South Carolina Football: Some numbers from Gamecock Pro Day, including 2 BLAZING 40s
By Kevin Miller
Kicking off the South Carolina football spring schedule, the Gamecocks had their annual Pro Day on Tuesday. Pro Day gives draft-eligible and free agency-eligible players an opportunity to participate in NFL Combine-style drills and testing in front of NFL scouts and coaches.
15 Gamecocks took part in this year's Pro Day. The 5 NFL Combine participants (Spencer Rattler, Xavier Legette, Trey Knox, Marcellas Dial, and Nick Gargiulo) were joined by Ahmarean Brown, Dakereon Joyner, Jordan Strachan, Eddie Lewis, DJ Twitty, Tyreek Johnson, DeAngelo Gibbs, Dante "Turbo" Miller, Jabari Ellis, and Tyrese Ross.
According to ESPN's Jordan Reid, all 32 NFL teams had representatives at the South Carolina football Pro Day, and the local Carolina Panthers had the heaviest presence there with 10 from the organization in attendance.
Some of the testing numbers from Pro Day have been released.
According to GamecockCentral's Mike Uva, wide receiver Ahmarean Brown ran a 4.31 in the 40-yard dash and bench pressed 225 pounds 15 times. Uva also reported that fellow receiver (and likely early draft pick) Xavier Legette put up 225 pounds 24 times. That bench press number would be a top-12 wide receiver bench in the last 25 years.
Hale McGranahan of TheBigSpur also reported some numbers from Carolina's Pro Day. Dakereon Joyner posted a 9'10" broad jump, Jordan Strachan broad jumped 9'6", and Eddie Lewis jumped 10'2". Jabari Ellis and Tyreek Johnson both showed good strength testing numbers by throwing up 225 pounds over 30 times.
The most impressive performer might come as a bit of a surprise, though. Former Gamecock reserve running back Dante "Turbo" Miller ran a blistering 4.27 in the 40-yard dash, benched 225 pounds 28 times, and posted a 37" vertical.
SEC Network's Peter Burns was in Columbia on Tuesday, as well, and the analyst had glowing things to say about Spencer Rattler and Xavier Legette. He described Rattler as a "leader" who threw the ball with special zip "out of his hand" and called Legette "a beast."