The most anticipated Pro Day in University of South Florida football history drew about 50 NFL scouts to campus Tuesday afternoon, including head coaches Lovie Smith of the Chicago Bears, Tom Coughlin of the New York Giants and Marvin Lewis of the Cincinnati Bengals.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were represented by pro scouting director Doug Williams.
There was plenty to see.
Led by defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul, as many as seven members of the 2009 Bulls team likely will be chosen during the NFL Draft, which spans seven rounds on April 22-24. Other USF players, including quarterback Matt Grothe, hoped to catch the eye of an NFL scout.
Several undrafted players eventually will sign with NFL teams as free agents.
Grothe, whose senior season ended prematurely when he tore the ACL in his left knee in a Sept. 19 game against Charleston Southern, hopes to revive his football career either in the NFL or the CFL.
Players were measured, weighed and tested for their vertical jump before taking the field for workouts. Grothe was listed at 5-foot-11 (and six-tenths), 207 pounds and Pierre-Paul came in 6-5, 266. Safety Nate Allen's vertical jump was measured at 34.5 inches.
Grothe had a 32 inch vertical jump and ran the 40 in 4.82 seconds.
Receiver Carlton Mitchell was timed in 4.42 seconds on his first attempt at the 40-yard dash, while cornerback Jerome Murphy was clocked in 4.51 seconds on his only attempt. Defensive end George Selvie turned in a 4.88 time.
Allen was unable to run a timed 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine because of a pulled quadriceps muscle in his left leg and did not run for scouts Tuesday because the same injury still was lingering.
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