Conner, Peterman strut stuff at pro day
said. “He’s probably one of the favorite guys I’ve played with. Maybe we’ll get another chance one day to play with each other. … I’ve never seen a guy like him.”
The activities Wednesday at the practice facility shared by the Steelers and Panthers were the next big steps in a remarkable football journey for Conner. The same practice field where he first trained as a freshman hoping to make an instant impact in Pitt’s ground game became his latest playground to try to boost his NFL draft stock.
Conner went through the paces of running back position drills with Detroit Lions backfield coach David Walker, who coached the same position at Pitt from 2004-10. All the while, Detroit’s Jim Caldwell — the only head coach in attendance — looked on, as did a throng of other team personnel from offensive coordinators to assistant coaches to scouts.
The question was barely done being asked before Conner gave his performance a letter grade.
“A-plus,” he said, then explained the reason behind that self-assuredness. “I just felt confident. I was prepared. I’ve been training for this, so I didn’t expect anything less.”
Conner, still projected by CBS Sports as a fourth- or fifth-round pick, only did some shuttle drills and position workouts, choosing to stick with his 4.65-second 40yard dash time from the NFL combine a few weeks ago. But he said he didn’t drop a pass Wednesday and did his best to greet every team in the building.
Pitt’s other five combine participants also were on hand, in Peterman, Adam Bisnowaty, Dorian Johnson, Ejuan Price and Scott Orndoff. Other 2016 seniors who took part in the drills included receiver Dontez Ford, linebacker Matt Galambos, defensive tackle Tyrique Jarrett and cornerback Ryan Lewis. Even kicker Chris Blewitt and long-snapper Pat Quirin got in on the action.
Ford was one of the day’s standouts, putting up 16 reps on the bench press and a vertical jump of 36 inches, both of which would’ve put him in the top 10 of receivers at the combine.
Also in the mix was a long-lost Pitt quarterback in Chad Voytik, the starter in 2014 and the first few games of 2015 before giving way to Peterman. After transferring for his senior year, Voytik played this past season at Arkansas State but only started three games.
The Steelers had a host of coaches and general manager Kevin Colbert make the short trip from across the hall, including offensive coordinator Todd Haley, defensive coordinator Keith Butler, offensive line coach Mike Munchak and inside linebackers coach Jerry Olsavsky. Former Steelers offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt, now holding the same position with the Los Angeles Chargers, watched, too.
Peterman said he spoke a bit with Haley and Colbert, and that he will meet with the Steelers in April. The only private workout he has set at this point is with the Philadelphia Eagles, but he could be a man in high demand as he continues to climb up some draft boards — one recent mock even has him as a second-rounder when it all begins April 27. Peterman laughed when asked if it ever gets difficult to enjoy such a stressful process.
“It does sometimes, but luckily I’ve got a great wife, Morgan, and my parents and my family,” Peterman said. “Just a great support system that keeps me grounded.”