Maryland Welcomes 30 NFL Teams for Pro Day
3/28/2018 12:00:00 AM | Football
COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Maryland football held its annual Pro Day on Wednesday afternoon inside Cole Field House. Nineteen former Terrapins showcased their talents in front of 46 National Football League personnel representing 30 different teams.
The Pro Day participants took part in weight room drills, the 40-yard dash, vertical and broad jumps, three-cone drill and several position-specific workouts.
Having participated in the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis in February, wide receiver DJ Moore and defensive back JC Jackson mainly concentrated on position-specific workouts. Both were extremely excited to be back on campus.
"Here is just home so it's more comfortable,” said Moore after the drills concluded. “You had everybody back under one roof, so that was a positive thing but you still had to show up and show out."
Moore, who ran the fifth fastest 40-yard dash amongst receivers at the NFL combine with a 4.42, caught passes from former Terp quarterback and current graduate assistant coach Caleb Rowe. Moore also fielded punts for the scouts in attendance. The 2017 Big Ten Receiver of the Year is projected by most to be a first or second round draft pick.
Jackson participated in the three-cone drill and worked out with the defensive backs during position drills. After performing well in Indy, today was another chance to prove himself. "It went pretty well today,” Jackson said. “I'm just happy to have the opportunity to come back to my own school that made me who I am today."
Jackson, who ran a 4.46 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, is projected to be a third or fourth round pick.
Other Terps that participated at Pro Day from this past year's team included defensive back Josh Bekoe, linebacker Jalen Brooks, defensive lineman Chandler Burkett, linebacker Jermaine Carter, Jr., linebacker Shane Cockerille, defensive back Denzel Conyers, kicker Adam Greene, tight end Derrick Hayward, defensive lineman Kingsley Opara, defensive back Marcus Smith, wide receiver Jacquille Veii, defensive lineman Cavon Walker and defensive back Josh Woods.
Players will now have the opportunity to attend NFL team's local Pro Days as well as meet with teams on an individual basis.
The 2018 NFL Draft is set for April 26-28 and will be held at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Pro Day - Quotes
WR -- DJ Moore
On what kind of feedback he's hearing from NFL scouts:
"In terms of improving, just coming out of my breaks quicker. As far as round wise, they don't really talk about that. They just tell me I'm a great player and my ceiling is high."
On how it makes him feel that a lot of draft experts are projecting him to go early:
"On the inside it feels great, but on the outside you still have to be humble and continue to work hard on and off the field just to get better at your craft."
On what it would be like to play for the Ravens or Redskins:
"It would be an amazing experience on both ends, with the Redskins and the Baltimore Ravens. With the Ravens, a lot of Ravens fans have been hitting me up on twitter.”
DB -- JC Jackson
On how he is physically:
"Right now I'm healthy. Everything is looking good. I met with a lot of doctors at the combine. I'm just taking it one day at a time and getting better and staying in shape."
On how going against DJ Moore at practice every day has prepared him:
"He made me who I am today. We made each other better. Every day in practice, DJ and I we were going at it. I would call him out and he would call me out and we would compete."
On how important the combine and pro day are to him:
"I feel like the combine and pro day are really important for me, that's why I put my all into it. I worked out and did what I had to do so that I could showcase my talents to the teams, because I only played two years of football here. But I feel like I did well though."
-MARYLAND-
