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Pro day recaps: Means shines at Indiana

National Football Post

Over the next few weeks leading up to the NFL draft, the National Football Post will break down and analyze prospects pro days at their respective colleges. Scouts recently visited Cal Poly, Arizona State, Indiana, Vanderbilt, Tennessee State, Virginia Tech, Missouri, Notre Dame and Virginia.

Cal Poly
WR Ramses Barden (6-foot-6, 227) improved his 40-yard dash time from 4.55 seconds at the scouting combine in Indianapolis to 4.51, impressive considering his size. He also had a 10-foot, 2-inch broad jump and a 7.10-second three-cone drill. Barden looked very good during position drills and did a nice job extending his long arms and plucking the ball away from his body. He looks like an ideal possession-type receiver at the next level.

Arizona State
OG Paul Fanaika (6-6, 327) finished the day with a 24½-inch vertical jump, a 4.92 short shuttle and 16 reps on the bench. He also ran a 5.59 in the 40 but reportedly pulled a hamstring during the attempt. Fanaika is a prospect who plays faster and stronger than his measurables. He's a guy we really like on tape.

WR Michael Jones (6-4, 211) ran his 40s in the 4.54-4.58 range, had a 36½-inch vertical jump and a 4.21-second short shuttle time.

QB Rudy Carpenter (6-2, 217) ran his 40s in the low 4.9 range.

RB Keegan Herring (5-9, 203) had a good workout, registering a 4.47 40, a 4.26 short shuttle and 24 reps on the bench. He never had a breakout year at Arizona State, but Herring flashes big-time potential and is worth a late-round gamble.

FS Troy Nolan (6-1, 205) ran his 40 in 4.58 seconds and had a 31½-inch vertical jump. Nolan's measurables are less than ideal, but he did have a strong showing during position drills.

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Means during his skills drills at the combine.

(Scott Boehm/Getty)

Indiana
WR Andrew Means (6-1, 213) was the star of the Indiana pro day. He blistered a 4.36 40 time and posted an impressive 18 reps on the bench. This kind of performance should definitely help improve his stock in the coming weeks.

RB/KR Marcus Thigpen (5-9, 185) also had a strong showing with a 40 time of 4.47 and an impressive 21 reps on the bench. Thigpen lacks the size to carry the load in the NFL, but his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield and make a contribution on special teams will help him find a roster spot.

Vanderbilt
CB D.J. Moore (5-9, 184) once again failed to impress scouts with his lack of top-end speed, clocking 4.57 and 4.59 in his two 40 attempts. However, Moore plays much faster on tape than his times indicate and has one of the best first steps in the nation. But NFL teams are always leery of drafting slow, undersized corners, and Moore may fall as a result of it.

Tennessee State
OT/OG Cornelius Lewis (6-4, 336) had a decent workout, finishing with 31 reps on the bench, a 7.96-second three cone drill and a 4.95-second short shuttle. Lewis is a versatile lineman who's probably best suited to play inside at guard.

C Cecil Newton (6-2, 300) is considered one of the nation's top center prospects and did little to disappoint. He ran his 40 in 5.13, posted 25 reps on the bench and recorded a 4.15 short-shuttle time. He possesses all the physical tools needed to be successful at the next level, and it wouldn't surprise me to see him come off the board during the middle rounds on draft weekend.

Virginia Tech
CB Victor Harris (5-11, 197) had a very good pro day. He not only improved his 4.68 40 time from the combine to a more respectable 4.46, he also displayed his elite change-of-direction skills with an impressive 4.0-second short shuttle. Even with his improved 40, I still think Harris is best suited to play in a predominantly zone scheme, although he has the ball skills and quickness to make an impact at the next level.

C Ryan Shuman (6-3, 289) posted a 5.17 40 time, a 27½-inch vertical jump and a 4.50 short shuttle time.

DE/OLB Orion Martin (6-2, 260) ran a solid 4.70 40, a 4.53 short shuttle and a 7.21 three-cone drill.

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Jeremy Maclin

(Jonathan Ferry/Getty)

Missouri
WR Jeremy Maclin (6-0, 198) still didn't showcase the type of straight-line speed many scouts expected during his workout, running his 40s in 4.43 and 4.47 seconds. However, he looked very explosive in position drills and did a great job sinking his hips and getting in and out of his breaks. Maclin looks to be working hard as a route runner, so his 40 times shouldn't be of concern.

TE Chase Coffman (6-6, 247) caught some passes at pro day but elected to not work out since he's still recovering from a foot injury.

QB Chase Daniel ran a 4.79 40 and posted a 9-foot broad jump.

Notre Dame
FS David Bruton (6-2, 219) elected to stand on all his numbers from the combine but did take part in position drills. Bruton is a strider who showcases good range once he gets going. However, he struggled redirecting and breaking down in space.

ILB Maurice Crum Jr. (6-0, 235) posted a 40 time of 4.85 seconds, had a 28½-inch vertical and produced 18 reps on the bench.

Virginia
OT Eugene Monroe (6-5, 312) elected to stand on all his numbers from the combine but looked smooth and fluid during position drills. I still believe Monroe is the top prospect in this year's draft.

OLB Clint Sintim (6-3, 253) ran a 4.44-second short shuttle and a 7.54 three-cone drill and looked very good during position drills.

RB Cedric Peerman (5-10, 211) only ran the short shuttle (4.47 seconds) and stood on the rest of his numbers at the combine.

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