Record-Breaking 2017 Class Shines at USF Pro Day
PHOTO GALLERY
By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
TAMPA, MARCH 26, 2018 – USF football's record-breaking 2017 senior class took one step closer to fulfilling NFL dreams by showing out for scouts Monday at the Morsani Complex.
USF Pro Day was certainly a spectacle with 40 representatives from 30 NFL organizations and two Canadian Football League teams, including five coaches, on hand to watch the Bulls bring it on the field and in the weight room.
"We knew a lot of scouts were going to come in," said speedy defensive back
Deatrick Nichols. "We had a good class, everybody played well and did well, like our class was supposed to do. I just enjoyed playing with my guys one more time and the rest is history."
History was something Nichols and the 2017 class made often during their time as Bulls. Appearing in the national top 25 rankings for 20 straight weeks, USF posted a 21-4 record the past two seasons, made three straight bowl trips and ranked in the top 25 of 14 different national stat categories in 2017.
"The biggest thing I'm proud of is changing the program. That's the reason I came here," defensive tackle
Bruce Hector said. "I felt like that's what we did, coming in 2-10 and 4-8. Finishing off how we did, I'm just excited about that part more than anything."
After two straight double-digit win seasons, members of USF's 2017 class will go on to represent the program well in the pros and Monday was the next step in the process.
Notable pro day numbers included at least five Bulls from the 2017 class benching 225 pounds at least 20 times, led by running back
Darius Tice's 27 reps. Tice's mark would have ranked third at the NFL Combine among running backs. Fellow back
D'Ernest Johnson got up 20 reps while
Bruce Hector led all defensive line participants with 26 bench reps.
Not all participants went through the weight room events but at least nine Bulls from the 2017 class posted vertical jumps of at least 30 inches. Nichols led the way with a 37-inch leap while linebacker
Auggie Sanchez showed he can get up, posting a mark of 36 inches.
Prior to pro day, three participants –
Marquez Valdes-Scantling,
Deadrin Senat and
Quinton Flowers – already drove up their pro stocks at the NFL Scouting Combine. Valdes-Scantling, who ran a 4.37-second 40 at the combine, said USF's pro day talent stacks up well against some of the best in the nation.
"I think we have one of the best (classes) in the country, from my belief. We have some great athletes day-in and day-out," Valdes-Scantling said. "I could see that, just going to different places. You go to Indy and you're like, 'OK, well, I've got some guys back at South Florida who could be here doing the exact same thing, or even better.'"
Sharp Flowers on Multiple Teams' Radar
Quarterback
Quinton Flowers only took part in throwing drills and looked sharp from all distances after breaking 42 program records as a three-year starter at USF.
Flowers said he feels confident at his first-choice position after training back in the Miami area with personal QB coach Oliver Bozeman.
"He changed my release point, feet work," Flowers said. "He did the whole 9 yards. It was like we started over from scratch."
Flowers' pro day performance earned him extra attention and workouts on the side from the NFL's Cincinnati Bengals, Green Bay Packers, Cleveland Browns and San Francisco 49ers. Flowers said he's got more private workouts lined up and teams are looking at him as a quarterback, running back and slot receiver.
"I'm a guy that's willing to help the team and do whatever it takes to win, but my first priority is quarterback," he said. "… It's not about the height, it's not about the size. It's about the heart."
Teammate
Deadrin Senat is a big believer in Flowers and gave the dual-threat QB a great endorsement in past chats with NFL teams.
"He's a game-changer. I love
Quinton Flowers," Senat said. "When scouts ask me who I would take to the league, it's
Quinton Flowers all day."
Nichols Does It All Well for NFL Scouts
Do-it-all defensive back
Deatrick Nichols sported a big smile after posting the day's top vertical leap of 37 inches and the top broad jump of 10 feet, 7 inches.
One scout had the Miami native with an official time of 4.46 seconds in the 40-yard dash while the buzz around the field was Nichols running it in the 4.3 range.
"I only thank God for it and all the hard work and effort I put into it," said Nichols, who also shined in position drills. "(Scouts said) they just loved what I did and said I did everything well."
Projected as a late-round pick, Nichols has already shown he can play multiple cornerback positions after manning the nickel spot in 2017. The three-time all-conference selection ranks third in USF history with 11 career interceptions.
"When I get on a team, I'm going to do what I've been doing," he said. "It really doesn't matter what round, or what pick, or a free agent. As long as I get on a team, I'm going to do what I've got to do."
Senat a Popular Name Since NFL Combine
All-conference defensive tackle
Deadrin Senat stuck to position drills at pro day after his impressive NFL Combine showing and said much more is to come leading up to the NFL Draft (April 26-28).
"Every coach is telling me they can't wait to see me do some more position work," he said. "It's been a great last couple months for me, getting my name out there and showing I can play ball."
Projected to go pro by the mid rounds, Senat could be USF's top draft pick this year. The Immokalee, Fla., native said he's got multiple NFL team visits set up after impressing at the combine and senior all-star practices.
"It's been fast, but it's been one helluva ride," he said.
Sanchez Eyes His Opportunity
Linebacker
Auggie Sanchez was pleased with his pro day performance but said there's a lot more that goes into pro potential than just 40 times.
"Playing football, going through plays, being a leader, just running a defense is something I'm used to, something I'm good at. None of this tests that," he said. "… I've seen some of the fastest, some of the strongest, some of the highest jumpers not be good football players."
Sanchez has proven himself time and time again in games while becoming USF's all-time leading tackler with 388 stops. The St. Petersburg native made 50 straight starts, led USF in tackles the past three seasons and his football resume is bolstered by three all-conference selections.
"I just want an opportunity. If I could sneak into the later fifth, sixth, seventh round, I'd be really pleased with that just because of my body of work," he said. "There's not too many people in the college football that have my stats and stuff."
Bulls Bits
PRO DAY PARTICIPANTS FROM 2017 CLASS: Devin Abraham, Quinton Flowers, Tajee Fullwood, Jeremi Hall, Bruce Hector, Jonathan Hernandez, D'Ernest Johnson, Mike Love, K.J. Miles, Emilio Nadelman, Deatrick Nichols, Cameron Ruff, Auggie Sanchez, Deadrin Senat, Trevor Steinke, Darius Tice and Marquez Valdes-Scantling.- SCOUTS LIKE MIKE AT MULTIPLE SPOTS: Lots of NFL scouts "said they'll be calling soon" after watching the 255-pound Mike Love showcase his versatility at pro day. "I think what they really like is I can do both linebacker and defensive line. They said I have pretty good hips and I showed my athleticism."
- DANIELS STILL HAS A LOT OF GAME: Former USF quarterback B.J. Daniels (2008-12) also participated in pro day and showed he's lost no steps running routes as a receiver before throwing crisp passes later in the action. Originally drafted by the 49ers, Daniels earned a Super Bowl ring with Seattle and also has suited up for Houston, the New York Giants, Chicago and Atlanta so far in his NFL career.
- THIS AND THAT: Both 2017 standout backs Darius Tice and D'Ernest Johnson showed off their hands by snagging passes all over the field during pro day. Johnson is USF's all-time leader in all-purpose yards (4,186) and receiving yards for a running back (909)… Receiver A.J. Legree looked better than ever running routes Monday after missing his final season at USF with an injury in 2016.
ABOUT USF FOOTBALL
USF posted its second straight 10-win season in 2017 (10-2) by winning its second straight Birmingham Bowl with a 38-34 victory over Texas Tech. USF is one of just 14 teams nationally to win 20-plus games in the last two seasons (21-4) and has spent a program-record 20 straight weeks ranked in the top 25, reaching as high as No. 13 in Week 8 of the 2017 season. The Bulls have won five of their last six bowl appearances and made nine (6-3) total bowl appearances in 21 seasons, including a current run of three straight bowls. USF won a program-record 11 games in 2016 (11-2) and has posted 14 winning seasons. The USF program, which first took the field in 1997, reached No. 2 in the rankings in 2007 and has seen 28 players selected in the NFL Draft, 14 named All-American and had 32 first-team all-conference selections.
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