LSU Pro Day 2015: Recap, Reaction for Jalen Collins, La'El Collins and More

More than 20 former LSU Tigers participated in Friday's pro day, which lacked the depth of previous LSU pro days but still included quality players.

One of the highest-rated prospects on the team, cornerback Jalen Collins, did not work out after recently undergoing foot surgery; however, the 6'1", 199-pound cornerback met with NFL decision-makers and logged important one-on-one time off the field.

In fact, he and defensive end Danielle Hunter, who unlike Collins did participate on Friday, ate dinner with Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin Thursday evening, per Lyons Yellin of of WWL-TV:

With Jalen Collins sidelined, his namesake, offensive tackle La'el Collins, was the main on-field attraction at the workout.

Collins first made waves at the weigh-in, checking in at 6'4 ½", 320 pounds. At the NFL Scouting Combine, he checked in at 6'4", 305 pounds. A 15-pound weight gain should help Collins' stock moving forward, although he still had to prove he could wear the weight without losing mobility.

Here he is performing OL drills at pro day:

Mobility looks just fine.

Also of note: Despite the weight gain, which tacitly implies he might consider a move to guard, Collins told reporters that every team he's talked to wants him at left tackle, per Jacques Doucet of WAFB.

We'll see if that remains the case.

Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Prior to the workout, Cody Bellaire of And The Valley Shook highlighted running back Kenny Hilliard, who underperformed with a 4.83 40 at the combine. "If he does not put up good numbers at the workout tomorrow," Bellaire wrote, "he is looking at [being an] undrafted free agent at best."

Fortunately, Hilliard stepped up and ran a 4.6. He also put up 16 reps on the bench press and improved from 27 inches to 29 inches in the vertical jump. Here's a video of his 40-yard dash, along with that of fellow running back Terrance Magee, who clocked a 4.56:

LSU head coach Les Miles, one of many impressed with Magee's workout, said he thinks his former scatback has "third-down back written all over him" at the next level, per Chase Goodbread of NFL.com:

On defense, Hunter and linebacker Kwon Alexander stood on most of their scores from the combine. Both players performed well in Indianapolis and made the smart choice to abstain from working out.

Hunter, however, did perform the vertical jump, which was enough to get scouts salivating. He posted a beastly score of 36.5 inches that no LSU player surpassed. For context, Jalen Collins posted a 36-inch jump at the combine, before undergoing surgery.

Hunter is 6'5", 252 pounds.

Defensive end Jermauria Rasco did not earn an invite to the combine and was thus not afforded the same luxury. Because he missed the combine, scouts watched his workout with a close eye.

Unfortunately, Rasco failed to impress. He weighed in at 6'3", 247 pounds, ran a 4.73 in the 40-yard dash, posted 12 reps on the bench press and logged a 28.5-inch vertical jump—decent enough numbers but far from the spectacular workout he was hoping for.

And lastly, to the feel-good story of the workout.

Former LSU linebacker Tahj Jones, who was shot and nearly killed only two days after last year's pro day, returned to the field on Friday. He didn't light the world on fire and is unlikely to make an NFL roster, but his perseverance highlighted the afternoon.

Hopefully someone gives him a shot.