UTSA hosts Pro Day for former Roadrunners

Charles+Wiley+takes+part+in+the+5-10-5+shuttle+drill+during+UTSAs+Pro+Day+on+Wednesday.+Wiley%2C+a+former+linebacker%2C+played+in+all+14+games+last+season+for+the+UTSA%2C+recording+36+total+tackles%2C+nine+tackles+for+loss%2C+three+and+a+half+sacks+and+two+fumble+recoveries

Jamal Cooley/UTSA Athletics

Charles Wiley takes part in the 5-10-5 shuttle drill during UTSA’s Pro Day on Wednesday. Wiley, a former linebacker, played in all 14 games last season for the UTSA, recording 36 total tackles, nine tackles for loss, three and a half sacks and two fumble recoveries

Ryder Martin, Sports Editor

On Wednesday, March 23, the UTSA Roadrunners hosted a Pro Day event at the RACE building for 12 former UTSA football athletes to provide them an opportunity to work out in front of NFL talent evaluators. The event was attended by 30 of the 32 NFL teams and included Houston Texans General Manager Nick Caserio among the list of attendees. 

The group of 12 players for UTSA included three Roadrunners that had the chance to work out at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis earlier this month: offensive lineman Spencer Burford, running back Sincere McCormick and cornerback Tariq Woolen. Joining these three for their first chance to demonstrate their skills in preparation for the NFL draft were fullback/tight end Myles Benning, running back B.J. Daniels, defensive lineman Lorenzo Dantzler, kicker Hunter Duplessis, linebacker Denzel Feaster, defensive lineman Jaylon Haynes, linebacker Clarence Hicks, tight end Leroy Watson and linebacker Charles Wiley. 

In front of a healthy crowd of fans, family and teammates the 12 former Roadrunners went out and put on a show. There were numerous highlights throughout the day, with the 40-yard dash, in particular, providing a stage for the Roadrunners to excel. Notable times from the drill included Hicks and Wiley tying for the fastest time at 4.49, McCormick bettering his combine time of 4.60 by running a 4.55 and B.J. Daniels running a 4.58. Elsewhere, the players also showed out well in the weight room. Wiley highlighted the bench press with 27 reps at 225 pounds and Duplessis provided the potential highlight of the event when he posted 25 reps in the same drill. 

Woolen, one of the undisputed standouts of the NFL combine, where he posted the fourth fastest time in the history of the event with a 4.26 40-yard dash time and tied for the best vertical leap at 42 inches, chose not to participate in those drills at his Pro Day but did participate in others. 

Overall, the Roadrunners turned in an excellent effort for the NFL teams assembled to watch. Burford, McCormick and Woolen are widely projected to be selected in the NFL Draft, but time will tell if the Pro Day workouts caused any NFL teams to fall in love with other UTSA prospects.