On Thursday, NFL prospects, top prospects and big-time players gathered at the University of Minnesota's David and Janice Larson Football Performance Center to give their favorites to 32 NFL teams, represented by 64 staffers, during the Gophers' pro day. The aim was to make an impression.
Of the 16 players measured and evaluated by NFL staff, nine were Gophers, or wide receivers. chris ortman bell and corey crooms jr.defensive backs tyler nubin and Trevon Jonesdefensive lineman Kyler Baugh and chris collinstight end Brevin Spann-Fordrun back Sean Tyler and long sea bream brady weeks.
Here are five takeaways from pro day.
“Crab” in his element
A devastating knee injury cost Ortman-Bell most of the 2022 season and limited his performance last fall, but the wide receiver known as “The Crab” has a bubbly personality and a contagious personality. The smile was on display Tuesday.
“It was amazing. It felt like being able to fly around and be in a second home,” Oatman-Bell said. “It was great to be able to move around and show everyone that I can still be a crab.”
Oatman-Bell had a 33 1/2-inch vertical jump, a solid 18-of-225 on the bench press, and ran a 40-yard dash that was described by his agent as “4.5 inches.”[-second]” range.
“I felt great today,” he added. “The Chris of 2021 felt like the Chris of old.”
Former Gophers duo sharpens their game.
Nubin, a former Gophers safety, attended the NFL Scouting Combine but did not participate in all physicals as he recovers from knee surgery after the Gophers' 2023 regular season.
“I wasn't 100 percent ready for the combine, but the last week and a half has been great for me,” Nubin said. “I feel like I’m at 90 to 95 percent right now.”
Nubin had a solid vertical jump of 31 1/2 inches and broad jump of 10 feet. He felt his 40-yard dash “went well,” but did not reveal his specific time. The time for the 40th time has not been announced.
Spanford, a former Gophers tight end, got most of his testing results in the combine stand, but on Thursday he recorded a solid 18 bench presses. He felt his individual run-blocking work was a plus, as was his route running.
“I felt like I did well on the route,” he said. “It felt fast and it felt good. I can't really complain.”
Beau's explosive power shows
Baugh, a former Gophers defensive tackle, is just over 6-1 and weighs 302 pounds and is known for his strength. That was evident in Thursday's first two events.
Bo's vertical jump was 33 1/2 inches, tied for second among gophers. He also achieved 34 reps on the bench press, and of the 13 people who bench pressed, no one did more than 20 reps.
“I felt really good today,” Bo said. “I felt like the hard work of the past three months paid off today.”
amazing power source
Weeks, a former Gophers long snapper, was just over 5-10 and weighed 238 pounds, but was an unexpected standout in several tests. Weeks completed 18 reps on the bench press and had a vertical jump of 34 1/2 inches, the most of any Gopher player and second only to the Minnesota State University Mankato defensive back's 37 inches. Trey Vaval and 35 1/2 By Augustana (SD) Quarterback Casey Bauman.
“I’m a sneaky athlete,” Weeks said. “It was great to be able to go out there and show everyone what I’m capable of and show that snappers are athletes too.”
Brosmer bonus sightings
Bauman was the only QB to practice, and with six pass catchers participating, another QB was needed.New Gophers quarterback steps back max brosmera graduate transfer from New Hampshire, showed live arms and sure touch during individual training.
Brosmer certainly impressed Oatman-Bell.
“Gopher Nation, you're going to be fine. There's no question about it,” Oatman Bell said. “I've been working with Max all week since Monday and I haven't missed a pass from him yet. Everything went well.”
