Illinois Pro Day Results
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Sixteen former Fighting Illini football players took part in Illinois' annual NFL Pro Day Thursday morning, March 10, at the Illinois Football Performance Center and Irwin Indoor Practice Center in front of 43 scouts representing all 32 NFL teams. Recent alums Geronimo Allison, Martize Barr, V'Angelo Bentley, Chris Boles, Clayton Fejedelem, Josh Ferguson, Eric Finney, Joe Fotu, Ted Karras, Davontay Kwaaning, Kenny Nelson, Nick North, Les Poole, Cameron Tucker, Jihad Ward and Taylor Zalewski participated in several drills and workouts.
Several Illini had strong showings. Fejedelem posted measurements among the top safeties and defensive backs in the country. He ran a 4.53 40-yard dash time, which would have been tied for 4th among safeties at the combine, while his vertical of 40 1/2" would have tied for seventh among all 2016 NFL Combine participants and third among defensive backs. Fejedelem's bench press reps of 20 would have been third among defensive backs and safeties at the combine.
Ward saw improvement from the combine in a few measurements. He ran a 5.05 in the 40-yard dash and produced 22 bench reps, as he did 5.11 and 20 reps at the combine. Ward also increased his vertical from 25.0" at the combine to 28.0" today.
Allison had an improved showing in the 40-yard dash, running a 4.60. He also increased his vertical to 34.5".
Karras proved his athletic ability producing 32 bench reps, which would have ranked fourth among all competitors at the combine. His three cone time of 8.15 would have ranked seventh among offensive linemen at this year's combine.
Bentley showed off his athleticism, jumping 38.5" in the vertical jump that would have ranked fifth best among defensive backs at the combine. He ran a 4.50 in the 40-yard dash, which would rank just inside the top-20 of defensive backs at the combine.
Ferguson, Illinois' No. 1 running back in 2015, chose to not participate in the measurement portions but did participate in the skill position drills session.
After the speed drills, the Fighting Illini took part in position-specific drills on the turf at the Irwin Practice Facility. Many were also interviewed by scouts.
The 2016 NFL Draft will take place April 28-30 at Roosevelt University in Chicago. A total of 19 Illini have been drafted in the last seven years and 15 former Illini played in the NFL last season.
