Eleven members of the 2024 football squad displayed their skills to NFL scouts on Thursday at the STAR complex
Latrell Jean (7), D.J. Woodbury (0) and Eljiah Deravil (4) were three of the 11 participants in Temple Pro Day on Thursday. (Photo: Zamani Feelings)
PHILADELPHIA – The Temple football program has sent a lot of players to the NFL over the last two decades. It hasn't necessarily been the case the last few years – coinciding with the lack of team success in the same period – but the 11 players who took part in the school's Pro Day on Thursday are hoping to change that beginning in next month's NFL Draft and on into training camps.
Likely the best pro prospect, kicker Maddux Trujillo, put on a show in a 16-kick indoor performance – including a 65-yarder – before heading back into the cold and wind to showcase his kickoff ability while the other 10 players showed off their physical abilities.
The day started with measurements and physical testing at Edberg-Olson Hall before moving to the STAR complex for drills like the shuttle run, three-cone drill, 40-yard dash, and position drills.
Participants also included WR Ashton Allen, DE/LB Diwun Black, TE James Della Pesca, CB Elijah Deravil, DT Latrell Jean, SAF Andreas Keaton, OL Wisdom Quarshie, CB Torey Richardson, LB D.J. Woodbury and WR Dante Wright.
Current QB Evan Simon threw to Allen and Wright at their request prior to the team's afternoon practice.
For the players who participated, they hope the film from the last few seasons put them on the NFL radar and Thursday's skills tests push them over the top to be drafted or earn an invitation to join a preseason camp roster.
"You dream about this your whole life," said Jean, who led the way with benching 225 pounds 28 times. "I've been playing football my whole life, so to be at this point is amazing. The position drills, I showed them that I'm a big guy, but I can move like a linebacker. Try to be smooth, try to make sure my feet are working good. I showed them I can move for a guy who is almost 300 pounds.
"I performed pretty good. I think I turned some heads. Today put icing on the cake because the film doesn't lie. When they watch the tape, it will show the type of player I am."
After Trujillo – the only Temple player invited to this year's NFL Combine – Black might be the next best prospect. He competed in the Tropical Bowl after notching eight quarterback hurries, six tackles for loss and three sacks in eight games in 2024.
"I showcased my talent a lot at the Tropical Bowl and during the season, but I've been training for the 40 and all the drills, preparing to show my weight gain, my speed, so it was very important for this day," Black said. "To be 250 and move like I move, my assets could be viable to a team coming off the edge. The NFL is a big passing league."
Keaton's 40 time was officially listed as 4.62, but he said he heard mention of an official 4.47-4.49 and was thrilled with his performance.
"I like being humble, but I did my job from the times to the weight room to the position (drills), all across the board, humbly," Keaton said. "I know my speed, and I showcased that in a very good way today.
"Now I have to get back to work. This journey isn't over. I can't get complacent, especially in an environment like this. There's a whole bunch of hungry people in this business who want to feed their family."
Della Pesca spent over two months at AdvantEdge Sports Training in Michigan to prepare to work out for professional scouts. The New Jersey native had his parents on hand for the last official act of his Temple football career.
"We were looking back at the process, I've been at Temple for five years, we were looking back at 'Remember when we were getting recruited here and how crazy it was,'" Della Pesca said. "It was bringing that same feeling back, doing it in front of scouts. It was a good time. I came out today to show I was more athletic and could be more versatile and could be an H-back type of tight end.
"It was a tough season for us. I was pretty upset after my last game. I reached out to a coach to play overseas in Italy, but I knew I'd be disappointed if I didn't give myself a chance to go the NFL. That's why I came here."
Richardson was generally pleased though admitted he dropped too many balls during position drills. Like many players, he hoped Thursday was a big step in the process on the way to the NFL.
"This is the most important job interview of my life," he said. "The tape shows I can play ball, but I'm going to keep working and keep improving."