They all talked about the same thing. The dream. What they had been thinking about for so long. The opportunity to play at another level of football.The chance that hard work month after month and year after year could pay off.
It’s a grind, for sure.
UNLV held its annual pro day Monday, when more than 20 players showed off their skills for a handful of NFL scouts.
Where the former Rebels were measured and weighed. Where they participated in the bench press and vertical jump and broad jump. Where they ran the 40-yard dash and took part in agility and 3-cone and position drills.
Its very own combine.
It’s a tough journey to an NFL roster. A really tough one. The odds are much longer than the field on which players competed Monday.
But there has to be a beginning to process, and this is one. To put yourself out there. To show the talent you have developed. To — as offensive lineman Alani Makihele said — leave everything on the table.
Winning players
“These guys have put in so much work and did a great job for us last year,” UNLV coach Dan Mullen said. “They know how to win. You have to have some pretty good players to win 10 games. I love seeing them come out here and live their dream.
“Just work. This is like a job interview right now. You want that opportunity to get invited to a camp, and if you do, it doesn’t matter how you got invited. It’s on you to stay there. Make sure when you’re given that opportunity, you really take advantage of it.”
It helps, no doubt, that UNLV runs pro-style schemes offensively and defensively. It actually could give some of its NFL hopefuls a leg up if they land in a camp.
Such a name is linebacker Marsel McDuffie, one of the program’s more decorated players in recent years who remained loyal to the Rebels his entire college career.
“This means everything to me, coming back where I started and one last time on this field with these guys,” McDuffie said. “Not much else I can ask for. Just want to play football as long as I can. This is something I’ve been thinking about since I was 6 years old.
“The time I spent here, all the guys I met over five years, the coaches I had. I made a lot of lifelong bonds that I will cherish the rest of my life.”
Jaden Bradley is a wide receiver who had a team-leading 58 receptions for 931 yards and four touchdowns last season.
His 66-yard average per game was nearly twice that of the next receiver. He also did some growing up under Mullen.
“It’s all part of the maturation process,” Bradley said. “Growing up is part of life’s learning lessons. You can’t win without learning. Just learning, being a sponge, taking my time with things. Thinking with your head and not your heart.
“It’s a blessing to be out here. I’m looking to show off my attitude, my athleticism, how good a teammate I am. Just all the things that come with football.”
Benching 225
Makihele had been sick all last week, so he was feeling a bit dehydrated Monday. But he still received a roar from teammates after the bench press, as he lifted 225 pounds 32 times.
He had hoped for at least 40. His personal best is 45.
“It has been a little hard, but we’ve been working since January, a lot of good work that started right after the (Frisco Bowl) game,” Makihele said. “Not everybody gets to be in front of NFL scouts. Show you care enough to show up and give it everything you have.”
Reid Williams agrees. The center said preparing for pro day is like preparing for weekly games. You put in so much work to get one shot at things. Bring your best.
“The toughest thing about this was waiting for it,” Williams said. “It’s not about being nervous. It’s more about your adrenaline pumping. All our dreams are to play at the next level and perform and just give it a shot.”
It’s all they’re asking for.
All each one of them wants.
Contact Ed Graney at egraney@reviewjournal.com. Follow @edgraney on X.