Potential Bears Backfield Fit
It's not often pro day workouts draw the type of attention players get from combine workouts.
After all, pro days are known for running the 39-yard dash. Inevitably the 40 times at some pro days raise eyebrows. There is suspicion over objectivity of numbers is the best way to put it.
However, one athlete on Wednesday put up numbers so good they couldn't be denied. As a result, Noah Strackbein of FanNation's Inside the Panthers concludes Pitt running back Israel Abanikanda could be climbing up draft boards.
There is a limit to the climbing he can do because he is a running back and the position's value is low these days.
There were 31 teams in attendance at the pro day workout and it was concluded he ran an unofficial 4.41-second 40 time, but Strackbein reported "rumbles" of it being as low as 4.27.
What couldn't be denied was his 41-inch vertical leap, another sign of his explosiveness.
This should be of interest to the Bears because Abanikanda appears to have special skills and also because of they could use one more back in their mix.
The Bears signed D'Onta Foreman to pair with Khalil Herbert. Both have shown signs of being explosive, but when you're a team operating with running back by committee then it helps to have more than two backs.
Herbert is speed and running instinct but missed four games in his second season. Foreman is power and speed and never played in more than 10 games in his first four active seasons before playing a full schedule last year.
The Bears did sign Travis Homer, who has mostly been a special teams player/third-down type but is just 203 pounds and had just 135 touches in four seasons.
They still have Trestan Ebnber, last year's sixth-round pick who didn't contribute much beyond special teams.
Adding one more back wouldn't hurt, but what they could really use is a back like Tarik Cohen was who contributed as a punt returner. Their punt return position is a colossal question mark at the moment.
Abanikanda, who was a New York state medal-winning sprinter in high school, is the son of a former Georgia Tech track athlete Saidi Abanikandi. He did return kicks but not punts and was only so-so at it, averaging 22.8 yards.
As a back, though, he had 390 runs for 2,177 yards and 28 touchdowns, while gaining 1,431 yards on 239 carries with 20 TDs last year.
At 5-11, 216, he's no small third-down back, but he can do something that the Bears drafted Homer to do. That's pass block. Scouts have commended his ability to pick up blitzers.
NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein has compared Abanikanda to Kansas City's Isiah Pacheco, who wowed fans late last season and in the playoffs.
In his assessment, Zierlein calls the zone blocking scheme ideal for Abanikandi's running style as a one-cut runner. That's exactly the type of runner the Bears are looking for and it's how they view Herbert and Foreman.
Here are other players NFL Draft Bible says had 40 times or other measurements at pro days causing scouts to look at their stop watches.
In most cases, these were players who didn't get invited to the combine.
NFL DRAFT BIBLE PRO DAY SPEED BURNERS AND WORKOUT WARRIORS
UAB CB Starling Thomas V
The school posted a 4.3-second 40 time and NFL Draft Bible put reported some scouts clocked him at low 4.3s and even high 4.2s at the pro day. His athletic skills were obvious with a 10-foot-5 broad jump and 37 1/2-inch vertical. He is 5-9 1/2, 194 and the intriguing thing for any team here is he is viewed as a slot cornerback specialist.
Michigan State LB Ben VanSumeren
He played in only eight games at Michigan and transfered after two years to MSU, then played but wasn't a standout. He is a workout warrior, though. VanSumeren is 6-2, 231 and ran a 4.45-second 40 with a 1.52-second split for 10 yards. He also bench-pressed 29 times at 225 pounds and did a 42 1/2-inch vertical jump, 10-11 broad jump and 7.1-second three-cone drill.
Coastal Carolina WR Tyler Roberts
It wasn't so much the 6-3, 191-pounder's 40 time (a modest 4.59) but his vertical leap that impressed. It was said to be 43 inches, which would have been only 2 inchces off the combine record held by Chris Conley and Donald Washington, if he had done it there. He also had a 10-4 broad jump.
Louisiana Tech TE Griffin Hebert
At 6-3, 239, he timed 4.53 in the 40 with 27 bench reps and 39 1/2-inch vertical. He also did a 6.95-second three-cone.
BYU CB Kaleb Hayes
An unofficial 4.31-second 40 and a 40-inch vertical leap as well as a 10-foot-8 broad jump. At 5-11 196, he isn't limited to the slot. A transfer from Oregon State, he finished with 26 career pass breakups.
Minnesota State WR Jalen Sample
Turned in a 6.85-second three-cone drill and 4.09-second short shuttle.
Minnesota CB Justus Harris
Had a 40-inch vertical and 17 reps in the bench, besides a 10-4 broad jump.
New Mexico DL Adam Gay
A 6-4, 274-pound end or tackle, he ran 5.05 in the 40 with 28 reps in the bench.
North Dakota WR Garrett Maag
A big receiver at 6-3 1/2, 206, who ran 4.49 in the 40 and had a 40 1/2-inch vertical. Also did the three-cone in 6.9 and had a 10-5 broad jump.
Northwestern WR Donny Navarro III
Timed at 6.83 for the three-cone and 4.05 in the short shuttle.
Oregon State WR Tre'Shaun Harrison
Ran 4.41 in the 40 at 5-11, 188, and had a 6.97 three-cone.
Oregon State WR Tyjon Lindsey
Turned in a 6.69 three-cone and 4.1 short shuttle, while doing a 39-inch vertical and running a 4.47 40.
Oregon State TE Luke Musgrave
He finished some of the drills he didn't do at the combine, doing the three-cone in 7.09 and 19 bench presses.
Purdue CB Cory Trice
Timed a very fast at 3.96 in the short shuttle, with an equally quick 6.70 three-cone.
Texas CB D’Shawn Jamison
Timed 4.49 in the 40 and 6.77 three-cone.
Tulane RB Tyjae Spears
He hadn't run the 40 at the combine and timed 4.47 at pro day.
UC Davis O-Lineman Nick Amoah
At 6-2, 306, he ran 5.1 in the 40 with 26 bench reps.
UNLV LB Austin Ajiake
Timed at 4.55 in the 40 with a 38.5-inch vertical and 10-3 broad jump,
Michigan State DB Ameer Speed
A safety who transferred to Michigan State after not getting a chance to play much in five years at Georgia, he made 36 tackles and five pass breakups last year and then turned heads at his pro day. He was said to have clocked 4.34 for the 40 with a 1.56-second 10-yard split. He also had an outstanding 6.99-second three-cone drill. NFL Draft Bible compared his athletic skills to Tariq Woolen.
Illinois WR Kody Case
Ran the three-cone in 6.88 and the 40 in 4.43 at 5-9 1/2, 182.
Illinois DL Jaamal Woods
Timed at 4.96 in the 40 at 6-1 1/2, 294, with 30 bench reps.
Indiana CB Jaylin Willliams
Ran 4.45 in the 40 with a 6.96 three-cone.
Kent State SS Nico Bolden
Ran a 4.44 in the 40 at 6-3, 203 and had a 41-inch vertical with a 10-7 broad jump.
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