Tag: Local pro day

48 draft prospects attend Colts’ local pro day in 2023

The Colts hosted 48 draft prospects at their local pro day.

The Indianapolis Colts held a local pro day for eligible prospects ahead of the 2023 NFL draft Monday, and there were some intriguing names on the list.

While the local pro days typically serve as a chance for lesser-known prospects to show off their talent, there were some big names participating during Monday’s workout.

There were a few names we knew the Colts have interest in either because they previously worked out for the team or because they reportedly have a top-30 visit scheduled.

Here’s a look at the 48 prospects who attended the Colts’ local pro day ahead of the 2023 draft:

Report: Ball State WR Yo’ Heinz Tyler to attend Colts local pro day

Ball State WR with an awesome name will attend the Colts’ local pro day.

Ball State wide receiver Yo’Heinz Tyler reportedly will be in attendance Monday when the Indianapolis Colts host a local pro day ahead of the 2023 NFL draft.

With one of the best names entering the draft, Tyler spent five seasons at Ball State. He’s posted at least 42 receptions and 441 yards in each of the last three seasons.

Tyler’s best season came during the 2020 campaign when he recorded 42 receptions for 607 yards and eight touchdowns despite the season being shortened to eight games due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

It’s likely that Tyler’s projected draft capital sits as a late Day 3 selection or priority free agent signing following the draft.

A full list of prospects will become available once the local pro day gets underway Monday.

The 2023 NFL draft begins with Round 1 on Thursday, April 27 at 8:00 p.m. ET followed by the second and third rounds Friday, April 28 at 7:00 p.m. ET. The draft concludes with Rounds 4-7 on Saturday, April 29 at 12:00 p.m. ET.

The Colts also are set to begin their offseason workout program on the same day as the local pro day.

We’ll be tracking the Colts’ reported interest in the 2023 draft class so be sure to keep up with latest updates via our tracker.

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Commanders set to host local pro day on April 11

Washington will host several local prospects ahead of the 2023 NFL draft.

The Washington Commanders will host their pro day for local college prospects eligible for the 2023 NFL draft on Tuesday, April 11, per Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post.

The local pro days aren’t for the top prospects from the area, which means Maryland cornerback Deonte Banks, a possible first-round pick, likely will not participate. Instead, it’s often for players who weren’t invited to the NFL combine or are from smaller schools.

Two names have already been revealed. Utah State wide receiver Brian Cobbs and William & Mary tight end Lachlan Pitts. Cobbs is from Alexandria, Va., while Pitts hails from Great Falls, Va.

We don’t have a full list of participants at this time, but more will be known on the day of the event.

The first round of the 2023 NFL draft begins on Thursday, April 27.

Purdue LS Nick Zechhino to attend Colts’ local pro day

Purdue LS Nick Zecchino will be at the Colts’ local pro day.

Purdue long snapper Nick Zecchino will be in attendance Monday when the Indianapolis Colts host a local pro day for eligible prospects ahead of the 2023 NFL draft.

While the Colts currently have a Pro Bowl caliber long snapper in Luke Rhodes, he’s entering a contract year after signing an extension during the 2019 offseason.

Zecchino is a sixth-year player who spent the last three seasons as the long snapper for the Boilermakers. He also spent time at Connecticut before transferring to Purdue but missed the majority of the 2017 and 2018 seasons due to health issues.

A full list of prospects will become available once the local pro day gets underway, but Zecchino might be a name to keep an eye on as an undrafted free agent as the Colts need to keep their options open at long snapper in the event Rhodes doesn’t return after 2023.

The 2023 NFL draft begins with Round 1 on Thursday, April 27 at 8:00 p.m. ET followed by the second and third rounds Friday, April 28 at 7:00 p.m. ET. The draft concludes with Rounds 4-7 on Saturday, April 29 at 12:00 p.m. ET.

The Colts also are set to begin their offseason workout program on the same day as the local pro day.

We’ll be tracking the Colts’ reported interest in the 2023 draft class so be sure to keep up with latest updates via our tracker.

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Colts local pro day set for April 10

The Colts’ local pro day is set for April 10.

The Indianapolis Colts will host their NFL pro day for local college prospects ahead of the 2023 NFL draft on April 10.

The local pro days are typically reserved for the lesser-known prospects entering the draft, most of which didn’t get an invite to the NFL scouting combine.

The full list of prospects participating will be updated at a later date.

The 2023 NFL draft begins with Round 1 on Thursday, April 27 at 8:00 p.m. ET followed by the second and third rounds Friday, April 28 at 7:00 p.m. ET. The draft concludes with Rounds 4-7 on Saturday, April 29 at 12:00 p.m. ET.

The Colts also are set to begin their offseason workout program on the same day.

We’ll be tracking the Colts’ reported interest in the 2023 draft class so be sure to keep up with latest updates via our tracker.

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Washburn WR Peter Afful Jr. to attend Chiefs’ local pro day

Another talented receiver from Washburn is set to attend the #Chiefs’ local prospect day.

The Kansas City Chiefs will soon play host to another 2023 NFL draft prospect who attended Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas.

According to his agency, First Choice Sports Management, Washburn WR Peter Afful Jr. is set to attend the Chiefs’ local prospect day this week. Like his teammate James Letcher Jr., Afful Jr. recently competed at the University of Kansas pro day, where he turned some heads with his performance. He ran a 4.3s 40-yard dash and posted an explosive vertical jump (39 inches) and broad jump (10-7). Those numbers would have been among the top at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine.

That vertical comes as no surprise, after watching some of the highlights of his college career.

Afful Jr. was a big-play machine for the Ichabods over the past two seasons, but he had his best year yet in 2022. The 5-foot-10 and 190-pound receiver earned Second-Team All-MIAA honors on the back of a 34-catch, 660-yard and eight-touchdown campaign.

He finished his Washburn career appearing in 23 games recording 1,220 receiving yards on 63 catches with 16 touchdowns. He also averaged over 19.3 yards per reception, which ranked third in school history.

Afful Jr. will join his cousin, Kansas State CB Ekow Boye-Doe, at the Chiefs’ local day this week.

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Washburn WR James Letcher Jr. to attend Chiefs’ local pro day

The #Chiefs are set to have a standout D-II wide receiver and return specialist at their local pro day.

The Kansas City Chiefs’ local pro day is coming up and we’re starting to hear about a few of the players who’ve been invited to the event.

According to KPRC2 NFL reporter Aaron Wilson, Washburn WR James “J.J.” Letcher Jr. is set to attend the Chiefs’ local pro day. The 5-foot-8 and 175-pound receiver appeared in 48 games with 31 career starts for the Ichabods. He finished his career with 228 career receptions, 2,992 yards and 29 touchdowns, plus 60 carries for 336 yards and two scores.

The D-II standout made an outsized impact as a kick returner and punt returner on special teams with three kickoff return touchdowns and two punt return touchdowns during his career. He twice earned MIAA Special Teams Player of the Year honors during his career at Washburn.

Letcher recently participated in the University of Kansas pro day last week, where he ran a 4.52s 40-yard dash and caught every pass during his workout per Wilson.

Letcher spoke to WIBW’s Katie Maher following his performance at the KU pro day:

“I work hard,” Letcher said. “My height doesn’t mean anything. I’ve been this height, I’ve been this size my whole life and I still over exceeded what people thought about me. I’m going to give it everything I’ve got and continue to do what I do. If they give me a chance, I’ll show them what D-II players are about.”

The confidence is palpable and he certainly is aware of the area he can make his impact felt should he wind up in Kansas City.

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Colts host 41 draft prospects at local pro day

The Colts hosted a local pro day that included 41 prospects ahead of the NFL draft.

The Indianapolis Colts held their pro day for local prospects Monday ahead of the 2022 NFL draft.

While most of these players are considered Day 3 or priority free agent signings in terms of draft stock, this is a chance for the Colts to get a closer look at some of the local talent from surrounding programs such as Purdue, Indiana and Ball State to name a few.

The biggest names to show up include former Purdue wide receiver David Bell and former Indiana linebacker Micah McFadden.

Here’s a quick look at the 41 prospects who were in attendance at the local pro day Monday:

Invitations going out to prospects for Chiefs’ local pro day

The local pro day has historically taken place during the first week of April.

Several draft-eligible prospects who attended local colleges or grew up near the Kansas City metro area will soon have a chance to impress the Chiefs in Kansas City. They’ll gather and compete in testing and on-field workouts at the Chiefs’ local pro day, which typically takes place during the first week of April.

The goal for players is to catch the attention of coaches and scouts just as you would in any other pro day or combine event. The goal for the Chiefs is to ensure they aren’t letting any hidden gems slip past them in the draft or undrafted free agency. Many of the prospects who attend the local pro day are projected to be late-rounders or undrafted free agents. The local pro day in 2019 led to Kansas City adding Emporia State RB Josh Caldwell and Kansas State OG Abdul Beecham as undrafted free agents.

Invitations to the 2020 iteration of the local pro day have already begun to go out to prospects. Yahoo Sports’ Terez Paylor had the first report on Kansas DB Bryce Torneden receiving an invitation to the local pro day.

Kansas City Star beat writer Herbie Teope followed it up with a report on Kansas State RB James Gilbert receiving his invitation.

Here is a list of some local players who will likely be invited to the pro day:

  • Nebraska DTs Khalil & Carlos Davis — from Blue Springs, Missouri
  • Mizzou LB Cale Garrett — from Kearney, Missouri
  • Mizzou OL Trystan Colon-Castillo – from Webb City, Missouri
  • North Carolina OT Charlie Heck (Son of Chiefs OL coach Andy Heck) — from Kansas City, Missouri
  • Clemson LB Isaiah Simmons — from Olathe, Kansas
  • Miami WR Jeff Thomas — East St. Louis, Illinois

You can expect many players from Kansas, Kansas State and Missouri to attend. In 2019, the Chiefs had players from 13 different schools in the building for the local pro day.

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