STILLWATER – I know that coming off a 1-11 season with a 3-9 campaign the year before that, it would be unlikely that the NFL scouts and personnel departments would be anxious to get to Stillwater to watch what is coming out of the program. The truth is there are some that are. The expected attendance is close to 25 NFL teams to be represented.
The NFL is going to look under every rock they can to find players. They get their chance on Thursday at 3:30 p.m. starting in the weight room of the West End Zone of Boone Pickens Stadium. That is where they will measure, test vertical and broad jumps and bench press rep test.
The 40-yard dash, 5-10-5 agility drill, L drill, and position specific drills will take place inside the Sherman Smith Training Center with some work outside.
Talking to scouts, the prospect they are most interested in testing and seeing is running back Trent Howland. My guess is that Howland has slimmed down from his 6-2, 247 pound frame from the end of last season. Howland is bull strong and expected to run somewhere in the mid 4.5 range. The Cowboy running back was mismanaged last season, but when he played he carried 63 times for 243-yards, mostly short yardage and goal line situations. He scored three touchdowns. He also caught six passes for 37-yards. He is also a good blocker in protection.
A bonus for the NFL scouts is that current quarterback for Oklahoma State and the leading passer in FBS Division I football last season Drew Mestemaker will throw all the drills to receivers and all other skill positions. Mestemaker is not NFL Draft eligible, but could be after next season. The 6-3, 215 pound quarterback is the real deal and scout can get a good look at him up close. He will not test, only make throws for the drills.
A huge sleeper for me is safety Parker Robertson. The 5-11, 188 pound former walk-on just delivers. I could see him getting into an NFL camp and impressing as an all-around special teams player. He is a good blokcer and is excellent in covering kicks. Robertson just doesn’t say no to accomplishing anything. Last season he had a team leading 77 tackles, 49 unassisted, 8.5 tackles-for-loss, one sack, two interceptions, five passes defended and two fumbles caused.
I also believe that punter Wes Pahl (6-5, 205) has a real shot. I thought he might be selected for the NFL Combine, but he wasn’t. There were only five specialists in Indianapolis. Pahl had 64 punts last season for an average of 46.5-yards per punt. He had 23 over 50-yards, put 21 punts inside the 20-yard-line, and only had four touchbacks. He made two tackles on coverage.
Here is the list of the rest of the players that have said they are testing and performing on Pro Day.
Freddie Brock IV, RB, 5-10, 192, Rochester, NY
Aidan Davenport, LS, 6-2, 225, Chatham, NJ
Terrill Davis, WR, 6-0, 195, Oklahoma City, Okla.
Christian Fitzpatrick, WR, 6-4, 220, Southfield, Mich.
Kenneth Harris, Saf, 6-0, 195, Columbia, La.
Sitiveni Havili-Kaufusi, DT, 6-2, 305, Waimanalo, Haw.
Sam Jackson V, WR, 5-10, 195, Chicago, Ill.
Bryan McCoy Jr., LB, 6-0, 225, Joliet, Ill.
Mordecai McDaniel, Saf, 6-1, 200, Fort Washington, Md.
Brandon Rawls, LB, 6-0, 240, Ypsilanti, Mich.
Bob Schick, OT, 6-6, 305, Midway, Utah
Cam Smith, CB, 6-0, 200, Little Elm, Texas
