Louisville's Pro Day Allows Jawhar Jordan to Help Live Out His Dream

The former running back for the Cardinals was one of the top backs in the ACC this past season.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - In just under one month, the 2024 NFL Draft will officially get kicked off. The latest crop of draft prospects from all over the country, including the Louisville football program, will finally learn where they will be starting their professional careers.

Of course, we're still very much in the midst of the lengthy pre-draft process. From the Reese's Senior Bowl in early February to the NFL Scouting Combine earlier this month, there are a lot of steps along the way before we actually get to the draft itself.

One of these aforementioned steps in the draft process are Pro Days held on campus by the schools themselves. Louisville held theirs this past Tuesday, with 13 former Cardinals looking to impress the various scouts and representatives from all 32 NFL teams in attendance.

Related: Louisville Players Talk 2024 Pro Day

For one of Louisville's Pro Day participants, running back Jawhar Jordan, while this step in the pre-draft process did come with a fair amount of stress and pressure, he couldn't help but express his joy.

"Man, it's surreal moment just being able to come out here with the guys and compete, and just live our dreams," Jordan said. "Me personally, I'm happy it's over and the stress is over, but I'm just blessed to be out here and be with the guys one last time."

Jordan took part in the pre-draft interviews and measurements during the NFL Combine, but when it came to the on-field agility and position drills, the running back only took part in the 40-Yard Dash, clocking a 4.56 time up at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

On Tuesday at the Trager Center, the Louisville football program's indoor practice facility, Jordan did a lot more than he did at the Combine. He was an active participant in drills like the Shuttle Run and Three-Cone, as well as position drills that cater to running backs.

When everything was said and done, Jordan said he was pleased with his performance.

"I think I did pretty well," he said. "Just coming off an injury, I had minor setbacks throughout the season, but I think I showed up very well. I showed out on the drills pretty well."

The 5-foot-9, 193-pound speed back got off to an explosive start to Louisville's 2023 season. Over the first six games of the season, Jordan rushed 87 times for 653 yards and eight touchdowns, while also catching nine passes for 168 yards and a score. He cracked 100 yards four times, including a 143-yard effort in Louisville's upset win over Notre Dame.

However, a hamstring injury suffered just before the Cardinals' bye week - as well as an at-the-time undisclosed knee injury - severely hampered Jordan in the second half of the season. Over Louisville's next seven games, Jordan tallied just 475 yards and five touchdowns on 94 carries and 12 catches for 78 yards. He had a career game against Duke, rushing for 163 yards, but this was the only game during that span where he cracked the century mark.

Jordan declared for NFL Draft not long after Louisville's loss to Florida State in the ACC Championship Game, and additionally opted out of the Holiday Bowl against USC. However, in an injury-free world, he would have taken the field one last time with his brothers.

"It was frustrating, only because I love the game so much," he said. "I want to be out there as much as I can, and compete. It was frustrating for sure not being out there, having to deal with something as far as having these setbacks, because I love it so much. It was definitely a hard time."

Following the end of Louisville's regular season, focus for Jordan quickly shifted towards preparing for the draft. With questions sure to come regarding his injuries, and the generalized perception that he is "too small" for the NFL, he wanted to work towards putting these preconceived notions to bed.

Prior to Louisville's Pro Day, Jordan spent a fair amount of time bulking up. At one point in time, the Cardinals' online roster listed his weight in the 170's, and scouts wanted to see him get over the 190-pound threshold - which he did at the combine earlier this month.

At the Pro Day itself, Jordan wanted to showcase that he is more than just a speed back, and has a lot more tools at his disposal. Working with quarterbacks Jack Plummer and Brock Domann, he ran multiple passing drills that showcased his abilities in the passing game. He also put on display his ability to run in tight spaces in between the tackles.

"Just my versatility," Jordan said when asked what he wanted to put on display for the scouts. "Being able to catch out of the backfield, run routes, run between the tackles. I feel like I can do it all. Just coming out here, and showing that I can do a little bit of everything."

Now, the most intensive part of the pre-draft process in is the rear view mirror. Of course, there are still plenty of meetings and interviews that will be conducted between now and when the draft gets underway, but the most physically laborious aspects of the process are complete.

With that, Jordan will soon know which NFL team wants to pick him up via the draft, or if he will have to go the undrafted free agent route. He currently ranks as the No. 306 prospect on Pro Football Focus' Big Board, and 257 players will be selected in the 2024 NFL Draft.

However Jordan will start his professional career, he knows that just needs to stay patient and continue leaning on people who helped get him to where he is now.

"Just stay patient," he said when asked what he had learned throughout the draft process. "Don't just block out the noise. There's a million mock drafts, guys talking about, 'oh he can't play, he's too small.' Really, you just got to believe in yourself, believe in God, and lean on the people that's in your circle, cause they're the ones that are going to be there for you throughout the journey."

(Photo of Jawhar Jordan: Matt Stone - The Courier Journal / USA)

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