Former Ram auditions for NFL scouts

By Travis Sawchik
Special to The Daily News

Published: March 29, 2008

CONWAY, S.C. — NFL scouts struggled to organize and identify 15 numberless, body-armor clad former college players at Coastal Carolina’s pro day on Friday, hollering for media types and curious observers to back away from the mob time after time.
They did, however, know about Jerome Simpson, the former Chanticleers star who finished his career as the Big South’s all-time leading receiver and impressed at the NFL Combine last month with 40-yard dash runs of 4.43 and 4.47 seconds.
Simpson’s workout in Indianapolis earned praise from ESPN’s NFL Draft guru Mel Kiper, who recently listed Simpson as one of his four top sleepers for the upcoming draft.
Because of Simpson’s success in Indianapolis, the 6-foot-2, 200-pound receiving prospect did not participate in the majority of the physical tests that make up pro day — the 40-yard dash, 225-pound bench-press, broad jump and three-cone drill, but he did improve his vertical leap with a jump of 41 inches (he had a 37-inch jump at Indianapolis) and ran routes.
“I kind of felt good today,” Simpson said. “(The vertical jump) was kind of spur of the moment. I just felt like I could improve it (since) they said the combine jump (measurements) were off.”
Simpson initially struggled in the receiving drills, dropping several catchable balls from former Conway High and The Citadel quarterback Duran Lawson, who helped out by throwing to the receivers during pro day.
At one point Simpson dropped four of five and was visibly frustrated, kicking a football.
“I just had to regain my focus,” he said. “It was kind of different catching from a guy who is left-handed, the ball has a different spin on it. I adjusted well.”
Working with Cincinnati Bengals receivers coach Mike Sheppard, Simp-son regained his composure and finished strong, making several acrobatic catches. Simpson said Sheppard told the receiver he liked the way Simpson was breaking in and out of his routes.
“I thought Jerome got a little upset,” CCU coach David Bennett said.
“But like (Sheppard) said, he’d rather see him upset with himself and see him compete and fight and prove what he can do. After he dropped those he didn’t drop another, and he made some phenomenal catches.”
The poking and prodding will continue for Simpson, who said he has workouts scheduled with Philadelphia, Minnesota and Arizona. Simpson figures to be drafted anywhere from the second to the fourth round in April, and will likely be the highest drafted Chanticleer in the football program’s short history.
The pro day was probably more important for former CCU fullback Mike Tolbert, who had a banner day and likely improved his draft stock.
The 5-11, 250-pounder registered a 37-inch vertical jump and a 4.7-second time in the 40, which was run on grass at the CCU practice field.
Tolbert benched 225 pounds 24 times and caught the ball well in the receiving drills. He appeared, however, to injure his hamstring late in the workout.
“Mike Tolbert’s stock surely went up today,” Bennett said.
Other unofficial 40-yard dash times for the Chants included: Santini Washington (4.6), Tony Byrd (4.89) and Adrain Grady (5.5). Grady benched 225 pounds 18 times.
Former Chants Will Durrett, Kenneth Joshen, Chris McDonald, Roderick Middleton and Trevino Pope also worked out.
Several other former in-state college players were also present. Vernon Huger — who struggled catching the ball — Jenna Lee and Jada Ross from Charleston Southern worked out, as did Tory Cooper from The Citadel and Donavin Fludd, Devin Robinson and Tony Ranson from Newberry.