Florida Pro Day

**DaKCMan AP** · 03-19-2009, 07:28 AM

Harvin shines at Florida's pro day

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) - Percy Harvin gave NFL coaches and scouts another look at his ability and durability Wednesday, running routes, catching passes and doing anything asked of him at Florida's annual pro day.

Harvin was clearly the main attraction, overshadowing fellow receiver Louis Murphy, tight end Cornelius Ingram, offensive tackles Jason Watkins and Phil Trautwein and a few others trying to improve their status heading into next month's NFL draft.

"All he did was confirm what you already know, which is he's an explosive athlete and once the ball's in his hands he's got a chance to score from anywhere on the field," Jacksonville Jaguars receivers coach Todd Monken said.

Harvin covered 10 feet, 3 inches in the broad jump, leapt 37 inches in the vertical jump and benched 225 pounds 22 times. He hurried through some shuttle runs and looked as fluid as ever in on-the-field drills.

Maybe most importantly, Harvin was healthy for it all.

The 5-foot-11, 195-pound speedster missed five games in three years because of injury and was limited in several more, an issue that could keep him from being a top-10 selection in the draft.

"Most of the time when I got hurt, I was at running back and falling into piles and getting tweaked up," Harvin said.

NFL teams don't quite see it the same way, especially when they're considering guaranteeing millions to a first-round pick.

"Anybody who has a history of being injured, there's a concern," Monken said. "It doesn't matter who it is, if there's a history of injury, a history of not practicing, a history of off-the-field issues, a history of instability — whatever that may be — there's a concern there because you've got to have a guy go and produce when you take him as high as he's capable of going in the draft."

Harvin could be the third receiver taken in the first round, behind Texas Tech's Michael Crabtree and Missouri's Jeremy Maclin. Harvin believes he's as good, if not better than, both of them. He scoffs at those durability questions and points to his versatility.

Harvin finished his college career with 133 receptions for 1,929 yards and 13 touchdowns, and 194 carries for 1,852 yards and 19 scores. He averaged 9.5 yards per carry and 11.6 yards every time he touched the ball.

He was at his best in big games, earning MVP honors in the 2006 Southeastern Conference championship game and totaling 171 yards and a touchdown in a victory over Oklahoma in the Bowl Championship Series national title game in January.

He lined up at receiver, running back and quarterback for the Gators, but expects to do even more at the next level because several teams already have talked to him about returning kickoffs and punts.

"If you take a guy like Percy, you've got to find a way to get him the ball," Monken said. "He's got to be a returner because he's got a chance to change the game."

Harvin has a workout lined up with the New York Giants on Thursday that includes only special teams drills, and then has visits scheduled with Baltimore, Miami, Minnesota, the New York Jets and several others before the end of the month.

It's like a season of recruiting trips rolled into two weeks, but with a twist.
"It's recruiting with them checking all your injuries and pulling and tugging," Harvin said. "You go to one doctor, then go to another doctor and another. It's a whole 'nother level."

Harvin's injury list includes heel surgery, ankle injuries, migraine headaches, a concussion, a hip pointer, tendinitis in his Achilles' tendon and tendinitis in his knee.

When healthy, though, he's typically been the best player on the field.
He handles direct snaps, takes option pitches the distance, catches passes in traffic, finds running lanes and often turns negative plays into big gains.

"There are no questions about Percy," Florida coach Urban Meyer said. "Does he get injured once in a while because he's a reckless football player? Yeah. There's a lot of players that run out of bounds. Percy's as good as I've ever seen coming through tackles, and he's reckless and he's only 195 pounds. There are no questions about him."

If there are any, Harvin welcomed them.

"I've dealt with adversity my whole life, so there's nothing I can't handle at the next level," Harvin said. "People who don't go through things, when they get older, it hits them and they don't know how to handle it. I feel like I've been through pretty much everything, so there's nothing I can't handle right now."

http://msn.foxsports.com/cfb/story/9...da%27s-pro-day

**DaKCMan AP** · 03-19-2009, 07:30 AM

Ingram looks sharp at Florida's pro day

Tight end runs a 4.5 40 and doesn't drop a pass.

By Michael DiRocco
Story updated at 8:34 AM on Thursday, Mar. 19, 2009

GAINESVILLE - Cornelius Ingram showed NFL teams his surgically repaired left knee was fine at the scouting combine in February. He added an I-told-you-so on Wednesday.

Ingram had an impressive workout at Florida Field during UF's annual pro scout day. The 6-foot-4, 246-pounder ran the 40-yard dash, participated in agility drills, and then put on a show during pass-catching drills in front of 53 NFL scouts and coaches representing more than half the league's 32 teams.

"I was a lot more relaxed than I was at the combine, but at the same time, I just focused in and kind of got going early, and I felt good throughout," Ingram said.

The former Florida standout ran a 4.5 40 and did not drop a pass. He also made a leaping catch on a seam route and made another leaping catch and got both feet in bounds near the sideline. Both catches drew applause from spectators and showed he is not suffering any lingering effects from the torn anterior cruciate ligament that derailed his redshirt senior season.
"Going into the combine, I was thinking about it [his knee] a lot more, but today I totally relaxed and just came out like anything didn't happen," he said. "I didn't feel anything. I felt good throughout the day. The knee's fine.

"I think they [NFL personnel] knew I was a pretty good athlete and I could play football. They just wanted to make sure my knee was healthy, and I think I showed it to them today."

The only time there was a question about his knee was late in the pass-catching drills. Ingram appeared to stumble as he came out of a break and landed awkwardly as he caught a pass. Ingram said he just got ahead of himself.

"I think I was thinking I was Percy [Harvin] and Murph [Louis Murphy]," Ingram joked. "I was trying to go at it real hard. I'm 246, so I can't really do it as quick as they did. I didn't feel anything. That's why I got right back up and ran it again."

Ingram caught 64 passes for 888 yards and eight touchdowns in 2006 and 2007 and decided to return for his redshirt senior season in order to improve his potential draft status. He suffered a torn ACL in his left knee on the second day of fall practice, and the non-contact injury kept him off the field the entire season.

Now Ingram has to prove to NFL teams that he can play tight end. He was used more as a slot receiver in 2006 and 2007, and teams have only tape of 2008 spring practices, with Ingram working closer to the tackle as more of a true tight end. That makes it harder to project Ingram's future, Jaguars offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter said.

"There's no question the guy is a smooth athlete, and that's what we're here to confirm today," Koetter said. "Position switch plus the injury is going to be the question on him, but I say that in a good way. I think the guy's got a lot of upside."

Ingram has individual workouts with Miami, Philadelphia, Seattle and Baltimore next week. Former UF co-defensive coordinator Greg Mattison is on the Ravens' staff, so that helps in terms of evaluation. Ingram has a huge booster in agent Drew Rosenhaus. Rosenhaus has a good track record of handling draft picks with knee problems. He turned Willis McGahee into a first-round pick just three months after McGahee suffered three torn ligaments in the 2003 Fiesta Bowl.

"He's a young man that's paid his dues and has overcome a lot," Rosenhaus said of Ingram. "I've been associated with several players that have overcome serious knee injuries to become high draft picks, including McGahee, and CI's on track to add to that."

http://www.jacksonville.com/sports/c...am_looks_sharp

**Iowanian** · 03-19-2009, 07:31 AM

Florida WRs are the equivilent of Spread QBs in the NFL.

bust bust bust bust bust.

**DaKCMan AP** · 03-19-2009, 07:31 AM

Florida Pro Day Insider Buzz

By Ben Volin | Wednesday, March 18, 2009, 02:27 PM

You want the REAL scoop from Florida’s Pro Day? We go beyond the “everyone is awesome, it’s great to be a Florida Gator!” quotes to bring you the real inside buzz from Pro Day on Percy Harvin, Cornelius Ingram, Louis Murphy and Jason Watkins.
I counted 19 NFL teams on hand, including several representatives from the Jaguars and Bucs, but curiously did not see a Dolphins representative out there. Doesn’t mean the Fish weren’t there, but I was surprised Jeff Ireland wasn’t in attendance.
PLUS: Injury updates on a few current Gators, and an update about a certain South Florida agent who was kicked out of another school’s Pro Day — twice.
Let’s start with some player-by-player buzz…..
PERCY HARVIN

Harvin surprised a lot of folks by choosing not to run the 40 today. The assumption was that he was going to run again because his 4.41 at last month’s combine was good, not great.

Turns out Harvin’s ankle/heel STILL isn’t fully healed.
“A lot of the scouts knew I was still hurt, but they were still pleased,” Harvin said. “The scouts said they had seen me enough. They already knew I was fast. The main thing was they wanted to see me run routes.”

And run routes he did. Harvin ran posts, outs, digs and comebacks, to prove to the scouts that he can be a professional receiver. He didn’t run routes in Indianapolis, so this was a big day for Harvin.

Here is what one NFC scout had to say: “I thought he did excellent. Percy and all of these guys run a lot of good, polished routes that will carry over to the NFL. Percy, he’s got good hands. You see it on tape, though. I didn’t need to come here to see that.”
Retired NFL quarterback Doug Johnson, who threw the passes today, was real impressed with Harvin, saying he “proved a lot of people wrong” by playing in the BCS Championship Game with a fractured ankle. Johnson also talked about Harvin’s one negative, which gives pause to a few GMs — Harvin’s height.
“Man, his window is real narrow, especially when he’s running out cuts,” Johnson said. “Because he’s so explosive, you got to anticipate throwing the ball, got to pick a landmark and get it out there before he comes out of it.”

Harvin did do the bench press again, and busted out 22 reps of 225 pounds, up from 19 at the Combine. The 22 reps would have tied him for third overall among WRs at the Combine.
Percy has eight to 10 individual workouts lined up, including one on Thursday with the Giants that is “special teams only.” Harvin also mentioned the Dolphins, Jets, Vikings, Bucs and Ravens.
Harvin said teams view him as a slot receiver similar to Wes Welker. “Going against a linebackers a lot, a few screens out of the backfield, similar to what I do here, but more on the outside,” Harvin said.
Harvin will stay in Gainesville and continue to work with strength coach Mickey Marotti until the Draft.

LOUIS MURPHY
Murphy, too, is still recovering from an injury (knee surgery to remove cartilage in January), and so he didn’t run the 40 Wednesday, either.
Like Harvin, Murphy said scouts were pleased with his performance at the Combine, where Murphy ran anywhere from a 4.32 to a 4.40, depending on your stopwatch. Murphy tried to run the shuttle on Wednesday, but kept slipping and gave up.
“I wanted to run real bad, but coaches told me to calm down, just focus on your routes,” Murphy said.
Murphy did, though, impress in the receiver drills.
“Murphy is just a big target,” Doug Johnson said. “Any time you got a big target out there it’s great to throw to, cause your margin of error is so big.”
Murphy could go as high as the third round in the draft, or could fall to maybe the fifth round. But the stigma against Florida receivers in the NFL is fading.
“All these guys are very polished,” an NFC scout said. “These guys (Harvin, Murphy, CI) are excellent prospects.”

Murphy has individual workouts lined up with the Dolphins, Ravens, Giants, Eagles and Bucs.

CORNELIUS INGRAM
CI missed all of 2008 after tearing his ACL in August, and he still isn’t 100 percent recovered.
Agent Drew Rosenhaus is trying to prop up his client, but even he knows Ingram’s stock took somewhat of a hit with the injury.
“It hasn’t tested out well, and teams are concerned,” Rosenhaus was overheard saying. “But it just takes one team.”
Ingram still looks to be a third-round pick. Rosenhaus circulated to NFL teams video of Ingram in last year’s Orange and Blue game, because Ingram didn’t have any 2008 game film.

But CI did run a 4.68 in the 40. Kestahn Moore, who likely will catch on with an NFL team as an undrafted free agent, clocked a somewhat disappointing 4.66 in the 40. TE Tate Casey showed off his versatility by long-snapping for the scouts, and another long-snapper, James Smith, pulled out a 4.56 in the 40.

JASON WATKINS
Watkins is one of the more intriguing picks in this year’s draft, even though OT is a deep position this year.
For teams that don’t grab an elite OT in the first round, Watkins will be a tempting pick in rounds 4-5.
“Jason is a special player because everyone has a different vision for him,” one source said. “His rating with each team is so drastically apart. It’s really really high with some guys, middle with other guys, low with other guys. He’ll be drafted as a tackle, but it definitely helps that he can play (guard) as well.
Teams that have shown serious interest in Watkins: Pittsburgh, Cincy, Philly, both New York teams, the Jags and the Bucs. Pittsburgh apparently loves Watkins, comparing him very favorably to former Gator Max Starks.

Helping Watkins’ cause: He did an admirable job protecting Tim Tebow’s blind side in 2008, he comes from a winning program and he scored in the high 30s on the Wonderlic test.
But his workouts certainly didn’t help his cause. Watkins chose not to run Wednesday, instead staying with his 5.44 time from the Combine. I’m told Watkins didn’t run because he knows what he’s good at, and running the 40 isn’t one of them. He also only bench pressed 19 reps of 225 pounds, a pretty weak score for a tackle. Louis Vasquez of Texas Tech pumped out 39 at the Combine.

GATOR INJURY UPDATES
And finally, a couple quick updates on your current Gators……
You already know Tim Tebow had shoulder surgery, Brandon James is out following foot surgery and Carl Johnson is questionable following knee surgery.

OG Mike Pouncey is out for the spring following shoulder surgery.
WR Omarius Hines didn’t blow out his knee, as was rumored, but he did have some “thighs that needed to be worked out,” receivers coach Billy Gonzales said, without elaborating. Hines is out for the spring.
Special teams ace Joey Sorrentino, whose legend was created during mat drills when he destroyed players 50-60 pounds heavier than him, tore his left ACL and had surgery 10 days ago, he said. With a recovery time of 6-7 months (best-case scenario), Sorrentino should be near full-speed just a few games into the season.
And DT Brandon Antwine, who tore his ACL in The Citadel game in November, said he expects to be fully healed for two-a-days in August.
The Florida staff also lists LB Brandon Hicks as out for spring practice with a right shoulder injury.
And the Gators also list several players as limited, including: DE Carlos Dunlap (abdomen strain), DT Terron Sanders (left calf) and OL James Wilson (feet).

And finally, a quick story about Rosenhaus. A well-placed source says the South Florida uber-agent was in Pittsburgh on Tuesday to check out his client, RB LeSean McCoy. Pitt’s Pro day was closed to agents, but that didn’t stop Rosenhaus from trying to sneak a peak. Word is Rosenhaus was removed from the premises — twice.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/blogs/c...logs_inside_uf

**DaKCMan AP** · 03-19-2009, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iowanian

Florida WRs are the equivilent of Spread QBs in the NFL.

bust bust bust bust bust.

Quote:

But the stigma against Florida receivers in the NFL is fading.
“All these guys are very polished,” an NFC scout said. “These guys (Harvin, Murphy, CI) are excellent prospects.”

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/blogs/c...logs_inside_uf

'Hamas' Jenkins · 03-19-2009, 07:51 AM

I don't exactly know how Percy Harvin could showcase his durability in shorts, but OK.

**Iowanian** · 03-19-2009, 09:23 AM

Chad Jackson, Taylor Jacobs, Reche Caldwell, Jabar Gaffney, Travis Taylor........

Its like taking a RB from Penn State.

htismaqe · 03-19-2009, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaKCMan AP

There's been alot of great WR PROSPECTS come out of Gainesville, but how many have actually gone on to be top-flight pros? Hell, how many have even had respectable, solid careers?

**Iowanian** · 03-19-2009, 09:37 AM

I like Reche Caldwell, but thats only because his eyes bug out like a deep water fish that was brought to the surface.

Brock · 03-19-2009, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by htismaqe

There's been alot of great WR PROSPECTS come out of Gainesville, but how many have actually gone on to be top-flight pros? Hell, how many have even had respectable, solid careers?

Over the past 10 years, Darrell Jackson is probably the only one who amounted to much.

htismaqe · 03-19-2009, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brock

Over the past 10 years, Darrell Jackson is probably the only one who amounted to much.

That's not good odds.

Then again, Harvin isn't the same type of player those guys were. He's not a prototypical WR...

**DaKCMan AP** · 03-19-2009, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iowanian

Chad Jackson, Taylor Jacobs, Reche Caldwell, Jabar Gaffney, Travis Taylor........

Its like taking a RB from Penn State.

All Spurrier/Zook era players.

**DaKCMan AP** · 03-19-2009, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by htismaqe

There's been alot of great WR PROSPECTS come out of Gainesville, but how many have actually gone on to be top-flight pros? Hell, how many have even had respectable, solid careers?

Does that mean a team shouldn't draft Matt Stafford because of David Greene, Quincy Carter and Eric Zeier?

Or Arizona shouldn't have drafted Anquan Boldin and Green Bay shouldn't have drafted Javon Walker because of Snoop Minnis, Peter Warrick and Ron Dugans?

htismaqe · 03-19-2009, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaKCMan AP

All Spurrier/Zook era players.

That was kind of my point about Harvin in the previous post.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaKCMan AP

Does that mean a team shouldn't draft Matt Stafford because of David Greene, Quincy Carter and Eric Zeier?

Or Arizona shouldn't have drafted Anquan Boldin and Green Bay shouldn't have drafted Javon Walker because of Snoop Minnis, Peter Warrick and Ron Dugans?

No. I didn't say that.

Greene, Carter, and Zeier weren't highly-touted, nor is 3 enough to establish a "trend".

I wouldn't pass on Stafford because of those 3.

But I would CERTAINLY pass on Bradford, given the history of Oklahoma QB's in the pros.

Brock · 03-19-2009, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaKCMan AP

Does that mean a team shouldn't draft Matt Stafford because of David Greene, Quincy Carter and Eric Zeier?

Or Arizona shouldn't have drafted Anquan Boldin and Green Bay shouldn't have drafted Javon Walker because of Snoop Minnis, Peter Warrick and Ron Dugans?

No, but it is a remarkable anomaly, if that is what it is.

03-19-2009, 07:28 AM
DaKCMan AP Beloved & Awesome CP Celebrity Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Florida Casino cash: $6734952	Florida Pro Day Harvin shines at Florida's pro day GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) - Percy Harvin gave NFL coaches and scouts another look at his ability and durability Wednesday, running routes, catching passes and doing anything asked of him at Florida's annual pro day. Harvin was clearly the main attraction, overshadowing fellow receiver Louis Murphy, tight end Cornelius Ingram, offensive tackles Jason Watkins and Phil Trautwein and a few others trying to improve their status heading into next month's NFL draft. "All he did was confirm what you already know, which is he's an explosive athlete and once the ball's in his hands he's got a chance to score from anywhere on the field," Jacksonville Jaguars receivers coach Todd Monken said. Harvin covered 10 feet, 3 inches in the broad jump, leapt 37 inches in the vertical jump and benched 225 pounds 22 times. He hurried through some shuttle runs and looked as fluid as ever in on-the-field drills. Maybe most importantly, Harvin was healthy for it all. The 5-foot-11, 195-pound speedster missed five games in three years because of injury and was limited in several more, an issue that could keep him from being a top-10 selection in the draft. "Most of the time when I got hurt, I was at running back and falling into piles and getting tweaked up," Harvin said. NFL teams don't quite see it the same way, especially when they're considering guaranteeing millions to a first-round pick. "Anybody who has a history of being injured, there's a concern," Monken said. "It doesn't matter who it is, if there's a history of injury, a history of not practicing, a history of off-the-field issues, a history of instability — whatever that may be — there's a concern there because you've got to have a guy go and produce when you take him as high as he's capable of going in the draft." Harvin could be the third receiver taken in the first round, behind Texas Tech's Michael Crabtree and Missouri's Jeremy Maclin. Harvin believes he's as good, if not better than, both of them. He scoffs at those durability questions and points to his versatility. Harvin finished his college career with 133 receptions for 1,929 yards and 13 touchdowns, and 194 carries for 1,852 yards and 19 scores. He averaged 9.5 yards per carry and 11.6 yards every time he touched the ball. He was at his best in big games, earning MVP honors in the 2006 Southeastern Conference championship game and totaling 171 yards and a touchdown in a victory over Oklahoma in the Bowl Championship Series national title game in January. He lined up at receiver, running back and quarterback for the Gators, but expects to do even more at the next level because several teams already have talked to him about returning kickoffs and punts. "If you take a guy like Percy, you've got to find a way to get him the ball," Monken said. "He's got to be a returner because he's got a chance to change the game." Harvin has a workout lined up with the New York Giants on Thursday that includes only special teams drills, and then has visits scheduled with Baltimore, Miami, Minnesota, the New York Jets and several others before the end of the month. It's like a season of recruiting trips rolled into two weeks, but with a twist. "It's recruiting with them checking all your injuries and pulling and tugging," Harvin said. "You go to one doctor, then go to another doctor and another. It's a whole 'nother level." Harvin's injury list includes heel surgery, ankle injuries, migraine headaches, a concussion, a hip pointer, tendinitis in his Achilles' tendon and tendinitis in his knee. When healthy, though, he's typically been the best player on the field. He handles direct snaps, takes option pitches the distance, catches passes in traffic, finds running lanes and often turns negative plays into big gains. "There are no questions about Percy," Florida coach Urban Meyer said. "Does he get injured once in a while because he's a reckless football player? Yeah. There's a lot of players that run out of bounds. Percy's as good as I've ever seen coming through tackles, and he's reckless and he's only 195 pounds. There are no questions about him." If there are any, Harvin welcomed them. "I've dealt with adversity my whole life, so there's nothing I can't handle at the next level," Harvin said. "People who don't go through things, when they get older, it hits them and they don't know how to handle it. I feel like I've been through pretty much everything, so there's nothing I can't handle right now." http://msn.foxsports.com/cfb/story/9...da%27s-pro-day
Posts: 35,695

03-19-2009, 07:30 AM	#2
DaKCMan AP Beloved & Awesome CP Celebrity Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Florida Casino cash: $6734952	Ingram looks sharp at Florida's pro day Tight end runs a 4.5 40 and doesn't drop a pass. By Michael DiRocco Story updated at 8:34 AM on Thursday, Mar. 19, 2009 GAINESVILLE - Cornelius Ingram showed NFL teams his surgically repaired left knee was fine at the scouting combine in February. He added an I-told-you-so on Wednesday. Ingram had an impressive workout at Florida Field during UF's annual pro scout day. The 6-foot-4, 246-pounder ran the 40-yard dash, participated in agility drills, and then put on a show during pass-catching drills in front of 53 NFL scouts and coaches representing more than half the league's 32 teams. "I was a lot more relaxed than I was at the combine, but at the same time, I just focused in and kind of got going early, and I felt good throughout," Ingram said. The former Florida standout ran a 4.5 40 and did not drop a pass. He also made a leaping catch on a seam route and made another leaping catch and got both feet in bounds near the sideline. Both catches drew applause from spectators and showed he is not suffering any lingering effects from the torn anterior cruciate ligament that derailed his redshirt senior season. "Going into the combine, I was thinking about it [his knee] a lot more, but today I totally relaxed and just came out like anything didn't happen," he said. "I didn't feel anything. I felt good throughout the day. The knee's fine. "I think they [NFL personnel] knew I was a pretty good athlete and I could play football. They just wanted to make sure my knee was healthy, and I think I showed it to them today." The only time there was a question about his knee was late in the pass-catching drills. Ingram appeared to stumble as he came out of a break and landed awkwardly as he caught a pass. Ingram said he just got ahead of himself. "I think I was thinking I was Percy [Harvin] and Murph [Louis Murphy]," Ingram joked. "I was trying to go at it real hard. I'm 246, so I can't really do it as quick as they did. I didn't feel anything. That's why I got right back up and ran it again." Ingram caught 64 passes for 888 yards and eight touchdowns in 2006 and 2007 and decided to return for his redshirt senior season in order to improve his potential draft status. He suffered a torn ACL in his left knee on the second day of fall practice, and the non-contact injury kept him off the field the entire season. Now Ingram has to prove to NFL teams that he can play tight end. He was used more as a slot receiver in 2006 and 2007, and teams have only tape of 2008 spring practices, with Ingram working closer to the tackle as more of a true tight end. That makes it harder to project Ingram's future, Jaguars offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter said. "There's no question the guy is a smooth athlete, and that's what we're here to confirm today," Koetter said. "Position switch plus the injury is going to be the question on him, but I say that in a good way. I think the guy's got a lot of upside." Ingram has individual workouts with Miami, Philadelphia, Seattle and Baltimore next week. Former UF co-defensive coordinator Greg Mattison is on the Ravens' staff, so that helps in terms of evaluation. Ingram has a huge booster in agent Drew Rosenhaus. Rosenhaus has a good track record of handling draft picks with knee problems. He turned Willis McGahee into a first-round pick just three months after McGahee suffered three torn ligaments in the 2003 Fiesta Bowl. "He's a young man that's paid his dues and has overcome a lot," Rosenhaus said of Ingram. "I've been associated with several players that have overcome serious knee injuries to become high draft picks, including McGahee, and CI's on track to add to that." http://www.jacksonville.com/sports/c...am_looks_sharp __________________
Posts: 35,695

03-19-2009, 07:31 AM	#3
Iowanian Supporter Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Utopia Casino cash: $4758454	Florida WRs are the equivilent of Spread QBs in the NFL. bust bust bust bust bust.
Posts: 61,531

03-19-2009, 07:31 AM	#4
DaKCMan AP Beloved & Awesome CP Celebrity Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Florida Casino cash: $6734952	Florida Pro Day Insider Buzz By Ben Volin \| Wednesday, March 18, 2009, 02:27 PM You want the REAL scoop from Florida’s Pro Day? We go beyond the “everyone is awesome, it’s great to be a Florida Gator!” quotes to bring you the real inside buzz from Pro Day on Percy Harvin, Cornelius Ingram, Louis Murphy and Jason Watkins. I counted 19 NFL teams on hand, including several representatives from the Jaguars and Bucs, but curiously did not see a Dolphins representative out there. Doesn’t mean the Fish weren’t there, but I was surprised Jeff Ireland wasn’t in attendance. PLUS: Injury updates on a few current Gators, and an update about a certain South Florida agent who was kicked out of another school’s Pro Day — twice. Let’s start with some player-by-player buzz….. PERCY HARVIN Harvin surprised a lot of folks by choosing not to run the 40 today. The assumption was that he was going to run again because his 4.41 at last month’s combine was good, not great. Turns out Harvin’s ankle/heel STILL isn’t fully healed. “A lot of the scouts knew I was still hurt, but they were still pleased,” Harvin said. “The scouts said they had seen me enough. They already knew I was fast. The main thing was they wanted to see me run routes.” And run routes he did. Harvin ran posts, outs, digs and comebacks, to prove to the scouts that he can be a professional receiver. He didn’t run routes in Indianapolis, so this was a big day for Harvin. Here is what one NFC scout had to say: “I thought he did excellent. Percy and all of these guys run a lot of good, polished routes that will carry over to the NFL. Percy, he’s got good hands. You see it on tape, though. I didn’t need to come here to see that.” Retired NFL quarterback Doug Johnson, who threw the passes today, was real impressed with Harvin, saying he “proved a lot of people wrong” by playing in the BCS Championship Game with a fractured ankle. Johnson also talked about Harvin’s one negative, which gives pause to a few GMs — Harvin’s height. “Man, his window is real narrow, especially when he’s running out cuts,” Johnson said. “Because he’s so explosive, you got to anticipate throwing the ball, got to pick a landmark and get it out there before he comes out of it.” Harvin did do the bench press again, and busted out 22 reps of 225 pounds, up from 19 at the Combine. The 22 reps would have tied him for third overall among WRs at the Combine. Percy has eight to 10 individual workouts lined up, including one on Thursday with the Giants that is “special teams only.” Harvin also mentioned the Dolphins, Jets, Vikings, Bucs and Ravens. Harvin said teams view him as a slot receiver similar to Wes Welker. “Going against a linebackers a lot, a few screens out of the backfield, similar to what I do here, but more on the outside,” Harvin said. Harvin will stay in Gainesville and continue to work with strength coach Mickey Marotti until the Draft. LOUIS MURPHY Murphy, too, is still recovering from an injury (knee surgery to remove cartilage in January), and so he didn’t run the 40 Wednesday, either. Like Harvin, Murphy said scouts were pleased with his performance at the Combine, where Murphy ran anywhere from a 4.32 to a 4.40, depending on your stopwatch. Murphy tried to run the shuttle on Wednesday, but kept slipping and gave up. “I wanted to run real bad, but coaches told me to calm down, just focus on your routes,” Murphy said. Murphy did, though, impress in the receiver drills. “Murphy is just a big target,” Doug Johnson said. “Any time you got a big target out there it’s great to throw to, cause your margin of error is so big.” Murphy could go as high as the third round in the draft, or could fall to maybe the fifth round. But the stigma against Florida receivers in the NFL is fading. “All these guys are very polished,” an NFC scout said. “These guys (Harvin, Murphy, CI) are excellent prospects.” Murphy has individual workouts lined up with the Dolphins, Ravens, Giants, Eagles and Bucs. CORNELIUS INGRAM CI missed all of 2008 after tearing his ACL in August, and he still isn’t 100 percent recovered. Agent Drew Rosenhaus is trying to prop up his client, but even he knows Ingram’s stock took somewhat of a hit with the injury. “It hasn’t tested out well, and teams are concerned,” Rosenhaus was overheard saying. “But it just takes one team.” Ingram still looks to be a third-round pick. Rosenhaus circulated to NFL teams video of Ingram in last year’s Orange and Blue game, because Ingram didn’t have any 2008 game film. But CI did run a 4.68 in the 40. Kestahn Moore, who likely will catch on with an NFL team as an undrafted free agent, clocked a somewhat disappointing 4.66 in the 40. TE Tate Casey showed off his versatility by long-snapping for the scouts, and another long-snapper, James Smith, pulled out a 4.56 in the 40. JASON WATKINS Watkins is one of the more intriguing picks in this year’s draft, even though OT is a deep position this year. For teams that don’t grab an elite OT in the first round, Watkins will be a tempting pick in rounds 4-5. “Jason is a special player because everyone has a different vision for him,” one source said. “His rating with each team is so drastically apart. It’s really really high with some guys, middle with other guys, low with other guys. He’ll be drafted as a tackle, but it definitely helps that he can play (guard) as well. Teams that have shown serious interest in Watkins: Pittsburgh, Cincy, Philly, both New York teams, the Jags and the Bucs. Pittsburgh apparently loves Watkins, comparing him very favorably to former Gator Max Starks. Helping Watkins’ cause: He did an admirable job protecting Tim Tebow’s blind side in 2008, he comes from a winning program and he scored in the high 30s on the Wonderlic test. But his workouts certainly didn’t help his cause. Watkins chose not to run Wednesday, instead staying with his 5.44 time from the Combine. I’m told Watkins didn’t run because he knows what he’s good at, and running the 40 isn’t one of them. He also only bench pressed 19 reps of 225 pounds, a pretty weak score for a tackle. Louis Vasquez of Texas Tech pumped out 39 at the Combine. GATOR INJURY UPDATES And finally, a couple quick updates on your current Gators…… You already know Tim Tebow had shoulder surgery, Brandon James is out following foot surgery and Carl Johnson is questionable following knee surgery. OG Mike Pouncey is out for the spring following shoulder surgery. WR Omarius Hines didn’t blow out his knee, as was rumored, but he did have some “thighs that needed to be worked out,” receivers coach Billy Gonzales said, without elaborating. Hines is out for the spring. Special teams ace Joey Sorrentino, whose legend was created during mat drills when he destroyed players 50-60 pounds heavier than him, tore his left ACL and had surgery 10 days ago, he said. With a recovery time of 6-7 months (best-case scenario), Sorrentino should be near full-speed just a few games into the season. And DT Brandon Antwine, who tore his ACL in The Citadel game in November, said he expects to be fully healed for two-a-days in August. The Florida staff also lists LB Brandon Hicks as out for spring practice with a right shoulder injury. And the Gators also list several players as limited, including: DE Carlos Dunlap (abdomen strain), DT Terron Sanders (left calf) and OL James Wilson (feet). And finally, a quick story about Rosenhaus. A well-placed source says the South Florida uber-agent was in Pittsburgh on Tuesday to check out his client, RB LeSean McCoy. Pitt’s Pro day was closed to agents, but that didn’t stop Rosenhaus from trying to sneak a peak. Word is Rosenhaus was removed from the premises — twice. http://www.palmbeachpost.com/blogs/c...logs_inside_uf __________________
Posts: 35,695

03-19-2009, 07:51 AM	#6
'Hamas' Jenkins Now you've pissed me off! Join Date: Jan 2006 Casino cash: $8009572	I don't exactly know how Percy Harvin could showcase his durability in shorts, but OK. __________________ "When the Know-Nothings get control, it will read 'all men are created equal, except negroes, and foreigners, and Catholics.' When it comes to this I should prefer emigrating to some country where they make no pretense of loving liberty – to Russia, for instance, where despotism can be taken pure, and without the base alloy of hypocrisy.”--Abraham Lincoln
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03-19-2009, 09:23 AM	#7
Iowanian Supporter Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Utopia Casino cash: $4758454	Chad Jackson, Taylor Jacobs, Reche Caldwell, Jabar Gaffney, Travis Taylor........ Its like taking a RB from Penn State.
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03-19-2009, 09:37 AM	#9
Iowanian Supporter Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Utopia Casino cash: $4758454	I like Reche Caldwell, but thats only because his eyes bug out like a deep water fish that was brought to the surface.
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