Who Improved Their Draft Stock The Most At Georgia Tech's Pro Day?
Georgia Tech held its pro day yesterday and had seven members of the 2022 team participate (Ace Eley, Charlie Thomas, Keion White, Malachi Carter, E.J. Jenkins, Hassan Hall, and William Lay II) and there were some noticeable standouts. With all 32 NFL teams in attendance, all seven guys worked out and did multiple drills.
As of right now, the only Georgia Tech name you see is linked to being an early pick is defensive lineman Keion White. Multiple mock drafts have White going in the middle to the late first round and after an impressive NFL Combine, White did nothing that would suggest he should not go in the first round.
The only thing that White did not do at the NFL Combine was run the 40-yard dash and that was what scouts and coaches wanted to see him run. He recorded very favorable times, ranging from 4.65 to 4.75 according to hand-timing amongst the assembled scouts (Per Georgia Tech PR). Those are good times for him and I think it solidifies him as a top pick.
Thomas did position drills and looked explosive. I maintain that he is one of the most underrated players in this draft and I think he has a chance to make an impact this season.
But as impressive as they looked, I don't think that they were the most impressive Yellow Jacket on the field Thursday. That would be wide receiver, E.J. Jenkins.
E.J. Jenkins impressed at Georgia Tech's pro day
Jenkins ran a sub 4.6 40-yard dash at 6'6 245 LBS which is pretty amazing given his size. He looked crisp running his routes and coming out of his breaks and I think that is what was most impressive.
During the 2022 season, Jenkins caught 17 passes for 316 yards and three touchdowns. He averaged 18.6 yards per catch, which is quite impressive for someone of his size. The thing with Jenkins is that given his size and athleticism, he could make the move to tight end and be one of the more athletic tight ends around. When asked about making that move, here is what Jenkins had to say:
" I will play wherever teams are willing to pick me at, I am willing to do it. I have been hearing a little bit of tight end and a little bit of receiver so whatever team I go to and whatever position they put me at, I am going to play to the best of my ability."
"Not really much traits, I just have the frame and the length and everything to be down there and like everybody was just saying, people were telling me like it is just the will and the drive to do it and I think I have put that on display in the Hula Bowl Game and just continue to keep improving every day and I am going to work on more tight end stuff because I feel like I have the receiver stuff down and that will make me more valuable."
Jenkins also mentioned that he has a workout lined up with the Atlanta Falcons.
Jenkins also said that he models his game after some of the best big receivers in the league such as Mike Evans and mentioned that his favorite player growing up was none other than Yellow Jackets legend Calvin Johnson:
"Growing up, I always tried to model my game after Calvin Johnson and as I got bigger, I will always look up to bigger receivers and big tight ends like Julio and Mike Evans. From the tight end aspect, Darren Waller, Travis Kelce, and older guys like Tony G, and I feel like my play style fits with them.
With how good he was on Thursday, I think that Jenkins went from undrafted to being in the 6th-7th round range. He had a great day and raised his stock the most out of anyone that worked out at Tech.
Linebacker Ace Eley deserves to be mentioned as well. I thought it was surprising that he did not get an NFL combine because of how productive he was as a player last season. He had a 32-inch vertical and put up 20 reps on the bench press on Thursday (courtesy of Georgia Tech PR).
The 2023 NFL Draft begins on April 27th
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