Daniel Scott Shows His Agility for NFL Scouts at Cal Pro Day

Daniel Scott, Cal's starting safety the past two seasons, performed drills for NFL scouts on Thursday during Cal's Pro Day, hoping to confirm that his strong showing at the NFL Combine was indicative of his pro-level skills.

Scott did not run a 40-yard dash for scouts at Cal's Memorial Stadium on Thursday, instead letting his time of 4.45 seconds that he ran at the Combine in Indianapolis three weeks ago speak for him. It was second fastest time among the 19 safeties at the Combine. His vertical jump (39.5 inches) and broad jump (10-8) were also among the best among safeties.

Instead he performed a series of agility drills, with the idea of establishing one trait.

"That I'm a polished professional," Scott said afterward.

Former Cal safety Chris Conte, who started 93 games in his eight NFL seasons, directed Scott's workout, and he thinks Scott did what he needed to do.

"Just showing how athletic he is," Conte said. "Kind of just confirm everything you saw at the Combine, that those numbers are real. I think all the scouts were very impressed with him. He's gained a lot of momentum since the Combine and today is kind of the progression, and the next step will be meeting with teams and some individual workouts."

Scott said he has two visits with NFL teams lined up for April and hopes to have a few more before the NFL draft, scheduled for April 27-29.

He was not expected to be drafted in initial assessments, but his Combine performances lifted him to a prospect who might be taken on the third day of the draft, when rounds four through seven are conducted.

Scott seems certain he will be drafted.

"Yes, definitely," he said.

And he knows his Combine work is the reason.

"I think it was tremendously helpful," said Scott, who noted that conversations with NFL people off the field helped as well.

Scott admits even he was surprised by his Combine showing.

"Maybe a little bit," he said, "but I think I surprised people around me. I know how athletic I am. I know what kind of stuff I can put on tape, how I can move.

"Kind of motivated me a little bit more to kind of prove some people wrong, because some people kind of counted me out and didn't think I was going to perform as well, so that definitely helped me."

He believes his biggest asset is his knowledge of the game.

"I think the between the ears, brain part of football, is kind of what sets me apart," he said.

That and athleticism are more important than ever in the NFL. Conte notes that the safety position has changed significantly since his time in the NFL (2011-2018).

"The guys that were the big hitters, there's not really the same place for that in football anymore," he said.

It's more about pass coverage, playing in space, making open-field tackles.

"The game is moving faster," Conte said. "Asking a lot more from safeties these days."

Scott noted a few current NFL safeties he admires:

Three Other Bears Perform at Cal Pro Day

Jamieson Sheahan, Cal's punter this past season, as well two players who played for Cal in 2021 -- running back Marcel Dancy and wide receiver Kekoa Crawford -- also performed for scouts on Thursday.

Sheahan is hoping to be taken in next month's draft, although punters are seldon drafted, while Dancy and Crawford, who were not taken in the 2022 NFL draft, hope to latch on to an NFL team as free agents.

Crawford probably helped his case with his time in the 40-yard dash. He was timed in 4.45 range, with one scout timing him in 4.42 seconds.

Crawford's 40

Dancy's 40