Pro Day: Realities May Differ, But End Game Remains the Same

FORT COLLINS, Colo. – The feeling can be a bit of a fishbowl, just swimming around with all eyes on you. The routine is the same, but it does feel more important, and in many ways it is. Pro Day is very much a job interview, even if it is showing NFL scouts the same skill sets players have shown on tape in their careers.

All of them felt the key was not to fall into the trap of all-or-noting but remain steady in what they've already shown.

"The whole process kind of beats you down, but you only get to go through this one time, so I've learned to enjoy it," Ross Reiter said. "All of us here, we've gone farther than most guys have. I told Trey McBride this morning, we're the only guys from our class still here. There are about five who are still playing, but in a class of around 30, it's just us. We've made it here, let's enjoy the process."

Wednesday, 12 former Colorado State football players went through the process of working out for representatives from 27 NFL teams. Measurables, bench-press reps and vertical leaps were charted in the morning at Canvas Stadium, then the day shifted to the Indoor Practice Facility for individual workouts and 40-yard times.

All of them knew all eyes were there to see John Mackey Award winner Trey McBride, but he was very much in a mood to share the spotlight and create some interest in others. He spent the day encouraging his teammates to do one more rep or run a bit faster.

"I was at the combine and did a lot of that at the combine, but I knew coming here I'd bring a lot of attention to my teammates, and that's what I want to do," McBride said. "I want to do everything I can to help those guys, so if that's coming here and working out and bringing in some scouts for those guys, I just want to get as many eyes as we can. I want to see this program grow, I want to see guys play in the NFL, so getting at many eyes on those guys as I can is what I wanted to do. I just wanted to be there for them."

If there was one drill everybody wanted to see, it was McBride run the 40, which he did well. The hand-held times ranged from 4.52-4.59, with an average of 4.56 being entered in the NFL database. For him at his position, it was as impressive as his ability to run routes, catch the ball and play with his hand in the ground.

It makes him somewhat unique these days, which will really stand out to some teams.

Reiter and punter Ryan Stonehouse are also in unique spots because of their positions, which has shaped how they approach the entire process.

"It is different for us. You think about the top 10 tight ends or the top 10 receivers, they're getting drafted," Stonehouse said. "For punters and snappers, it is a bit different. It's a different way of scouting and a different way of preparing for the draft.
"I think honestly, coming to pro day, it's like reassuring some of these guys you can keep doing what you've been doing. You're not trying to overshow; you're more trying to show the consistency and that aspect of it."

Once everybody was measured, the duo headed out to the Canvas Stadium turf to do their individual workouts, while the rest of the players headed over to the indoor. What made them happy was a large group of scouts followed them to the field to take in an extra session of what they can do.

So, Reiter rifled off snaps to Stonehouse, who pounded punts deep into the air with hang time. They did all they were asked in front of a captive audience. And when they were done, one coach asked them to hang around and do some more.

"It was one last time with him. Hopefully one day we can be together again," Reiter said. "It was obviously comfortable. We just went out there like we usually practice, and I think we did really well together. We didn't have to rise to the occasion today. I think it was more stick to the level of what we've always done, and it's more a product of what we've always done."

But they both also know their name isn't likely to be called during the three days of the NFL draft. They are both fine with that, too. There are benefits, especially in their specialized roles, to being a free agent, to pick and choose places where they believe they have the best chance.

First, they need an invitation there, which is what all of these workouts help produce. They will meet with teams and be asked the same questions, the same as will McBride. They will answer them all the same, too. It can get tedious, but it all leads to an end they all really want.

A chance.

"You always think, alright, I have to have my best day, but really, it's doing what you're used to doing," Stonehouse said. "If you can settle into that environment, and if you can get to that mindset in the process, then you're just having your good days when they come up. It's like practice. You don't try to kill every ball, but you're working within what you're doing. You can fall away from that, thinking you have to have your best day every time you get in front of someone, which is not necessarily true. More than not, you mess up those days.

"You'd love to get drafted. Everyone's dream is to get drafted, but you have to deal with the process. As a punter, it's hard to say, this team is for sure going to draft me."

That's true, even for McBride. They will get asked where their ideal landing spot is, and all of them know how to play the game – the place where they have the best shot of landing a permanent role.

What they all still share is a determination, because the process naturally tells them they have to impress somebody, even though their body of work already looks pretty good. McBride won a major award, Stonehouse leaves college as the NCAA leader in punting average and Reiter's name is always at the top of lists of quality snappers.

Even still, for past two months, be it at an all-star game or in private workouts, they're being asked to show what they can do. Just one more time, please.

"I still kind of get that chip on my shoulder where guys don't really believe in me and they don't really know what I'm capable of, so I've just to keep continually proving myself, and I think I've done just that," McBride said. "I just came out here, knew exactly what I was going to do, and I didn't want them to switch up my routine. I think I performed well today, and I'm just excited for the results. The rest is not in my hands."

One last realization they all share.

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