March 3, 2016
Several former Commodores improved their chances for a future in the NFL with impressive performances at Vanderbilt Pro Day staged on campus Thursday.
Eight former standouts participated in the activity, which mirrors strength, speed and agility tests administered at the NFL Scouting Combine. Twenty-eight NFL franchises were represented at the workout in the program’s indoor practice facility.
Defensive end Caleb Azubike, offensive linemen Jake Bernstein and Spencer Pulley, linebackers Darreon Herring and Stephen Weatherly, defensive backs Jahmel McIntosh and Andrew Williamson, and tight end Steven Scheu worked out in front of more than 40 scouts. Weatherly, who participated at the NFL Combine last week, was the least active Commodore Thursday, limiting his activities to agility tests and position drills.
Williamson, a two-year starter at safety who played in the East-West Shrine Bowl in late January, left a positive impression on the scouts. He posted three top marks during the event: 4.47 in the 40-yard dash, 10’4″ in the standing long jump and 35 inches in the vertical jump.
After displaying excellent secondary abilities in position drills, Williamson told media members he hoped some of the scouts were impressed with his skills.
“I’m feel like my seven teammates. We’re just glad to be in front of scouts with a chance to show what we can do,” Williamson said. “I hope all of us took advantage of the opportunity and I feel good about how we competed. The comments afterward were very positive.”
Bernstein and Pulley impressed in the 225-pound bench press test, posting 29 and 28 repetitions, respectively. Later, scouts seemed to like their agility and explosiveness during a series of offensive line drills.
Scheu posted 23 repetitions in the bench press, ran an quick 4.67 in the 40-yard dash, then showed abilities as a long snapper after catching virtually every pass thrown his way in position drills.
Herring and Azubike showed excellent athleticism, surpassing 34 inches in the vertical jump and 10 feet in the standing long jump. Both also posted impressive times in the shuttle and L-drill testing.
Weatherly, who impressed scouts last week in Indianapolis with a 4.61 clocking in the 40-yard dash and 23 repetitions in the bench press, was clocked in the two shuttles and the L-drill test, then looked sharp during on-field linebacker and defensive end drills.<>
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