By TOM ZEBOLD

USF Senior Writer

TAMPA, MARCH 22, 2017 – USF Football stars of the past made the most of their return to campus during USF Pro Day on Tuesday.

USF all-time leader rusher Marlon Mack, speedy receiver Rodney Adams and 16 other pro prospects went through a job interview like no other in front of scouts from nearly 25 NFL teams at the Morsani Complex.

Scouts were joined by Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Dirk Koetter and Jacksonville wide receivers coach Keenan McCardell, a member of the Bucs' Super Bowl champion team.

“It was good to be back on the stomping grounds at USF,” Mack said. “… It's a great atmosphere out here, man. I got my teammates cheering me on. When we're tired, we're helping each other push through.”

Mack's draft stock has been steadily rising since he decided to go pro in January. In three seasons, the Sarasota native set 14 school records, including 3,609 rushing yards and 33 touchdowns, before his impressive performance at the NFL Combine that included a 4.5-second 40 time.

Mack took part in individual drills Tuesday and said he's talked to a “bunch” of NFL teams during the draft process that continues next week. Mack is set to work out for the Tennessee Titans while he tries to stay away from all the flattering draft projections.

“I can't really pay attention to it because man, you never know where you'll get drafted in the NFL,” he said. “I try to focus on me and wait until draft day, when my name is called.”

Mack was happy to be joined at the NFL Combine by Adams, who showcased his speed with a 40-yard dash time of 4.4 seconds in Indianapolis. The St. Petersburg native looked smooth catching passes at Pro Day on the same turf he shared with the Bulls the past three seasons.

“I displayed every trait that I had, all the traits scouts want to see, so I think it went really well,” Adams said. “It's so much of a comfort. Being in Indianapolis, you're on someone else's turf. You got those jitters out there. But out here, I've been out here for three years now. It felt good.”

Another Bay Area product who felt really good about his Pro Day was safety Nate Godwin, who has bulked up to 210 pounds. A starter for 28 games the past four seasons, Godwin set numerous personal bests during tests in front of NFL scouts, including 19 bench press reps of 225, a 4.5 time in the 40 and a 37-inch vertical jump.

“It felt great to come out here and do it for the city. I was born and raised here in Tampa, Fla. I put a lot of work into this,” Godwin said. “The preparation was done, so coming out here I just had fun with it… This is my last time on this field, I enjoyed it.”

These Bulls Can Bench

Six of eight Bulls who bench pressed Tuesday turned in totals of at least 15 reps of 225 pounds. Leading the way was two-year starting tackle Kofi Amichia, who got up 32 reps, one more than defensive tackle Daniel Awoleke. Second team all-conference guard Dominique Threatt totaled 20 reps, while linebacker Nigel Harris and defensive back Shannon Smith finished with 15 reps apiece.

Other Eye-Catching Numbers

Tampa native Nigel Harris looks like a chiseled NFL linebacker at 220 pounds and he also moved like one Tuesday during drills and his 4.53-second dash in the 40. “I put on about six pounds of muscle and got cut up a little bit. I feel great,” he said.

Receiver Austin Aikens (Tampa) proved he can go up and get it with a 40 ½-inch vertical leap, the top mark among eight Bulls taking part in the event. Aikens also ran the 40 in 4.5 seconds.

Notables

- Bulls who helped put the program back on the map in the past few seasons also worked out in front of NFL scouts. The list included tight ends Sean Price and Mike McFarland, safety Jamie Byrd, quarterback Steven Bench and punter Mattias Ciabatti.

- Former Bulls came out to show their support, including L.A. Rams offensive lineman Darrell Williams, kicker Marvin Kloss and linebacker Reshard Cliett.

USF finished the 2016 season with a school record 11 wins following the program's fifth-ever bowl victory in the Birmingham Bowl. The Bulls' 11-2 record marked the fifth-best winning percentage in FBS football in 2016 and one of just 11 teams to reach 11 wins. USF set nearly 40 team and individual records in 2016, including team records for total yards (6,650), rushing yards (3,714), touchdowns (77) and scoring (569). Junior quarterback Quinton Flowers was named the American Conference Offensive Player of the Year and led a school-record 10 players named to the all-conference team, six of which, including Flowers, will return in 2017.

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