NFL Draft 2011: The Prospects To Watch at Wisconsin's Pro Day
At Wednesday's Pro Day in Wisconsin, scouts and GM's will certainly have their eyes on potential first round picks Gabe Carimi and J.J. Watt.
However, seven other Badgers were invited to the workout in Madison, and those prospects have a chance to raise their stock in the draft or erase any doubts that prospective teams might have about them.
Let's break down the nine prospects who will be working out for NFL teams at Wisconsin's Pro Day in Madison.
J.J. Watt
1 of 9
Position: Defensive end (4-3, 3-4)
Size: 6-6, 300 lbs
Rundown: Watt put together a sizzling combine performance in Indianapolis that has his draft stock soaring.
He was among the top four defensive lineman in the bench press, vertical jump, broad jump, three-done drill and 20-yard shuttle.
At 300 pounds, his 4.84 40-yard dash time was impressive as well.
Overall, any team in the first round of the draft with a need at defensive end has to be taking a long look at Watt. With another eye-opening workout in Madison, it's possible that Watt could still go in the top 10-15 picks.
Gabe Carimi
2 of 9
Postion: Offensive tackle (left, right)
Size: 6-7, 315 lbs
Rundown: The NFL is always in search of athletic big men to protect their quarterbacks, and Carimi is another Badger that has the size and skills to be a first rounder.
Carimi was confident at the combine, declaring himself the draft's "best tackle" and putting together an all-around solid workout in Indianapolis.
Teams still have worries about his lateral movement and his ability to play left tackle, but Carimi can put to rest some of those doubts with a good showing at the pro day.
With so many franchises searching for tackles in the first round, it's nearly impossible that Carimi falls out of the first round. However, if he can wow some scouts in Madison, it's still possible his name will be the first tackle called.
John Moffitt
3 of 9
Position(s): Guard (left, right), Center
Size: 6-4, 319 lbs
Rundown: A consensus All-American and All-Big Ten, Moffitt is another attractive prospect on Wisconsin's offensive line.
Moffitt showed at the Senior Bowl that he can play both guard and center, and that kind of versatility is a good thing in the eyes of scouts.
At the combine, Moffitt showed he is a powerful player with an imposing body frame—important qualities for an offensive lineman.
At this point, Moffitt projects anywhere from the second to fourth round, but he can solidify himself in the second or third with a good showing in Madison.
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Lance Kendricks
4 of 9
Position(s): Tight end, H-Back
Size: 6-3, 245 lbs
Rundown: Coming from a long line of Wisconsin tight ends, Kendricks figures to be the next Badger to make an impact in the NFL at that position.
Kendricks was a somewhat quiet performer at the combine, putting up 25 reps on the bench press but running just a 4.75 40-yard dash.
While he plays the game faster than he's typically timed, Kendricks could raise his stock with a better showing in the speed drills in Madison.
The body and strength are already well known, but faster times for scouts today could get Kendricks closer to the end of the second and third rounds.
John Clay
5 of 9
Position: Running back
Size: 6-1, 231 lbs
Rundown: While Clay lost somewhere around 20 to 30 pounds prior to the NFL combine, his numbers there didn't show any added explosiveness or straight line speed.
In fact, his 4.77 40-yard dash saw his draft stock plummet as few teams are interested in a slimmer powerback who isn't quick.
Combine results aside, however, Clay has an opportunity to rectify himself with a more positive showing at the pro day. He won't be running in the 4.4's regardless of how home-friendly the stopwatches are, but Clay would do well to reduce his 40 time to somewhere in the 4.5-4.6 range.
If he can do that, Clay might find some suitors in the middle round who need a short yardage power runner.
Scott Tolzien
6 of 9
Position: Quarterback
Size: 6-3, 205 lbs
Rundown: Tolzien won't surprise any scouts with tremendous arm strength or athletic ability, but his 72.9 completion percentage from 2010 is an eye-catching number.
He also possesses plenty of smarts and leadership qualities, and that could make him a potential middle to late round pick.
No team is going to expect him to turn around their franchise at the quarterback position, but Tolzien could follow in the footsteps of Brooks Bollinger and Jim Sorgi as reliable backups at the next level.
More likely than not, Tolzien will show off his accuracy in Madison, and that should guarantee that he gets picked come April.
Jay Valai
7 of 9
Position: Safety
Size: 5-8, 205 lbs
Rundown: A three-year starter at safety for UW, Valai certainly isn't lacking in experience in the defensive secondary.
However, he does lack the production and technique that NFL scouts are looking for in a college safety prospect.
Even so, Valai could give himself some value with a good showing in Madison.
Valai should put up good numbers on the bench press, and with a good 40 time he could see himself as a late round pick that can contribute on special teams.
Receivers Participating
8 of 9
Isaac Anderson
At just 5'10" and 180 lbs, Anderson will need to show scouts the hands and quickness of a slot receiver if he wants to get selected.
He was never very productive in Wisconsin's run-heavy offense, and he occasionally struggled with catching the ball at UW.
Anderson needs to blow away the 40-yard dash and receiver drills to have any hope in April.
David Gilreath
While Anderson is small, the 5'11", 169-pound Gilreath is even smaller. However, with his experience returning kicks at UW, Gilreath can add an explosive element to an NFL return game.
There's very little chance that scouts will be looking at him as a receiver prospect, but they'll be keeping an eye on his 40 time.
If Gilreath ran a fast time, scouts might look past his lack of receiving skills and small frame to consider him as a late-round return pick.
Linebackers Participating
9 of 9
Culmer St. Jean
At just 6'0" and 235 lbs, St. Jean will be hard pressed to play inside linebacker at the next level.
However, St. Jean did hold down a UW linebacker unit that was more musical chairs than a solid threesome last season.
If St. Jean can put up a solid number on the bench and display some quickness in short areas, there's a chance he could be picked up after the draft as a guy who could contribute on special teams.
Blake Sorensen
Once again, size will probably doom the draft hopes of another Badger late-round hopeful.
Sorensen is just 6'1" and 230 pounds, and he isn't overly physical or athletic enough to be a starting-caliber linebacker in the NFL.
However, like St. Jean, Sorensen could find himself as an undrafted free agent pickup if he can display to scouts his value on special teams.
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