CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WVIR) - On Monday, 18 University of Virginia football players left it all out on the field in the hopes of continuing to live out their dream at the next level.
Scouts from 25 NFL teams across the nation spent their day in Charlottesville, looking for talent and athleticism from a group of Cavaliers eager to show off their skills.
“You kind of think about this moment for all your life, and then when you get here, everything’s moving so quickly, you kind of just black out,” said Sage Ennis, a former UVA tight end.
The pressure was on as the NFL hopefuls participated in six physical tests: bench press, broad jump, vertical jump, three-cone shuffle, short shuffle, and the 40-yard dash.
“I’m always trying to push my standard, push the bar,” said wide receiver Cam Ross, whose initial estimated time in the 40 was about 4.3 seconds. “I’d be lying if I said I don’t want to come in here and run a 4.2.”
Jayden Thomas, who played wide receiver on UVA’s team and at Notre Dame, says he wanted to showcase his versatility.
“I feel like coaches, they really trust me, whether it’s on special teams, offense,” Thomas said. “Wherever you need, I’m \[gonna\] be there.”
Players have spent weeks training for this moment. Ross spent all of February in Fort Lauderdale at a football academy, where he spent some of his time doing speed work with Olympian and track athlete Ato Bolden.
“It was a grind,” Ross said. “Definitely was just laser focused these last few months.”
And, of course, it took a lot of protein.
“A lot of chicken and rice,” Ennis said. “A lot of ground beef and rice. A lot of sweet potatoes - it’s a super food.”
The physical tests are only one piece of the puzzle. This time of year is also about continuous interviews and conversations with coaches and scouts.
J’Mari Taylor, a running back, says he’s been in and out of meetings and has multiple others scheduled for the next week.
“I think I had a pretty great day, me personally,” Taylor said. “Really don’t matter what I think, it’s all in the hands of the GMS, coaches, anything, who decides to pick me up in the draft.”
On Monday, he said he’d been speaking with a number of different teams, including the Seattle Seahawks, the San Francisco 49ers, the Denver Broncos, and the Las Vegas Raiders.
When asked what feedback he’s received so far, Taylor said it’s about being flexible and being prepared, for instance, to grow in special teams.
“You gotta be willing to take somebody’s spot,” Taylor said.
Each player got just a few hours Monday to take what could be a big step forward.
“Hopefully I at least made one team fall in love with me today,” Ennis said. “That’s all it takes.”
Thomas called the Pro Day the “first thing off the bucket list” on his ongoing journey to hopefully make it to the NFL.
“I’m willing to go anywhere, wherever,” Thomas said. “Hopefully make my dream come true and play in the NFL and provide for my family in the future.”
These ‘Hoos got to do it in Charlottesville, and with former teammates who now feel like family.
“It’s only been two months since I’ve seen them, but it’s felt like forever,” Ross said. “That’s just the type of bond that we’ve created.”
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