By Thomas Mott, Jakob Brandenburg | Reporter
Baylor football held its Pro Day on Wednesday inside the Allison Indoor Practice Facility. Fourteen former Bears took part in measurements and physical testing in front of NFL scouts and personnel.
Forty scouts from 29 NFL teams attended the Pro Day in order to evaluate players for the upcoming NFL Draft. In addition, former Baylor and current NFL players Corey Coleman, Spencer Drango, Xavien Howard and Kendall Wright were also in attendance.
Baylor head coach Matt Rhule talked about the relationship between Baylor’s program and the NFL.
“We’re one of the few schools that we’re open 365 days a year to scouts,” Rhule said. “So we’re a very NFL-friendly place. And it’s great to have so many former Baylor players come back and come out and support their teammates.”
Among the former Baylor players attempting to transition to the NFL is quarterback Seth Russell. Russell went through a scripted throwing session with his receivers and personal coach, former NFL quarterback Jon Kitna. Russell completed 66 of the 74 passes he attempted at Pro Day, with five of his incompletions coming as a result of drops by the receivers.
Russell evaluated his performance following his workout.
“I felt good today,” Russell said. “I don’t think it could have gone any better. I’ve been working really hard, and it all came together today.”
Russell, who still isn’t fully healed from a season-ending ankle injury, said he hopes to officially test in the 40-yard dash and vertical jump on April 200 at Baylor.
Wide receiver KD Cannon is expected to be an early pick in the NFL Draft. Cannon was pleased with his testing results from the NFL Combine and did not run or jump for scouts at the Pro Day. He did run a variety of routes however for the quarterbacks at Pro Day and caught passes while showing off his speed during the on-field drills.
Cannon mentioned that the Cleveland Browns receivers coach told him they would love to pair him with former teammate Coleman, who was the team’s first-round pick last season.
Cannon talked about the chance to be reunited on the field with Coleman, who Cannon lived with the last few months while he trained for the draft.
“It would be fun,” Cannon said. “Just like college all over again, so I feel like it would be a great experience. Corey is a real close friend.”
Another former Baylor receiver who drew a lot of attention was wide receiver Ishmael Zamora. He was not allowed to participate in the NFL Combine because of a misdemeanor animal abuse charge. As a result, Wednesday was the first chance NFL personnel had to see the redshirt sophomore work out.
Zamora talked about handling questions from NFL teams about his character.
“It comes up every time,” Zamora said. “But once they realize I’m really a genuine guy, and I’m not what the media has been portraying me as, then they understand. I tell the truth. I want them to know I’m really a nice guy. I really love my family, and I love my dogs as well.”
Despite off-the-field questions, Zamora has the physical attributes NFL teams look for. At Pro Day, Zamora measured 6 feet 3 inches and a half inches tall and weighed 224 pounds. He vertical leaped 40 inches and was unofficially timed at 4.49 in the 40-yard dash.
The first round of the NFL Draft will start at 8 p.m. CDT on April 27 in Philadelphia. The second and third rounds will be on April 28, and rounds four though seven will be on April 29.
