March 6, 2012
Pro Day Links: Complete Results | Top Results Video | Highlights | Photo Gallery
Pro Day Interviews: OT Jeff Allen | OG Jack Cornell | WR A.J. Jenkins | DE Whitney Mercilus
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Sixteen former Fighting Illini football players took part in Illinois' NFL Pro Day Tuesday morning, March 6, at the Illinois Football Performance Center and Irwin Indoor Practice Center. Thirty-four scouts from 29 NFL teams were on hand to watch former Illini Jeff Allen, Jerry Brown, Jack Cornell, Derek Dimke, Jason Ford, Antonio Gully, Trulon Henry, A.J. Jenkins, Whitney Mercilus, Wisdom Onyegbule, Troy Pollard, Fred Sykes, Ian Thomas, Craig Wilson, Tavon Wilson and Derek Walker participate in several drills and workouts.
Offensive guard Jack Cornell stole the show in the weight room, doing 33 bench press reps of 225. Linebacker Ian Thomas also excelled in the weight room, doing 32 bench reps and recording the top vertical leap of the day (37.5 inches). Of those who ran the 40-yard dash on Tuesday, safety Tavon Wilson clocked the fastest time of 4.50, followed closely by running back Troy Pollard (4.57) and wide receiver Fred Sykes (4.63). Wilson also had the top broad jump of the day (10' 4").
NFL Combine participants Jeff Allen, A.J. Jenkins and Whitney Mercilus did not take part in the vertical jump, broad jump, bench press or 40-yard dash, instead opting to use their results from last month's NFL combine. The trio did do the 20-yard shuttle and 3-cone drills, and all three improved their times from the combine in both drills. Jenkins had the best times of the day in both the 20-yard shuttle (4.13) and 3-cone drill (6.73), while Mercilus, a projected first-round pick by many draft experts, ran a 4.47 20-yard shuttle and a 7.03 3-cone to better his combine times of 4.53 and 7.17, respectively.
After the speed drills, the Illini also participated in position-specific drills, and some were interviewed by scouts as well.
The 2012 NFL Draft will take place April 26-28 at Radio City Music Hall in New York.
