HCA: WSU’s Pro Day a big hit

Representatives from 28 NFL teams descended on Pullman yesterday to check out the Washington State Cougars’ best prospects for the upcoming NFL Draft.

As expected, most of the attention went to offensive tackle Andre Dillard and quarterback Gardner Minshew II. Minshew and Dillard chose to keep their physical testing numbers from the combine but did participate in football drills. Here is Dillard showing that he should not be known just for his pass blocking.

Minshew improved on his passing performance at the combine while impressing the scouts in attendance.

Running back James Williams is another Cougar that is hoping to have his name called on the April 25^th through 27^th draft. Williams posted a 35 inch vertical and put up 15 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press. The 5-foot-10/200-pounder also impressed in receiving drills from Minshew. NFL legend Eric Dickerson (who may just a little biased as he is Williams’ agent) thinks he is one of the real sleepers of the draft.

Other performances of note….Running back Keith Harrington had the top vertical jump at 37 inches….. Wide receiver Robert Lewis (4.44) and cornerback Darrien Molton (4.48) were the only Cougars to run sub 4.5 forty yard dashes according to Cougfan.com…..Linebacker Peyton Pelluer led the way on the bench press with 24 reps......Draft analyst Rob Rang really liked what he saw out of Logan Tago.

While Dillard, Minshew and Williams were clearly the Cougars’ “big three” as Combine-invites, the player who likely boosted his stock the most Wednesday was defensive lineman-turned linebacker Logan Tago, a 6-3 (and 3/8”), 242 pounder who showed impressive fluidity operating in reverse, as well as intriguing raw explosiveness in the vertical jump (30.5”) and bench press (19 repetitions). Tago is not fast but neither was Frankie Luvu, a similarly-sized teammate who recorded 22 tackles, including three for loss last year for the New York Jets after initially signing as a undrafted free agent.

Coming out of the pro day it looks like Dillard has solidified a top 15 selection with most prognosticators pegging Minshew and Williams for somewhere in rounds 3-7. Best of luck to all departing Cougars in the upcoming draft!

Football

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Twenty-eight NFL teams were in attendance, meaning only four of them passed up a trip to Pullman for Washington State’s Pro Day, held Wednesday morning inside the Cougars’ weight room and indoor practice bubble.

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