Kansas Football Holds Pro Day
March 10, 2009
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Eleven former Kansas football players participated in pro day, Tuesday, where they tested their speed, strength and agility for NFL scouts on the KU campus.
A number of teammates, family members and friends were in attendance to offer encouragement as the former players attempted to increase their NFL stock. Derek Fine, who played his rookie year with the Buffalo Bills last season, was also in attendance.
Those who participated included Raymond Brown, Ryan Cantrell, Dexton Fields, Kendrick Harper, Marcus Herford, James Holt, Adrian Mayes, Joe Mortensen, Patrick Resby, Mike Rivera and James McClinton, who was a senior in 2007.
After being weighed and measured, the players were put through a series of evaluations which included bench press, broadjump, vertical leap, 40-yard dash, short shuttle, 3-cone drill and 60-yard shuttle. The afternoon was capped off with positional drills.
As a group, all eleven performed well in the running. McClinton and Mayes highlighted the bench press with 23 reps of 225 pounds. Rivera led everyone in the vertical leap at 38 and a half inches.
“It was an awesome day,” Rivera said. “It was a lot of fun to come back out here one more time with this group of seniors to see what we can do.”
Joe Mortensen, who also participated in some position drills as a fullback, echoed his friend and teammate.
“Pro Day is a great chance for us to show what we’ve got for the scouts,” he said. “I know we’re going to get our chance (to play professionally), and we’ve just got to make the most of it.”
And about running through fullback drills?
“I was all-state at fullback in California,” Mortensen said. “I just love to hit so it doesn’t really matter which side of the ball it is.”
Spring football season is underway, with the Jayhawks holding their first practice Monday. KU’s second practice in Memorial Stadium is Wednesday, March 11, and is open to the public. Fans should park on the East side of the stadium and enter the Southeast gate.
The Spring Football Game is Saturday, April 11th at Kivisto Field at Memorial Stadium at 2 p.m. Admission to the game is free. Please continue to visit kuathletics.com for additional details.
