March 25, 2009
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Jonathan Mann, Texas Media Relations
Several former Longhorn football players had a chance to showcase their skill sets Wednesday during the 2009 Pro Timing Day. Nearly 100 NFL representatives, along with coaches, former and current players, family and friends, were on hand to observe this year's crop of Texas draft prospects.
The agenda began at 10:30 a.m. in the Dr. Nasser Al-Rashid Strength Complex with the players' arm, hand, height and weight measurements, along with vertical and broad jump testing. Shortly after, the athletes ran the 40-yard dash and the shuttle drill, and took on the 225-pound bench press test. The program then moved to the Indoor Practice Facility for a series of agility and position drills.
As has been the case in past years, NFL personnel came away with high regards for the Pro Timing Day and the Texas Football program in general, thanks to head coach Mack Brown and the rest of the staff.
"It is a first class organization from the top all the way down to the equipment staff and weight room staff," said Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive line coach Todd Wash. "They've all done a great job of welcoming us to the facilities, treating us first class and making it a real smooth Pro Day. We do a lot of different pro days, and this is one of the best-run events I've been to. It makes it very easy for us as coaches."
Pro and college football Hall of Famer Randy White was also one of the many observers on hand. White has been working with former Longhorn WR Quan Cosby to improve his ability to get off the line against press coverage. On Wednesday, the former Dallas Cowboy was impressed by not only his pupil, but the Texas facilities as well.
"They're state-of-the-art, as nice as any place in the whole country," White said. "You couldn't come to a place that has a better facility than they have right here."
After three months of testing and working out since the Longhorns' Fiesta Bowl victory over Ohio State, Wednesday was the culmination of a rigorous training regimen ahead of the late-April NFL draft.
"This is an interview process and you want to impress as many people as you can," said former Texas RB Chris Ogbonnaya. "I took it upon myself to do as well as I could. Me, Quan and everyone else have been standing by each other to make sure that we continue to work and that we prepared hard for today."
The Pro Timing Day participants had the support of several former Longhorns and current NFL players. Minnesota Vikings CB Cedric Griffin, who has teamed up with Oakland Raiders S Michael Huff to help out a few current Longhorn defensive backs, was in attendance on Wednesday.
"We want to make it like a brotherhood," Griffin said of UT's family atmosphere. "We want guys to come back and encourage other guys. We want to continue to have that, and I think as long as coach Brown's here and as long as guys continue to come back, it's going to go on forever."
Numerous current Longhorns were also in attendance to watch and encourage their former teammates, and Pro Timing Day was an opportunity for them to see what lies in store for them in the future.
"I think it gives you a good experience, just watching and learning how the process goes," said QB Colt McCoy. "It's pretty intense. It's a good learning experience. Obviously, all of our goals are to go to the NFL someday, so being able to come watch and support our teammates gives us something to look forward to and lets us know how it works."
"It's nice because you get to kind of see what's going to be expected of you," added WR Jordan Shipley. "You get to see all of the drills they're going to have you do, see all the ways they're going to measure you and stuff like that."
While the potential professionals are understandably preoccupied with the status of their futures, all agree their time spent at Texas has been integral in getting them to the positions in which they stand today.
"That's the thing about coming to Texas, you learn how to work hard and you learn how to do all of the little things," said former Longhorn CB Ryan Palmer. "You learn all the intangibles. That's the way we've been raised and brought up. We've learned to work really hard every day to improve ourselves."
"It's funny, because I came in as a skinny kid just trying to make a name for myself during spring ball," said former Texas DE Brian Orakpo in reference to his arrival on the 40 acres. "I can't say enough how much hard work and dedication I've put in to get to this point in my life. It's definitely a dream come true."
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