Ohio State QB Justin Fields had an excellent out at today’s pro day. Fields, who measured in at 6-3, 227 and ran a sizzling 4.44 40 with a 1.57 10-yard split, showed off with impressive arm strength and very nice touch, although of course he was throwing against. Still, the ball just popped out of his hand with an almost effortless throwing motion and very quiet feet. Fields, of course, is in a battle with fellow second-tier QBs Trey Lance of North Dakota State and Alabama’s Mac Jones for spots in this year’s top ten, if not the top 5. And it’s interesting that it appears that more than one team reportedly wants to see Fields throw again, perhaps at a private pro day before the draft. Still waiting on the bulk of the OSU pro day numbers and we’ll post when they do become available.
Of course, Fields isn’t the Buckeyes only prospect for the 2021 draft; indeed, they had something like a dozen players eligible to participate in today’s pro day. Certainly, LBs Pete Werner and Baron Browning appear to have taken advantage of their opportunities. Werner, who has moved up into the early second day level, for example, ran the 40 in 4.60 seconds, had an athletic vertical of 39.5 inches and a LJ of 10-2. He also posted a very good 3-cone time of 6.95 seconds and a not so good result in the short shuttle (4.38). Same story for Browning who was clocked in the high 4.5 range (4.58) in the 40, and actually had better leaps of 40 inches in the vertical and 10-10 in the LJ. Browning also had an okay SS time of 4.23 seconds, but blitzed the 3-cone in 6.73. On the other hand, ILB Tuf Borland (6-0, 229) struggled in the on-field testing as he was barely able to crack the 5-flat mark in the 40 (4.98), although he was a little quicker in the agility drills. At the same time, Justin Hilliard, the 4th OSU LB working out today also measured in at 6-05, and 229 and ran in the 4.85 range.
Interesting day for DT Tommy Togiai who measured in a little stumpy at 6-1.5, 296 with 32-inch arms, but he then ripped off 40 reps in the bench press, ran a decent 5.05 40 and posted times of 4.49 in the short shuttle and 7.20 in the 3-cone which are both very quick by DT standards. DE Jonathon Cooper also disappointed with his lack of length as he measured in at 6-2.5, 253 but again with just 32-inch arms. His 40 time of 4.75 was also a little slower than one would expect from a speed edge rusher, but like Togiai, his shuttle times of 4.31 in the SS and 6.99 in the 3-cone were good.
Meanwhile, RB Trey Sermon (6-0.5, 215) reportedly ran the 40 in 4.57 seconds and had a 37-inch vertical, along with a so-so 4.28 clocking in the SS and a much better 6.83 in the 3-cone.
One other note: CB Shaun Wade, OG Wyatt Davis and C Josh Myers did not work out today because of injuries. Wade, in particular, has said he will do so at a private workout on April 14th as he is still rehabbing from a lingering turf toe issue.
