Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboy Football Hosts Pro Day
March 09, 2011 | Cowboy Football
March 9, 2011
STILLWATER, Okla. - Two-time consensus All-American Kendall Hunter, Lou Groza Award winner Dan Bailey and tackling machine Orie Lemon were among the 15 members of the Oklahoma State football team who worked out for NFL scouts and personnel at Boone Pickens Stadium Wednesday.
A total of 22 scouts were on hand to watch the Cowboys run through a battery of tests that included physical measurements, vertical jump, broad jump, bench press, 40-yard dash, 20-yard shuttle, 60-yard shuttle and three-cone drill.
Wide receiver Bo Bowling topped the vertical jump chart with a leap of 35.5 inches. The only Cowboy participating at Pro Day who did not compete during the 2010 season, Lucien Antoine went more than 10 feet in the broad jump. Defensive tackle Shane Jarka turned in the most reps of 225 pounds on the bench press with a personal-best mark of 34 reps.
"They looked pretty pleased with my bench," Jarka said of the immediate feedback he received from the scouts. "A couple of them came and talked to me to see how my knee was. I really don't have a true feel for it, but I think they were pretty pleased with my bench from what I did today."
All of the running tests were administered in frigid and windy conditions on the main playing field of Boone Pickens Stadium.
With that in mind, Bowling and Hunter turned in the best times in the 40-yard dash. Cornerback Andrew McGee was hampered by a hip injury sustained in his training leading up to Pro Day, but he still performed in nearly every drill. McGee credited Mike Gundy and his time at Oklahoma State as being helpful to him in learning how to overcome the adversity of sustaining an injury at a time as inopportune as right before Pro Day. While his times were slowed by the circumstances, he discussed some of the feedback he has gotten from NFL personnel.
"They like my leadership abilities and the fact that I am a hard worker," McGee said. "When it is all said and done, no matter what it is, I am going to push hard and work hard and I am going to give it all I have."
Hunter was asked if the cold and windy weather was an issue, but he said it wasn't anything unexpected.
"It felt good just to get back out on the field and do football stuff again," Hunter said. "I was aware that there was a chance for it to be cold today. But I looked on my phone and it said there would be some wind so I was prepared for it."
Defensive end Ugo Chinasa said he felt good about his performance in front of the scouts.
"I think I got my personal best in all the drills at the Combine and down here I ran a 4.5 in the 40, so I felt like I did well," Chinasa said.
Linebacker Orie Lemon, a former high school quarterback, pulled double-duty at the event as he worked out as a linebacker, then threw passes to Bowling, Hunter and fullback Bryant Ward during some of their position work. Lemon worked out at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis earlier this month, but noted the biggest difference between Pro Day on campus as opposed to at the Combine.
"Comfort. You'll be more comfortable here than out there in Indianapolis," Lemon said. "It's not that much stress because you don't have three days of going to the hospital and meetings and everything."
Bailey capped off the action with some work in punts, kickoffs and placements. He connected on a 55-yard field goal to end the day.
"It was fun. The process is kind of long, so you just wait around and try to keep in shape," Bailey said. "But it was fun to get out here and kick the ball a little bit."
