PRO DAY GIVES BAYLOR PLAYERS CHANCE TO SHINE
4/3/2019 2:32:00 PM | Football
Hurd, Thomas Headline Prospects That Went Through Combine-Like Experience
By Jerry Hill
Baylor Bear Insider
Whether it was for five months like quarterback Jalan McClendon, one season as a receiver for Jalen Hurd or longer connections for Derrek Thomas, Greg Roberts, Blake Blackmar, Ira Lewis and Verkedric Vaughns, their time with Matt Rhule and this Baylor staff paid off at Tuesday's Pro Day workout.
"Especially with all the coaches and their NFL background, I think it's definitely prepared me, just as far as learning football," McClendon said. "And I was talking to the scouts, they definitely spoke very highly of me, so I greatly appreciate those guys."
McClendon (6-4, 222), a grad transfer from North Carolina State, also went through the pro day in Raleigh, N.C., last week, but got the chance to throw more at Baylor's Pro Day workout. He showed off a strong arm in throwing pass routes to current Baylor receivers Jared Atkinson, R.J. Sneed and Marques Jones and former receiver Trevor White.
"I'm definitely a sleeper on a lot of guys' radar," said McClendon, who was 55-of-91 for 715 yards and three touchdowns in his one season with the Bears. "At NC State, one of the scouts told me they hoped I wouldn't go out there because they didn't want anybody else to see me. From the feedback I've been getting, I'm definitely a sleeper and they're excited for me being their developmental guy and maybe their second or third (quarterback)."
Hurd (6-4, 228) and Thomas (6-3, 189), who were both invited to the NFL Combine, are considered Baylor's top NFL Draft prospects this year and a big reason why 28 teams were represented at Tuesday's workout at the Allison Indoor Facility.
"Being with this staff, I've been with it for four years, everything they taught us previously prepared us for this moment, prepared me for the Combine, prepared me for the next level," said Thomas, who had an interception and a team-high seven pass breakups. "Baylor prepared me because I was able to play higher competition. I was able to go against a 'guy' every week and every day during practice, because we've got 'guys' on this team. Being here and being with these coaches prepared me to be the best pro, wherever I go."
Hurd is one of the more intriguing prospects in this year's draft. After rushing for 2,638 yards and 20 touchdowns in three seasons at Tennessee, he switched to receiver at Baylor and caught 69 passes for 946 yards and four TDs and earned Big 12 Newcomer of the Year honors from the league's coaches.
"(The process) has been great. I've been waiting for it for my entire life," Hurd said, "so it's been amazing to come out here and do this and show everything I've got. . . . I want to be a receiver, and I think I've shown I can be a receiver and do it very well. I showed I can be a pretty dominant and elite receiver."
Roberts (6-5, 258), who worked out as an edge defensive end and outside linebacker, played under three head coaches and three position coaches in his five years at Baylor. His last season was his best, earning honorable mention All-Big 12 honors while registering 33 tackles, a team-high eight stops behind the line and two pass breakups.
"I feel like I went out the right way," Roberts said. "I put my stamp on this place and really happy with the people I'm leaving it to and how I left it. It's a little bittersweet – happy and a little sad, but happy with the way it went today."
Rhule told the scouts that fifth-year seniors like Roberts, Blackmar, Verkedric Vaughns and Pat Lawrence, who didn't go through Tuesday's workout drills after having back surgery, "is the group that got it turned for us."
"Greg Roberts is the guy who made it cool to practice," Rhule said. "He's the guy who became a really outstanding player this year because of the way he practiced. He was coachable. When you have older, more vocal players who will accept coaching, then you can coach anybody. Ira and Greg really stand out, them and Blackmar and Pat made that turn as seniors. . . . These guys are here because they love the game, and that will get you a long way."
Punter Drew Galitz also wasn't able to do any drills Tuesday after undergoing his second ACL surgery in as many years. But, Rhule said he hopes both Galitz and Lawrence still get an opportunity.
"It's always good when guys you play with, you see them get drafted and go on, and you recognize it doesn't seem quite as distant," said Rhule, who didn't have a Baylor player taken in last year's draft. "It's been a couple years since they've seen a teammate drafted. To get some guys get drafted this year, I think it will change how far away that feels."
The NFL Draft will be held April 25-27 in Nashville, Tenn.
Baylor Bear Insider
Whether it was for five months like quarterback Jalan McClendon, one season as a receiver for Jalen Hurd or longer connections for Derrek Thomas, Greg Roberts, Blake Blackmar, Ira Lewis and Verkedric Vaughns, their time with Matt Rhule and this Baylor staff paid off at Tuesday's Pro Day workout.
"Especially with all the coaches and their NFL background, I think it's definitely prepared me, just as far as learning football," McClendon said. "And I was talking to the scouts, they definitely spoke very highly of me, so I greatly appreciate those guys."
McClendon (6-4, 222), a grad transfer from North Carolina State, also went through the pro day in Raleigh, N.C., last week, but got the chance to throw more at Baylor's Pro Day workout. He showed off a strong arm in throwing pass routes to current Baylor receivers Jared Atkinson, R.J. Sneed and Marques Jones and former receiver Trevor White.
"I'm definitely a sleeper on a lot of guys' radar," said McClendon, who was 55-of-91 for 715 yards and three touchdowns in his one season with the Bears. "At NC State, one of the scouts told me they hoped I wouldn't go out there because they didn't want anybody else to see me. From the feedback I've been getting, I'm definitely a sleeper and they're excited for me being their developmental guy and maybe their second or third (quarterback)."
Hurd (6-4, 228) and Thomas (6-3, 189), who were both invited to the NFL Combine, are considered Baylor's top NFL Draft prospects this year and a big reason why 28 teams were represented at Tuesday's workout at the Allison Indoor Facility.
"Being with this staff, I've been with it for four years, everything they taught us previously prepared us for this moment, prepared me for the Combine, prepared me for the next level," said Thomas, who had an interception and a team-high seven pass breakups. "Baylor prepared me because I was able to play higher competition. I was able to go against a 'guy' every week and every day during practice, because we've got 'guys' on this team. Being here and being with these coaches prepared me to be the best pro, wherever I go."
Hurd is one of the more intriguing prospects in this year's draft. After rushing for 2,638 yards and 20 touchdowns in three seasons at Tennessee, he switched to receiver at Baylor and caught 69 passes for 946 yards and four TDs and earned Big 12 Newcomer of the Year honors from the league's coaches.
"(The process) has been great. I've been waiting for it for my entire life," Hurd said, "so it's been amazing to come out here and do this and show everything I've got. . . . I want to be a receiver, and I think I've shown I can be a receiver and do it very well. I showed I can be a pretty dominant and elite receiver."
Roberts (6-5, 258), who worked out as an edge defensive end and outside linebacker, played under three head coaches and three position coaches in his five years at Baylor. His last season was his best, earning honorable mention All-Big 12 honors while registering 33 tackles, a team-high eight stops behind the line and two pass breakups.
"I feel like I went out the right way," Roberts said. "I put my stamp on this place and really happy with the people I'm leaving it to and how I left it. It's a little bittersweet – happy and a little sad, but happy with the way it went today."
Rhule told the scouts that fifth-year seniors like Roberts, Blackmar, Verkedric Vaughns and Pat Lawrence, who didn't go through Tuesday's workout drills after having back surgery, "is the group that got it turned for us."
"Greg Roberts is the guy who made it cool to practice," Rhule said. "He's the guy who became a really outstanding player this year because of the way he practiced. He was coachable. When you have older, more vocal players who will accept coaching, then you can coach anybody. Ira and Greg really stand out, them and Blackmar and Pat made that turn as seniors. . . . These guys are here because they love the game, and that will get you a long way."
Punter Drew Galitz also wasn't able to do any drills Tuesday after undergoing his second ACL surgery in as many years. But, Rhule said he hopes both Galitz and Lawrence still get an opportunity.
"It's always good when guys you play with, you see them get drafted and go on, and you recognize it doesn't seem quite as distant," said Rhule, who didn't have a Baylor player taken in last year's draft. "It's been a couple years since they've seen a teammate drafted. To get some guys get drafted this year, I think it will change how far away that feels."
The NFL Draft will be held April 25-27 in Nashville, Tenn.
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