Cardinals Showcase Talents in Front of NFL

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The University of Louisville Pro Day has become a must-see event each March over the last few seasons. The football program has developed 16 NFL Draft picks the past five years, including 10 in 2015, and five first-round selections since 2014, thus making the Trager Indoor Practice Facility a gathering place for NFL personnel.

Thursday was no different as 30 of the 32 teams were represented to watch 19 former Cardinals showcase their talent to the scouts and position coaches in attendance.

Under the direction of strength and conditioning coach Joe Miday, 18 players off the 2016 team and one member of the 2015 squad took part in some combination of interviews, testing and competitive drills on Thursday morning.

Wide receivers James Quick, Jamari Staples and Gio Pascascio, tight ends Cole Hikutini and Keith Towbridge, offensive linemen Matt Cohen, Khalil Hunter, Tobijah Hughley, Kiola Mahoni, running backs Brandon Radcliff, Malin Jones and Lamar Atkins, long snapper Colin Holba represented the offensive players, while defensive tackle DeAngelo Brown, linebackers Devonte Fields and Keith Kelsey, and defensive backs Josh Harvey-Clemons and Marcus Mays were on the defensive side. John Wallace, a placekicker on the 2015, also kicked for the scouts.

There were many impressive performances from Thursday's activities, including a 4.46 in the 40-yard dash by Pascascio, 34 reps on the bench press by Brown and Towbridge's 4.69 in the 40.

"It's a whole new experience," Towbridge said after his workout. "It's been a good experience and I was happy with my performance today. I'm just excited for the future and see what happens."

Fields, who had 17 sacks during his two-year career, also impressed with his workout in front of the scouts.

The Fort Worth, Texas, antive ran a 4.72 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine and was timed at 4.68 and 4.73 by two different scouts on Wednesday. He said his other numbers were about the same but he seemed to deliver an impressive performance during his individual drill work.

"I've just been talking to a lot of teams and just have to now keep working out," Fields said. "I've had a lot of good meetings with teams and now I just have to wait and hope to hear my name called.

"It feels really good for me. I feel like I have been waiting for this all of my life."

Staples, who is an impressive figure at 6-foot-4, also seemed to improve his stock after his workout. Catching 36 passes for 615 yards last year, Staples ran a 4.46 in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine in February and decided not to run. His time is the 15th-best among the wideouts running at the Combine.

The Lineville, Ala., product ran precise routes, showed good burst in-and-out of his cuts, and caught the football.

"I was focused on being smooth," Staples said. "I wanted to run my routes smoothly, catching the ball smoothly and running after the catch. Coming out here was just a matter of coming out and being myself. I'm comfortable with my speed and my 40. I was extremely happy with my 4.46."

Despite being in the program for just two years, Staples said he benefited from head coach Bobby Petrino's pro-style offense.

"I learn very fast," he said, "and coming out of coach (Bobby) Petrino's offense, as verbal as it is and as much terminology there is to it, it'll definitely help me at the next level going in."

The Cardinals will learn their fate when the NFL Draft takes place in Philadelphia, Pa., on April 27-29.

University of Louisville Athletics

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Players Mentioned

Lamar Atkins

DeAngelo Brown

Matt Cohen

Devonte Fields

Josh Harvey-Clemons

Cole Hikutini

Colin Holba

Tobijah Hughley

Khalil Hunter

Malin Jones

Keith Kelsey

Kiola Mahoni

Marcus Mays

Gio Pascascio

James Quick

Brandon Radcliff

Jamari Staples

Keith Towbridge

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