Armstrong highlights Jayhawks' performances at 2018 Pro Day
LAWRENCE, Kan. — It was a busy day around Kansas football’s Anderson Family Football Complex and on Kivisto Field in Memorial Stadium as KU held its annual Pro Day Tuesday. In all, 20 of the 32 NFL teams were represented as six former Kansas football players ran through the gamut of tests and skill work.
The six Jayhawks who took part in Tuesday’s Pro Day were defensive end Dorance Armstrong Jr., defensive tackle Jacky Dezir, offensive lineman Zach Hannon, tight end Ben Johnson, punter Cole Moos and offensive lineman Jayson Rhodes.
The day’s activities began in the weight room of the Anderson Family Football Complex as the six Jayhawks went through weights and measures to start the day. After getting heights, weights, hand measurements and wing spans in the books, the real testing began.
Next up was the standing vertical leap and standing broad jump before the group made their way outside to clock their 40-yard dash, pro shuttle (5-10-5), 3-cone drill and 60-yard shuttle.
The group of scouts and Pro Day participants then came back into the Kansas football weight room to test their ability to lift 225 pounds on the bench press, before returning to Kivisto Field for some position drills.
Armstrong, who was invited to take part in the 2018 NFL combine, was pleased overall with his improved numbers at KU’s event, most notably going from 20 to 25 reps on the bench press.
“The only thing I didn’t improve on was my 40,” said Armstrong. “Everything else was pretty good. My vertical increased several inches and I got five more reps on the bench so that made me happy.”
Another Jayhawk who had a strong showing was Johnson, who spent the majority of the last three months training in California in preparation for KU’s Pro Day.
“I feel like I met my expectations,” said Johnson. “It was good to finally get out there and perform. I have been preparing for months so to finally get in front of the scouts and do it was a good feeling. I had a solid day overall so I am relieved to have it behind me now.”
All of the Jayhawks who participated in the combine will continue to prepare for the future as the 2018 NFL Draft is just over a month away. The current crop of Jayhawks will open spring practice later this week.
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