Pro Day Recap: California Golden Bears
California to me is the team with the most underrated prospects in the nation. Everyone knows about Marvin Jones because of his exceptional senior bowl week and predraft process to date, but I also think DL Trevor Guyton is a guy who’s going to get drafted on day three, but will end up being a decent starter. Offensive linemen Mitchell Schwartz is climbing NFL Big boards according to lots of people in the know. A potential second round pick. The Bears also have a punter, Bryan Anger who could be the first kicker/punter off the board in the draft. We all know Mychal Kendricks put himself on the map at the combine.
Here are some notes on Cal’s Proday
Defensive lineman Ernest Owusu stole the show. Measuring 6-4 and 277 pounds, Owusu completed 39 reps on the bench, posted a 30.5-inch vertical jump and ran 40 times between 4.72 and 4.78 seconds. Those times are likely to be quickened by scouts due to the slick surface the players ran on. The workout today will force scouts to reevaluate Owusu, who was not a good fit in Cal’s 3-4 defense the past two seasons.
Safety DJ Campbell also looked outstanding. Campbell posted a vertical jump of 38 inches, broad jump of 10-5 and ran in the low 4.5-second range in the 40, despite straining a hamstring muscle. This is in contrast to Cal’s other safety, Sean Cattouse, who attended the combine earlier this month. Cattouse bettered his 40 time of 4.76 seconds from Indianapolis, running 4.68 seconds today. Many believe Campbell is the better NFL prospect than Cattouse, despite receiving fewer headlines and less praise from NFL scout
Rob Rang’s Notes:
Defensive end Ernest Owusu created a significant buzz early in the workout by posting 39 repetitions of225 pounds in Cal’srenovated weight-room. Later, he demonstrated impressive straight-line speed for his 6-4, 277 pound frame, registering times in the 4.7s, according to a source onthe scene. As a point of comparison, Owusu, who was not invited to the Combine, ran nearlyas well and lifted more than any defensive end in Indianapolis this year.
Frankly, I was surprised Owusu wasn’t invited to the Combine. He registered 30 tackles, including seven loss and 4.5 sacks despite playing in a 3-4 defense. Owusu had stood outon tape earlier in the year, in my opinion.
If Owusu generated the early buzz in the workout and Campbell provided the action, it was wide receiver Michael Calvin who brought the surprise with a stunning time in the 40-yard dash. Calvin saw the most action of his career as a senior, starting six games and catching 20 passes for 263 yards and a touchdown, but the fact that Campbell (listed by Cal at 6-3, 215 pounds)registered times in the low 4.3s will certainly force scouts to analyze each one ofthose receptions.
While Cal’srelatively unheralded prospects were tearing up the turf, their more well-known players– linebacker Mychal Kendricks, wide receiver Marvin Jones and punter Bryan Anger — largely sat on their impressive Combine performances.
Former Cal running back Marshawn Lynch popularized the phrase “Beast Mode” to describe his style of play. On Wednesday, Lynch was in chill-out mode as he watched current Cal players beast it up in front of NFL scouts at Cal’s pro day in Berkeley.
Wide receiver Michael Calvin posted a head-turning 40-yard dash in a hand-timed 4.32 seconds by accounts of some scouts in attendance. Defensive lineman Ernest Owusu bench-pressed 225 pounds 39 times as Lynch and other former Cal players Shane Vereen and Cameron Jordan offered their support.
Several receivers were beneficiaries of Cousins’ fine work, including Keshawn Martin. The swift wideout stood on his combine marks, but caught everything thrown in his direction during position drills. He ran scissor-sharp routes and showed great timing catching the ball. Scouts were impressed the way Martin caught the deep ball.
Though he performed well today, B.J. Cunningham took a backseat to Martin. Cunningham caught all but two passes but looked slightly stiff running pass routes. There are more than a few who believe when all is said and done Martin will be selected before Cunningham in next month’s draft.
Both Spartan juniors who entered this year’s draft stood out. Word is Edwin Baker looked better than anyone during the physical tests, posting a 40 time in the high 4.3s. Baker’s best time at the combine was 4.44 seconds. Jerel Worthy, who did not lift at the combine, completed 28 reps today and was another NFL hopeful from the Michigan State program who impressed future employers in position drill