Ex-tigers adjust NFL Draft path due to virus

As gyms close around Memphis to limit the spread of the coronavirus, Antonio Gibson is on a daily mission: Find a place to work out for the NFL Draft.

Some days, it's the Memphis practice field at the Billy J. Murphy Complex. This week, it was Tom Lee Park where the former Tigers wide receiver found a sand pit and worked out with teammates.

“When I was younger, we always played in the backyard or the streets,” Gibson said. “It was easier than this because it's more complicated. You just have to adapt.”

This is life now for Gibson and his former Memphis teammate Patrick Taylor Jr. How do you continue getting ready for April's draft when you can't use a facility or travel to meet with teams?

For both, it's getting used to phone calls and virtual conferences.

Gibson said he's been prepared for multiple calls a day with different teams, so he makes sure to answer every call in a timely fashion. Taylor said he's using Facetime to chat with coaches and team personnel.

“They'll reach out and say, ‘Hey, we'd like to set up a Facetime call with you and what day works best?' and I'll just tell them when,” Taylor said.

Taylor's path became trickier after undergoing foot surgery on March 10 for an injury that caused him to miss eight games last season.

He said he'll be out 4-6 months as he continues to rehab back home in Houston. However, he wasn't worried about the surgery affecting his draft stock.

“I feel like I did all that I can do at the combine and I was able to show that I was capable of catching the ball out of the backfield and showing my speed while being hurt,” said Taylor, who ran the 40-yard dash in 4.57 seconds.

Gibson's 40-yard time of 4.39 seconds was the fifth-fastest time among wide receivers but teams are looking at him as a running back.

He remains projected as a thirdround selection according to Chad Reuter's mock draft on Nfl.com. On Bleacher Report's latest player rankings, Gibson was listed as the biggest sleeper among running backs while Taylor, who was a fifth-round projection by Bleacher Report in February, was listed as 17th among running backs, six spots behind Gibson.

Gibson also hopes Memphis will still have its Pro Day, which is tentatively scheduled for April 10.

While he was confident about where he stood, both he and Taylor were concerned their teammates wouldn't getting the chance to be seen in person.

“It's going to be hard for them to be seen by other scouts and maybe they could've impressed them,” Gibson said. “It's definitely messed up a lot for players who aren't able to showcase themselves.”