IRVING, Texas – With the NFL Combine wrapped up, scouts, coaches and managers around the league will now turn their attention to college Pro Days to see how future draft picks measure out and test.
For athletes who’d like to have performed better at the Combine and for those who didn’t go to the Combine at all, these individual Pro Days allow college standouts another opportunity to demonstrate what they can bring to the table for a professional club.
The DallasCowboys.com staff will travel around the Dallas area the next few weeks leading into the NFL Draft to see first-hand how some of the local athletes looked in person.
Today, former scout Bryan Broaddus made his first stop on the Pro Day Tour at TCU.
Top Pick(s): Defensive end Stansly Maponga measured 6-2, 251. He ran two 40 yard dashes for the scouts with times of 4.84 and 4.85. His vertical jump 29.5”and 9’6” on the broad jump. His 20 yard shuttle was 4.37, 60 yard shuttle was 12.72. His 3 cone was 7.38. Wide receiver Josh Boyce did not workout due to a recent foot surgery. His Combine workout was quite impressive, so that should help him as he recovers.
Possible Cowboys Fits: In this new 4-3 scheme, Maponga would play as a defensive end. When you study him on tape, you see an explosive, up the field player that plays with outstanding effort. Was surprised of his 40 and shuttle times because he played much faster than what his numbers indicated. Did not work out as a defensive end, but as a linebacker instead. The Dolphins and Steelers put him through those drills, and it was clear in observing his movement that he is much better suited to play with his hand on the ground rushing the passer. He really doesn’t look comfortable dropping and his hands are poor.
Who Stood Out: Wide receiver Skye Dawson is small at 5-9, 160, but he is explosively fast with 40 times of 4.39 and 4.40, a vertical jump of 35.5” and a 3 cone of 6.93. Guard Blaize Foltz moved much better in the drills than what he did on tape. He has made an effort to get his body fat down and it showed. At 6-3, 324 pounds he is a mauler, brawler. His 40 times were 5.33 and 5.38 but his bench of 33 times at 225 was impressive, almost easy.
What They Said: Maponga had a chance to visit with the media after the workout and he told us that he and his agent, Bus Cook, are trying to determine what direction they are going to take in order to get a bone fixed in his foot that has grown soft. Medical staffs at the Combine just said it was a matter of time before the bone gave away. He was disappointed that he did not get to go through the Combine drills because of the foot but he wanted to prove to the 28 teams in attendance on Thursday that he was willing to do the best he could in a workout.
