’Canes make most of soggy pro day
Players try to impress scouts on slick field
CORAL GABLES — In his five years as a Miami Hurricane, Dallas Crawford has seen it all, weather wise.
He’s practiced — and played — blistering, sunny conditions. There have been downpours and lightning delays. And in his final game in orange and green, there was even snow in El Paso, Texas.
Still, on Wednesday morning when Crawford took the field for Miami’s pro day, he couldn’t help but look up at the heavens and shake his head as a heavy rain fell while he and 12 of his Hurricanes teammates tried to impress scouts from across the NFL with their speed, footwork, strength and agility.
“It hasn’t rained like this in months. It’s crazy,” Crawford said. “Luckily, we practice in it so we’re used to it. It wasn’t like we said‘ What are we going todo now?’ It hurt us a little bit, but we didn’t complain. You have to do what you have to do, and as one scout kept saying, you have to adjust to the elements.”
And so, the most recent Hurricanes football alums tried todo just that, with cornerback Artie Burns shedding the gloves that made his hands feel slicker
than he would have liked. Safety Deon Bush tried to keep his footing to improve on his time in the 40-yard-dash from the NFL Combine. And Crawford did drills showcasing his abilities to play safety and running back, both of which he played at Miami.
For all of them, Wednesday was a chance to showcase their individual skill sets, some that weren’t always easily visible as the Hurricanes struggled in recent seasons.
Still, one former Miami great— now an assistant defensive backs coach with the Bills — said he thinks the Hurricanes performed more than adequately, rain and all. And he expects the group, which many draft experts say is filled with late-round picks and possible free-agent signees, will produce some surprises.
“I saw some athletes. I saw a lot of ability that’s been untapped,” said former Pro Bowl safety Ed Reed, whowas among several former Hurricanes standouts who watched Wednesday’s workouts. “You could see that guys have ability. Just thinking about Tyriq [McCord] and Artie [Burns]. They both have ability that hasn’t been tapped into yet. If Iwas a coach, I’d be excited to get any one of those guys today.”
Added former Miami linebacker Jon Beason: “This is a group of guys that is motivated, guys who are talented and have a crazy skill set. Regardless where they’re drafted, getting a foot in the door is key.”
One player who likely won’t have to do much more to impress scouts is Burns, who announced in late December that he intended to bypass his senior year and declare for the NFL Draft.
Burns, who had a solid showing at last month’s NFL Scouting Combine wherehe ran a4.46 inthe40, opted not to run again Wednesday, though he participated in all the other scheduled drills.
The former Miami Northwestern standout — and a two-sport star at Miami— has been widely projected as a second or third-round draft pick, though ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr. has said he has the ability to be a late first-rounder, something Burns is trying to take in stride as he continues preparing for the draft.
“I’m anxious to see where I’m going to land and what team I’m going to be with, but it’s a good process,” Burns said. “I’m meeting new people. … I deserve to do what Iwork for, where a team sees I fit. I’m up there with the best inmy class and wherever I go, I’m going to still do what I have to do.”
Famous faces
Beason and Reed weren’t the only former Hurricanes on the Greentree practice field Wednesday encouraging Miami’s outgoing players. Cleveland Browns running back Duke Johnson, Miami’s all-time leading rusher, wason the field providing last-minute guidance to some of his former teammates before they ran their 40-yard dashes. Also on-hand were Tommy Streeter, Stephen Morris, DJ Williams, Lamar Miller, Denzel Perryman, Alonzo Highsmith, Allen Hurns, Richard Gordon, Allen Bailey, Brandon Harris, Brandon McGee, Phillip Dorsett and Antrel Rolle.
New Miami coach Mark Richt — also a pretty well-known Hurricanes alum— was on the field aswell.
Tannenbaum praises Burns, Bush
Dolphins vice president of football operations Mike Tannenbaum was on hand towatch the Hurricanes work out and had praise for Burns and Bush, two of the Miami prospects with draftable grades.
“Both of those guys looked good, both had good careers,” he said. “They didn’t do anything today that would hurt their situation.”