Bearcats Impressive At Pro Day

March 29, 2009

The University of Cincinnati football team held Pro Day at Nippert Stadium on March 19, where 16 former Bearcats performed drills for NFL scouts and coaches.

Some notable faces were in attendance, including Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis and first-year New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan.

Former Bengals Artrell Hawkins and linebacker Caleb Miller were also present.

At least 18 NFL teams were represented at UC’s Pro Day, and NFL prospects know the importance of working out in front of pro scouts.

“Coming up to this day, it’s like waking up for Christmas. So I just went out there and tried to do the best I can,” said defensive back DeAngelo Smith.

Smith has been working with Artell Hawkins as well as Hall-of-Fame defensive back Darrell Green on his position drills.

“You just focus on the drills fundamentally, and then everything else will come with it,” Smith said.

“I have seen improvement,” Hawkins said of Smith. “I think his feet are really good. I think he’s a pure football player. While he tests well, I think he’ll be better when he gets on a team and can show what he can do on a football field.”

Smith ran times of 4.59 and 4.60 in his two the 40-yard-dash sprints at Pro Day.

It was also an important day for fellow defensive back Mike Mickens.

The second-team all-American wasn’t able to compete in the NFL Combine due to an injured knee, but he decided to participate at Pro Day even without feeling 100 percent.

“[The knee] is about 85 percent right now,” Mickens said. “My swelling is down now. I just have to get my quad stronger and get my wind back up.”

“It’s important to show [scouts] that I’m not trying to skip out on everything since I didnít go to the Senior Bowl or the Combine,” Mickens said. “I am getting healthy and Iím gaining more weight.”

Mickens feels that heís now at the ideal weight of around 190 pounds to be the cover corner that he’s built his reputation on.

Mickens’ Pro Day results supplied him with even more confidence.

“I’ll be 100 percent by mini-camp. That’s what I need to communicate to the teams,”Mickens said. “I’m 85 percent and I’m still putting up average numbers for everybody at the Combine, so if I’m 100 percent, I’m only going to be better and show that I am the best corner in the nation.”

Mickens ran 40-yard dash times of 4.57 and a 4.59.

Defensive end Connor Barwin posted 40-yard dash times of 4.48 and 4.52 seconds in his two sprints and tied for the fastest time with Brandon Underwood among all participants.

Offensive guard Trevor Canfield lifted the most bench-presses at 225 pounds with 32 reps.

Linebacker Corey Smith ran the fastest time in the cone-drill finishing with a time of 6.62 seconds.

The NFL Draft is April 25-26 in New York City.