By Hannah Gordon
Daily Bruin Reporter Jeff Grau did not have to bench press. His
snail-pace 40 times of 4.98 and 5.10 were just fine by him. Monday,
Grau’s only time that mattered was how fast he could throw a
ball between his legs. Scouts from about half of the NFL teams were
on campus Monday to watch Grau, a long snapper, and many other
Bruins at UCLA’s pro day. “This is kind of like our
combine,” defensive lineman Anthony Fletcher said of the
seniors who were not invited to March’s NFL combine in
Indianapolis. “People haven’t heard my name before, but
they might come to see DeShaun Foster or Rob Thomas and hopefully
notice me,” Fletcher added.
While Thomas was in the bleachers supporting his teammates, he
did not participate since he ran and benched at the combine. Foster
did choose to run again and clocked a speedy 4.48. For the seniors
with more uncertain futures, Monday was a stressful but exciting
chance to grab the attention of professional scouts. “It
seems like you could get lost with 350 other guys at the combine,
but here there are as many scouts as players,” quarterback
Scott McEwan said. “You’re in the comfort of your own
home. Some people find they run and lift better here.”
Defensive lineman Kenyon Coleman could not compare whether he did
better on campus or at the combine since he did not run due to a
high ankle sprain sustained in the Jan. 26 Senior Bowl. He benched
32 reps of 225 lbs. and ran a 4.93 Monday but had been hoping for a
4.83. “I prepared my hardest so I can’t be
disappointed,” Coleman said. “These workouts are
crucial. They can be the difference between two rounds (in the
draft).”
The workouts might seem less critical to Grau since a few years
ago he did not expect to earn a scholarship, much less play in the
NFL. “Athletic variables aren’t all that important for
me,” Grau said. “Everyone on the team is jealous
because I just watch ESPN while they practice.” The No. 1
long snapper in the country, according to Pro Football Weekly, Grau
has a .75 second snap. So although he was not watching ESPN on
Monday, he was his usual jovial self and the envy of his teammates.
“I don’t know (how I became the best),” Grau
said. “I got an email last summer from an agent who said I
was the top long snapper in the country and I was like, “˜What
are you talking about?’ because you never see that ranked in
any magazines.”
After the timing was over, Grau took personality tests for four
teams. “Its a weird test,” he said. “The
questions are like: “˜I feel like I have a good work
ethic’ or “˜I feel like I play hard on the field every
play’ and you have to pick one of them. You can’t pick
both.” When asked which he would choose, Grau didn’t
hesitate. “I feel like I play hard on the field.”
Ңbull;Ӣbull;Ӣbull; Notes: Wide receiver
Brian Poli-Dixon was unable to run due to a leg injury sustained at
the combine. He is unsure whether or not he will be able to
participate next Monday. He did, however, use the combine to
interview with 27 of 32 teams … Quarterback Scott McEwan did not
do passing drills, but next Monday he expects Hawai’i wide
receiver and likely first round pick Ashley Lelie to be his target.
Lelie worked out at Santa Monica College’s pro day today.