One of only two pro days on the workout circuit attracted quite a crowd to Kalamazoo on Monday. Nearly everyone was there to watch one player: Western Michigan defensive end Marshawn Kneeland.
Kneeland, from nearby Wyoming Godwin Heights High School in Grand Rapids, was one of seven WMU Broncos players participating in the pro day. Let’s just say that over 50 scouts and coaches from 23 NFL teams didn’t make the trip to watch WR Leroy Thomas or TE Austin Hence.
After opting to stand on his outstanding NFL Scouting Combine athletic testing numbers, scouts eagerly watched the 6-foot-3. 267-pound Kneeland go through positional drills.
Kneeland’s workout was run by New York Jets defensive line coach Aaron Whitecotton. At least four other NFL defensive line coaches were at the workout inside the Seelye Center on WMU’s campus.
Kneeland has definitely risen in the draft process, beginning with an excellent showing at the Senior Bowl. He’s had to answer questions about a relative lack of productivity — just 4.5 sacks and 7.5 TFLs in 10 games in 2023 — for several NFL teams already. Among them are the Chiefs, Seahawks, Bills, Eagles, Lions, Falcons and Texans.