USF Football Holds Annual Pro Day On Campus

(Ed. note: Sorry it took so long to get this report out. We had trouble getting the results back and didn’t want to publish without them. - JD)

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USF football welcomed in more than 20 NFL scouts, including the Cowboys, Jets, Bucs, Dolphins, Jaguars, Patriots, along with a few CFL and Arena Football scouts yesterday at the Frank Morsani Football Complex for the Bulls’ annual Pro Day. Among the list of participants were seniors from last year, early pro declarers like Marlon Mack, and a few former USF players from further back:

List of Participants:

• WR Rodney Adams
• WR Austin Aikens
• OL Kofi Amichia
• DT Daniel Awoleke
• K Brandon Behr
• DB Nate Godwin
• LB Nigel Harris
• RB Marlon Mack
• LS Dylan Rutledge
• LS Alex Salvato
• DB Shannon Smith
• OL Dominique Threatt
• DB Johnny Ward
• QB Steven Bench
• DB Jamie Byrd
• P Mattias Ciabatti
• DT James Hamilton
• TE Sean Price
• TE Mike McFarland

Coming off impressive showings at the NFL Combine earlier this month, both Mack and Adams did not participate in the weight room exercises or the 40-yard dash.

The turf monster reared its head a few times during the individual drills for both but they still showed why they were two of the most dynamic players in USF history.

“I talked to my agents and they said I had some good times and good feedback [from teams], so we decided to just come here and do position drills,” running back Marlon Mack said.

“It’d be great if I stay here in Tampa. I’ve played in the stadium already, that’s an advantage. I’d love to be in the Pewter and Red.” #WeaponsForWinston

WR Austin Aikens may have had the best Pro Day of everyone who fully participated in the drills. He had a 40.5” vertical and ran a 4.5-40 yard dash. His vertical would’ve put him tied for sixth at this years combine. He ran good routes and caught pretty much everything former QB and TDS writer Steven Bench threw to him.

Bench put on a #La$er$how for the scouts and hopefully something good comes from it. If not, we can always use him on the site.

LT Kofi Amichia was impressive in the weight room, completing 32 bench press reps at 225 pounds and registering a 33.5” vertical. Not bad for the big fella, and the scouts noticed as well. He didn’t participate in any position drills because he tweaked his hamstring on the second of his two 40-yard dash attempts. His first attempt was in 4.97 seconds, which would put him third among O-linemen from the combine.

DT Danny Awoleke looked like a physical specimen during the drills. He put up 31 reps at 225, which would put him fourth among d-linemen at the combine, then ran a 5.04 40-yard dash.

LB Nigel Harris weighed in at 220 pounds, the heaviest he says he’s ever been. He said he felt good about his performance after knocking out 15 reps on the bench and running a surprising 4.53 40-yard dash, second only behind LB/DB Jabrill Peppers. His 33.5” vertical would place him 10th among linebackers. He did have some trouble catching the ball in the defensive drills.

DB Nate Godwin had an outstanding day. He weighed in at 210 pounds, had a 37” vertical, 6th among combine participants, and ran a 4.5 40-yard dash, which was faster than top prospect and former Gator DB Quincy Wilson. He also got 19 reps on the bench press, fourth among combine participants, and surprised himself with that amount.

“I think I’m an underdog. I think I bring a lot to the table, I think with my size and speed I can help any team. I’d be blessed to play for any team,” Godwin said.

Godwin and Harris will attend the local tryout held by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on April 14, two weeks before the NFL Draft. Bucs head coach Dirk Koetter was in attendance at Pro Day along with some Bucs scouts.

Nathan Bond/The Daily Stampede

“It’d be a fairy tale,” the Tampa native Godwin said about playing for the Bucs.