Tuesday Pro Day recap: Illinois, Arkansas, Georgia Tech

There were a lot of Pro Days on Tuesday headlined by Arkansas, Illinois, and Georgia Tech.

We’ll start with Illinois and notes from Tony Pauline

Receiver AJ Jenkins also blistered in the three-cone and short shuttle, posting times in the low 3.8 second area and 6.7 second area respectively. His short shuttle time was faster than any run by a receiver at the combine, while only two wideouts bested the three-cone mark.

Fast-rising Whitney Mercilus posted a time of 7.03 in the three-cone, which bettered his mark from the combine by almost .15 seconds. The number would’ve also placed Mercilus, who lined up at defensive end last season, in the top half of the linebackers who participated in the three-cone test at the combine. His short shuttle run of 4.49 seconds was also an improvement from his combine number last week. Afterward, Mercilus ran through position drills at both defensive line and linebacker. The game-impacting junior has likely secured a spot for himself in the bottom half of the first round.

Another player who was of interest to NFL teams was Illinois OL Jeff Allen

n the offensive line drills, tackle Jeff Allen displayed good initial foot quickness. However, he let his feet get too close and blocked with a narrow base, which hurts his ability to re-direct and adjust well side-to-side. Allen should be a fourth- or fifth-round pick.

The Biggest winner of the day though was clearly Arkansas WR Greg Childs:

Greg Childs is out to remind NFL teams of his potential.

After struggling with injuries and a disappointing NFL combine, Childs looked like the receiver his teammates remembered at Arkansas’ pro day on Tuesday.

Childs ran a 4.41-second 40-yard dash, up from a 4.55 at the combine last month. He also recorded impressive marks in agility drills and the weight room, including a vertical jump of 40 1-2 inches and a broad jump of 10 feet, 7 inches.

“It was just mainly showing everybody that I was healthy again; showing everybody I was 100 percent,” Childs said. “I came out here and I had some scouts tell me, ‘You look 100 percent. You look as explosive as ever.'”

Childs suffered a season-ending knee injury in 2010. Though he was cleared to practice with the Razorbacks prior to last season, his production dropped dramatically.

Adams’ 40 time has been the topic of much discussion in recent weeks. School officials clocked the speedy receiver at 4.30 seconds prior to his senior season.Adams said he has gained 10 pounds since the end of the football season and is learning to run with the added weight.

Like with Childs, Wright said he believes Adams’ game film will tell scouts all they need to know.

“He’s got football skills and he’s fast when he gets on the football field,” Wright said. “I’ve never seen anyone catch Joe from behind.”

Another guy who needed a good Proday was Arkansas LB Jerry Franklin

LB Jerry Franklin participated in every drill at Arkansas’ pro day, running a 4.6 40 and benching 225 pounds 15 times, after not receiving an invite to the NFL Combine despite being an All-SEC selection. ““It was important,” Franklin said. “I was able to come out and show the scouts things I can do.”

The star of Georiga Tech’s Pro Day was clearly Stephen Hill.

Running a variety of short and intermediate routes, Hill got in and out of his breaks fast and caught all 12 passes, including a fingertip-grab off the turf, form quarterback Eric Ward in Tuesday’s workout. Vikings wide receiver coach George Stewart ran the receiver drills and ordered Hill through the route tree.

His eye-catching gold and silver Nike Vapor cleats only added to the spectacle. Scouts wanted to see something they didn’t on film from Hill — how he runs routes, if he repeats them with precision and how he tracks the ball over his shoulder and adjusts to poorly thrown passes. Hill was not a featured part of the run-first offense Tech operates.

According to scouts, Peeples ran a 4.50, followed by Jones (4.53), Reid (4.56), Sylvester (4.75) and Peters (4.83).

Peters benched 225 pounds 28 times. Walls did 24 reps, followed by Sylvester (23), Melton (16), Jones (14), Peeples (14) and Reid (11 3/4).

• Melton dropped his first pass but redeemed himself with a twisting, leaping grab.

• Tech coach Paul Johnson said Jones and Peeples are “probably third-down backs, slot receivers. Clearly they’ve done some of that, catching the ball in space. It just depends on how teams see them.

“You hope they all get a chance, they all get into camp and see what happens.”

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