Boilermakers strut their stuff for NFL scouts at Pro Day

PRO DAY VIDEOS: Jacob Thieneman | Terry Wright | Kirk Barron | D.J. Knox

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You could hear a sense of relief in the voice of Kirk Barron as Purdue’s Pro Day was winding down on Tuesday afternoon in the Mollenkopf Athletic Center.

“I did alright,” the former Purdue center said. “I was happy to get through the whole thing healthy. I am looking forward to the next step.”

Today, Barron and teammates QB David Blough, S Jacob Thieneman, RB D.J. Knox, CB Antonio Blackmon, TE Cole Herdman, G Shane Evans, CB Tim Cason, S Kamal Hardy, WR Terry Wright and WR Isaac Zico--among others--took a big first step to what they hope will be an NFL career.

School officials said there were 36 scouts from 30 teams on hand. And they put 16 players through a litany of drills to test their speed, quickness, explosiveness, agility and strength. Since no Purdue players were invited to the Combine, this was the only time ex-Boilermakers could work out in front of myriad scouts. Jets, Bears, Seahawks, Giants, Vikings, Colts, Cardinals ... NFL apparel was on display throughout the Purdue complex.

Many of the players have spent the past eight weeks training off-site for this event, getting schooled in how to “test well.” Knox and Herdman worked out at a facility in Nashville, Blough trained in the Dallas area, while Thieneman and Barron toiled in south Florida.

"I was down in Ft. Lauderdale getting ready,” said Thieneman. “It was intense training. Different than stuff we do in the offseason. Just getting ready for running the 40, jumping a vertical, the shuttle drills … everything. I brought it every day.

“I was really dedicated to my diet, focused on getting more flexible, recovery, things like that. I treated me body like I was a professional athlete. And I feel like it showed today. I performed really well.”

Blough also was pleased with how he did. In addition to running, jumping and lifting, he also threw extensively.

“I remember five or six hitting the ground,” said Blough, who estimated he completed 49-of-55 throws today.

“Something like that,” he said. “I wanted a perfect day, I wanted all of them. I had some overthrows. Better to miss long, I guess, on a day like this showing arm strength. A few drops, but it’s part of it.”

The fastest player was Wright, who arrived at Purdue in 2017 as a JC transfer in Jeff Brohm’s first season. Wright ran a blazing 4.3 40-yard dash.

“My start was quicker than usual,” said Wright. “I really thought I ran a slow time, but I came back and they said ‘4.34,’ I was actually shocked. I was gonna try to come in at a high-4.3, but it was a low-4.3. I was really excited.”

Wright also caught the ball well.

“I think I opened up some eyes showing I had strong hands, nice cuts, good speed, explosiveness and that I can jump for a 50-50 ball,” he said. “I felt like I did my job here today.”

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Now, the players wonder and wait for the NFL Draft, which will take place April 25-27 in Nashville. Some players hope to be invited to the headquarters of NFL teams for interviews. Some may be asked to workout again.

“What happens next is teams schedule what they call 30 visits, where they bring guys in and you hope to get into some of those where they put you on the board and see what kind of person you are, interview you, put up your bad plays on film and ask you tough questions and see how you respond,” said Blough. “That is what the next few weeks will entail for all of us.”

Another possibility: Attend a Pro Day hosted by an NFL team in their native area.

“Since I am local in Dallas and am here in the Indianapolis area, I get to do the local days for the Colts and Cowboys,” said Blough, who will be married next week. “You get to work with their staff on the field.”

The prospect of any Purdue players being selected appears slim. If no Boilermakers are tabbed, it would end a 21-year run of drafts that have featured a Purdue player--dating to 1998. The Purdue players with the best chances to be picked? Most program-watchers think it's Blough, Thieneman and Wright. If any Boilers are selected, it figures to be in the later rounds--likely the seventh round.

“I have heard anywhere from third round to undrafted so … whosever opinion of the day it is,” said Barron. “I need to continue to let people know that I am an athlete and I can play football. Arm length isn’t great, but it’s not gonna let me down or let the team down in any way.”

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