NFL scouts were on hand Monday for Gophers Pro Day held at the University of Minnesota’s football complex. Several teams came to see several recent Minnesota graduates hoping for a shot at the NFL.
Minnesota’s top prospects are tight end Maxx Williams, running back David Cobb and linebacker Damien Wilson. All three participated in the NFL Combine last month.
Williams, who some have projected as a first round pick in this year’ s NFL Draft, led the Gophers with 36 catches for 589 yards and 8 touchdowns. He had a solid showing at the combine and participated in just the tight end drills on Monday. Still, he left a big impression on some of the scouts.
Maxx Williams just wrapped up TE drills. Talking here to Norv. Overheard Bengals rep say, "he's going to be great!" pic.twitter.com/iKaw4zDuLV
— Aj Mansour (@AjKFAN) March 2, 2015
Wilson followed suit, but Cobb, who suffered a quad injury at the combine chose to sit out.
“As I understand the situation, he will have an individual workout sometime in early April,” Cobb’s father, Cesar Cobb, told the Pioneer Press.
But Gophers pro day isn’t all about the star power, as Vikings general manager Rick Spielman noted on Monday.
Spielman called #Gophers Pro Day "one of the best in the country." Said #Vikings found Sherels, Thielen here in the past.
— David McCoy (@mccoympls) March 2, 2015
Two other players really stood out on Monday. One was safety Cedric Thompson, the other was defensive lineman Cameron Botticelli.
Thompson was Minnesota’s leader in the defensive backfield in 2014. He finished second on the team with 83 tackles, recorded 3.5 tackles for loss, intercepted two passes and forced two fumbles.
Safety Cedric Thompson was the standout today at #Minnesota's pro day: 4.38-4.44 40-yd dash, 40.5" vertical, 10'2" broad. Underrated player.
— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) March 2, 2015
Botticelli was a walk on at the University of Minnesota, but worked his way into starting 47 games for the Gophers. He was Minnesota’s defensive lineman of the year last season.
While Botticelli wasn’t invited to the combine, he told the Star Tribune that a player cannot be measured entirely by the combine.
“Some of the best things that I bring to the table can’t be measured at the combine,” Botticelli told the newspaper. “As far as understanding defenses schematically, being coachable, being a positive leader. I think whoever does take a chance on me, they’re going to have to wait until they get me to camp because you can’t measure that stuff.”
Zimmer and Turner chatting with Jerry Kill at #Gophers Pro Day. #Vikings pic.twitter.com/QVev8YvE4B
— Andrew Krammer (@Andrew_Krammer) March 2, 2015
