Robert Cessna
A slimmed down Nic Scourton went through defensive line drills at Texas A&M's Pro Day at a feverish pace, spurred on by teammates, friends and family on Thursday at the Coolidge Performance Center.
Scourton didn't do drills at the NFL Combine, but the former Aggie defensive end measured in at 6-foot-3 and 257 pounds, which was well below his playing weight last season of 285.
"I don't think [losing the weight] was purposeful," Scourton said. "I think it was just living the right way, eating the right things [and] getting the right amount of sleep."
Scourton's quickness stood out as he competed against 300-pounders Rodas Johnson and Shemar Turner in the various drills for the defensive linemen measuring agility, speed and power. Scourton passed on participating in the three-cone drill, 225-pound bench press repetitions, broad jump, vertical jump, 20-yard shuttle and 40-yard dash.
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"I think a lot of people focus on the wrong things," Scourton said. "Focusing on 40-yard dashes for D-linemen, I just don't think that's important."
Scourton said his game tapes along with going through drills supervised by NFL coaches are what matters. Scourton and his fellow defensive linemen worked up quite a sweat Thursday trying to impress the NFL folks.
"Those are drills that translate to the football field," Scourton said. "I'm a competitor. I think me, Shemar Turner and Rodas and all the other guys, we went out there and competed."
Scourton, who played running back and linebacker at Bryan as Nic Caraway, has had a chip on his shoulder since signing with Purdue, after getting passed over by the big-name football schools. He had 72 tackles in two years with the Boilermakers, including 50 as a sophomore. He also led the Big Ten Conference in sacks that season with 10. He transferred to A&M, which didn't sign him coming out of high school.
Scourton had several family members and friends wearing his No. 11 Aggie jerseys in the balcony as he competed.
"I'm sure it's real special for him to be able to do this in Bryan-College Station," said A&M head football coach Mike Elko, who as A&M's defensive coordinator recruited Scourton at Bryan and then was able to bring him back home. "To be able to come full circle from where he was as a high school player [it was] a long journey to ultimately get to this point. Obviously, I'm real happy for him. He's got a long, bright future in the NFL. So, we're exited to watch and support him."
Scourton had 37 tackles for the Aggies last season, 14 of them for losses, including five sacks. He was a first-time All-Southeastern Conference selection and was a second-team All-American by Walter Camp. He declared for the NFL Draft, forgoing his senior season.
Most mock drafts have Scourton just outside the first round. Scourton said he'll watch the draft with his family along with "the people who matter and have been with me this whole process."
Former Bryan Vikings who were first-round picks were running back Curtis Dickey who was taken fifth by the Baltimore Colts in 2980, defensive end Ty Warren who was taken 13th by New England in 2003 and running back/tight end Rod Bernstine who was taken 24th by the San Diego Chargers. All those players also played for Texas A&M.
Scourton has visited the Arizona Cardinals and he planned to visit with the Houton Texans on Thursday night and Friday. He has approximately seven other visits scheduled.
It could have been four. A&M defensive end Shemar Stewart, who is projected by most to be a first-round pick, didn't do anything during A&M's Pro day other than watch, because he's finally fully recovered from a hamstring injury, which he suffered at the NFL Combine. He wants to be ready for the mini camp of whatever team drafts him.
Stewart was impressed with the effort of his fellow linemen Thursday.
"It's never easy doing Pro Day with only three guys," Stewart said. "Man, they try to kill you. They basically try to see what you're made of, so it's never easy doing it with only three guys. So for them to go out and do it and show how they did. I'm really proud of those guys."
By the numbers. Aggie tight end Shane Calhoun had the best vertical jump (39 inches), broad jump (11-0) and 40-yard dash time (4.43 seconds. Wide receiver Jahdae Walker had the best time in the 20-yard shuttle (4.13) and three-cone drill (6.7). Defensive back Trey Jones II matched Calhoun's vertical jump. Johnson was best on the 225-pound bench press with 20 reps, one more than tight end Tre Watson. ... The 80 NFL personnel in attendance included head coaches Raheem Morris (Atlanta), Brian Schottenheimer (Dallas) and, DeMeco Ryans (Houston) along with general managers Terry Fontenot (Atlanta), Brian Gutekunst (Green Bay) and Nick Caserio (Houston). Scouts who are Aggie graduates were Terry Fontenot (Atlanta) and Bailee Brown (Houston). ... Other Aggies working out were defensive backs Jaydon Hill and BJ Mayes; linebacker Solomon DeShields; and wide receiver Moose Muhammad III.
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