Pro Days

So what are pro days??  You may here the annalists on TV talk about players 'improving their draft stock' on pro day.  What does this mean?  Hopefully, I can make this a little clearer.

A pro day is a day where the college teams invite all of the NFL scouts to their campus, to watch their NFL hopefuls workout.  The workouts will include similar things to the combine, 40 yard dash, vertical jump etc.  They will also include a skills session, where the player will perform certain drills, position specific.

I believe this is the area when players can 'improve their stock' the most.  Lets use Auburn QB Cam Newton as an example.  Newton is seen as a Tim Tebow type of player, a fantastic athlete and college player, but slightly erratic with his passes, and therefore many people are doubting whether he will ever be NFL ready.  At the combine in Indianapolis, Newton only succeeded to prove this theory correct.  He was outstanding in all the measurable drills, (40 yard dash, jump), but then he struggled in the passing section, looking at times scarily inaccurate. 

At the combine though, Newton was just paired up with random WR's, and was told to throw the ball.  This can be difficult for a QB, as each WR is different to throw to.  The excuses for Cam's less than perfect throwing performance was that he underestimated the talent he was throwing to.  This may, or may not be the case.  At his pro day today though, Cam has the chance to put this right.

As the pro day is scheduled and ran by the college, they can do certain drills that make the best of Cam's ability.  Cam will feel comfortable and relaxed in very familiar surroundings, and most importantly in this case, Cam will be able to pick the WR's he throws to.  He will select the player that he has played the most with, and is the most familiar with.  Cam should hopefully put on a much better throwing performance, therefore 'increasing his stock'. 

Cam Newton was used as an example there, but every player across the country will be in a similar position to him come their pro day.  Some will want a faster 40 yard time, others will need to bench press more, all these things will improve their stock.  They will feel that they can do better, in their homely surroundings.  Keep your eyes on nflgbview both here and on twitter, to get all the latest news on pro days.

Here is a list of all the colleges pro days:

March 3: Baylor, Florida Atlantic

March 4: Troy, Tulane

March 7: Tulsa

March 8: Arkansas, Auburn, Oklahoma

March 9: Alabama, California, Colorado, Georgia Tech, Oklahoma State, Portland
State, Rutgers, Texas A&M, Wisconsin

March 10: Buffalo, Clemson, Fort Valley State, Fresno State, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisville, Miami (Fla.), Mississippi State, Nebraska, Oregon, Texas Tech, Washington State, West Texas A&M

March 11: Idaho, Ohio State, Oregon State, Purdue, Southern Miss, Tennessee, TCU

March 12: Arizona

March 14: Central Michigan, LSU

March 15: California (Pa.), Delaware, Florida, Kansas State, Montana State, Pittsburgh, SE Louisiana

March 16: Florida State, Hampton, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan State, Mount Union, Penn State, Villanova

March 17: Appalachian State, Lehigh, Marshall, Michigan, Missouri, Slippery Rock, Stanford, Virginia, Virginia Tech, West Virginia

March 18: Arkansas State, Missouri State, New Mexico State, Richmond, Temple

March 21: Abilene Christian, Iowa

March 22: Georgia, Iowa State, Mississippi, Nevada

March 23: Arizona State, Boston College, Central Florida, Connecticut, East Carolina, North Carolina State, Syracuse, Tennessee-Chattanooga

March 24: Boise State, Fort Hays State, San Diego State, South Florida

March 28: Cincinnati, Citadel, Houston, Rice, Texas, Utah State

March 29: UCLA, Utah

March 30: Northern Iowa, South Carolina, Southern California, Washington

March 31: Hawaii, North Carolina

April 1: Eastern Washington

April 4: SMU

April 7: Notre Dame