The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Perry’s Farrell pleased with OSU pro day work
The last five years have been a dream come true for Luke Farrell as a member of the Ohio State football team.
The Perry product March 30 took an important step toward the coming years being extra special, too, as he showcased his talents for NFL coaches and staffers at Ohio State’s Pro Day.
Going through a myriad of measurement tests, physical assessments and a bevy of questions from scouts, Farrell said he was very pleased with the outcome of his Pro Day performance as he attempted to put his best foot forward with the NFL draft slated for April 29May 1 in Cleveland.
“I’ve wanted past pro days here at Ohio State, so it was a great feeling to finally be in the position to show what I’m capable of,” Farrell said in a phone interview with The News-Herald. “It was a pretty packed house here today. Just about every (NFL) team was here. I’m happy with how I performed, and I think I showed what I’m capable of as an NFL tight end.”
Farrell said he was officially measured at 6-foot-5 1/2 and 251 pounds, though he said with a chuckle, “I think they shorted me a little with the height.”
He bench-pressed 225 pounds 22 times, had a vertical leap of 36.5 inches and ran the 40 in the mid 4.7s, he said.
But what Farrell wanted to show most was his skill set, to prove not only is he what he claims to be — one of the top (if not the top) blocking tight ends in the draft, but also a capable pass catcher.
Farrell only caught five passes for 37 yards (a 7.4-yard average) and one touchdown this past season. But Ohio State rarely threw to its tight ends.
Farrell wanted to showcase his pass catching at the OSU pro day, and he said he was able to do that.
“Stats don’t represent what I am capable of in the passing game,” Farrell said. “Teams do their due diligence. On film, they can see what I’m capable of in the passing game — that’s the feedback I’ve been getting.”
He ran multiple routes with OSU quarterback Justin Fields for scouts March 30, a list that included former OSU coach Urban Meyer.
“It was good to see him,” Farrell said of Meyer, now the head coach of the Jaguars. “He came up to me and was like, ‘Yeah, my GM really likes you for some reason. I don’t know why.’ It was great.”
Farrell said he’s also had a conversation with a representative of the Chargers, whose head coach is fellow Perry alum Brandon Staley.
“I had a meeting with a scout from the Chargers, and they asked me where I’m from and I told them, ‘The same high school as Coach Staley,’” Farrell said. “It was a nice conversation.”
Farrell said he hasn’t done much checking into what round he might be drafted. He’s leaving most of that draft stuff to his agents at at the IHC Agency, based out of Cleveland.
“I’ve just been focused on doing my best on pro day and let that (draft positioning) take care of itself,” he said.
The day after Ohio State lost to Alabama in the 2021 national championship game, Farrell — who graduated from Ohio State in December — left for Dallas to train at the Michael Johnson Performance organization.
A decorated student athlete who is a four-time OSU Scholar-Athlete and Academic All-Big Ten selection, Farrell eventually plans on enrolling in physical therapy school. He graduated with a 3.78 GPA.
But the next dream is the NFL.
If the vibe he got March 30 was any indication, he’s going to get the shot he’s always dreamed of: Being an NFL tight end.
“It’s so exciting,” said the son of Matt and Kelly Farrell. “I get asked the question a lot — what are we getting in you? I tell them, ‘You’re getting someone who approaches the game with toughness and versatility, someone who can run, pass, protect. I can do it all at a high level.
“All I need is that opportunity. It doesn’t matter where. I know I’m going to get that opportunity, and when I do, I’ll make the most of it.”