The Talk of Troy’s 2024 Pro Day tour kicked off Tuesday in Eugene at the University of Oregon. TOT’s Ben Papp, Kasey Kazliner and Sullivan Maley analyzed all of the event’s drills. All measurables and times are courtesy of University of Oregon Athletics.
EUGENE, Ore. — Highly touted draft prospects Bo Nix, Troy Franklin and Bucky Irving headlined the Ducks’ 2024 Pro Day events at the University of Oregon’s Moshofsky Center on Tuesday, but 12 other players also participated in the events to show NFL teams what they’re made of.
It was a jam-packed morning consisting of vertical and broad jump tests, 40-yard dashes, shuttle drills and more. Prospects Popo Aumavae, Mase Funa, Jamal Hill, Steven Jones, Camden Lewis, Casey Rogers, Steve Stephens IV and Sam Taimani weren’t invited to the Combine, but had a chance to showcase their skills to NFL teams for the first time. Hill (linebacker) and Lewis (placekicker) especially caught the attention of scouts in attendance with standout performances to surely aid their draft stock come April.
Jamal Hill took advantage of his moment in front of the scouts, running an impressive 4.41-second 40-yard dash, faster than any linebacker that participated in the Combine. He also recorded an impressive broad jump at 10-foot-1, and showed good footwork and coverage skills in field drills. The highlight of his drills came on an impressive high point catch during a flat coverage drill that surely left NFL teams impressed with his potential to play either outside linebacker or safety.
Lewis went 10-for-10 on an ambitious lineup of kicks ranging in distance from 33 to 60 yards. While a few of Lewis’ kicks brushed the posts, they were mostly accurate with many sailing far over the crossbar, suggesting his ability to hit from even further. Lewis certainly benefited from a strong Pro Day after a shaky season that included a crucial miss against Washington from 43 yards that kept the game from entering overtime, handing the Ducks their first loss of the season.
Nix had a chance to practice with some of his other offensive weapons for the final time, including Terrance Ferguson and Tez Johnson. He also connected with fellow draft prospects Franklin and Irving on numerous passes. His throwing script consisted of short game, deep balls, play-action and off-platform throws. Nix threw from a number of drops and rollouts, and the drill occasionally included simulated pressure.
Nix’s throws were mostly accurate with some struggles on out-breaking routes. His deep balls were more impressive than in Indianapolis, including a beautiful wheel route to Irving that displayed elite touch and timing.
Franklin, who struggled at the NFL Combine, needed a stellar Pro Day to further cement his spot in the first round given the stacked class of receivers. While he showed flashes of his speed on deep balls and some clean short game work, his overall performance wasn’t striking or consistent enough to silence the questions raised by his performance in Indianapolis.
Franklin ran a 4.41-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, the 10th fastest among participating receivers. The time placed him behind prospects like Xavier Legette, Anthony Gould and Brian Thomas Jr., a lackluster mark for a receiver whose main upside is said to be athleticism.
“I didn’t know you had to put that much work into the 40,” said Franklin.
Franklin’s gauntlet drill was widely regarded as one of the worst at the NFL Combine, veering multiple steps off his line on most catches. He was especially outshined by other receivers like Xavier Worthy, Ladd McConkey and Brian Thomas Jr. who raised their stock with impressive Combine performances.
Undersized at 183 lbs, NFL teams would expect him to display strong route-running to justify using a first-round pick on him. Franklin’s routes on Tuesday, while solid, didn’t display the elite fluidity and crisp cuts likely necessary to fully recover his definite first-round pick status.
Full Pro Day Results (alphabetical order)
(^) NFL Combine invitee
(*) NFL Combine measurement
DNP = did not participate
DL Popo Aumavae—6′3 ½—296 lbs
10 ⅛” Hand, 32 ⅞” Arm, 77 ⅝” Wingspan
40-yard dash: 5.16
Vertical: 29 ½
Broad: 9-foot
Three-cone drill: 8.03
Bench press: 17 reps
DL Brandon Dorlus^—6′3—286 lbs
9 ½” Hand, 32 ⅞” Arm, 79 ¾” Wingspan
Did not participate in measurable drills.
WR Troy Franklin^—6′2 ½—183 lbs
8 ⅝” Hand, 31 ¾” Arm, 77 ½” Wingspan
Did not participate in measurable drills.
EDGE Mase Funa—6′2 ⅛—254 lbs
10″ Hand, 32 ⅜” Arm, 77 ¼” Wingspan
40-yard dash: 4.88
Vertical: 30
Broad: 9-foot-2
Three-cone drill: 7.57
Bench press: 18 reps
LB/SAF Jamal Hill—6′0—216 lbs
8 ¾” Hand, 32 ⅜” Arm, 78 ¾” Wingspan
40-yard dash: 4.41
Vertical: 33
Broad: 10-foot-1
Three-cone drill: 7.16
Bench press: 17 reps
RB Bucky Irving^—5′9 ¼—195 lbs
9 ⅝” Hand, 29 ½” Arm, 69 ⅜” Wingspan
40-yard dash: DNP
Vertical: 31 ½
Broad: DNP
Three-cone drill: DNP
Bench press: 15 reps
CB Khyree Jackson^—6′3 ⅞—203 lbs
9 ⅛” Hand, 32 ¾” Arm, 77 ⅜” Wingspan
40-yard dash: DNP
Vertical: 32.5
Broad: DNP
Three-cone drill: DNP
Bench press: 11 reps
OL Steven Jones—6′5 ¼—342 lbs
10 ¾” Hand, 34 ⅝” Arm, 84 ⅛” Wingspan
40-yard dash: 5.43
Vertical: 21
Broad: 7-foot-9
Three-cone drill: DNP
Bench press: 23 reps
PK Camden Lewis—5′11 ½—206 lbs.
8 ¾” Hand, 28 ⅝” Arm, 69 ¾” Wingspan
Did not participate in measurable drills.
QB Bo Nix^—6′2 ⅛*— 217 lbs.
10 ⅛”* Hand, 30 ⅞”* Arm, 74 ¼”* Wingspan
Did not participate in measurable drills.
OL Jackson Powers-Johnson^—6′3 ¼—326 lbs.
9 ¾” Hand, 32 ⅝” Arm, 78 ⅝” Wingspan
Did not participate in measurable drills.
DL Casey Rogers—6′4 ⅜—294 lbs.
9″ Hand, 32″ Arm, 78 ½” Wingspan
40-yard dash: 4.82
Vertical: 35
Broad: 9-foot-8
Three-cone drill: 7.45
Bench press: 27 reps
SAF Steve Stephens IV—5′11 ⅞—194 lbs
10 ⅛” Hand, 31″ Arm, 75″ Wingspan
40-yard dash: 4.59
Vertical: 36
Broad: 9-foot-10
Three-cone drill: 7.21
Bench press: 12 reps
DL Sam Taimani—6′1 ½—309 lbs
10 ¾” Hand, 31 ⅞” Arm, 77 ½” Wingspan
40-yard dash: 5.33
Vertical: 25
Broad: 8-foot-6
Three-cone drill: 7.95
Bench press: 19 reps
SAF Evan Williams^—5′11 ¾—206 lbs
9 ⅞” Hand, 30″ Arm, 73 ¾” Wingspan
40-yard dash: 4.56
Vertical: DNP
Broad: DNP
Three-cone drill: 7.10
Bench press: 18 reps