luke Joeckel, a consensus candidate for the No. 1 overall pick. One year later and one year wiser, Greene may have earned himself another training camp and another shot at the 53-man roster.
All results:
40-yard dash (all times unofficial):
Onterio McCalebb, 4.29 seconds
Travante Stallworth, 4.48
Daren Bates, 4.53
DeAngelo Benton, 4.56
Nate Taylor, 4.59
Emory Blake, 4.62
T'Sharvan Bell, 4.64
Jonathan Evans, 4.71
Philip Lutzenkirchen, 4.94
A.J. Greene, 5.35
John Sullen, 5.72
Bench press:
A.J. Greene, 25 reps
Daren Bates, 15
Jonathan Evans, 14
Travante Stallworth, 13
Onterio McCalebb, 10
Nate Taylor, 8
T'Sharvan Bell, 7
DeAngelo Benton, 7
John Sullen, 3
Vertical jump:
Onterio McCalebb, 37 inches
Emory Blake, 36 1/2
Travante Stallworth, 35 1/2
Daren Bates, 33 1/2
Philip Lutzenkirchen, 32
John Sullen, 26 1/2
Broad jump:
Onterio McCalebb, 10-feet, 1-inch
Emory Blake, 10 feet
Daren Bates, 9-feet, 9-inches
Travante Stallworth, 9-feet, 9-inches
Philip Lutzenkirchen, 9-feet, 4-inches
A.J. Greene, 8-feet, 7-inch
John Sullen, 7-feet, 9-inch
20-yard shuttle
Onterio McCalebb, 4.23 seconds
Travante Stallworth, 4.33
Daren Bates, 4.68
DeAngelo Benton, 4.41
Nate Taylor, 4.17
Emory Blake, 4.24
T'Sharvan Bell, 4.10
Jonathan Evans, 4.45
Philip Lutzenkirchen, 4.27
A.J. Greene, 4.53
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