Presumptive first overall pick Trevor Lawrence had the opportunity to show off his arm in front of NFL scouts at his private pro day on Friday. He chose not to participate in Clemson’s March 11 pro day to move up the timetable for surgery on his non-throwing shoulder.
According to NFL.com, the suggestion to hold his own pro day early came from none other than Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Urban Meyer.
“I (told) him there are three choices. No. 1, you can wait until the March 11 pro day, but now your (recovery) is getting near August, because it’s a five to six month injury. The second (choice), you can not throw. He’s probably a good enough player, he could’ve said ‘I’m not doing it,’ him and his agent,” Meyer told NFL Network’s Jane Slater. “Or the third (choice), I said ‘Why don’t you just go grab a ball and throw for a little bit? … And he said ‘Let’s go.’ That was it. Next thing I know, we’re here at a pro day that they put together (quickly). That’s a guy that loves football and is confident in his ability.”
Lawrence is scheduled to undergo surgery on Tuesday, and he’s expected to be fully recovered by the beginning of training camp.
There appears to be a developing relationship between the two, who will likely be united in Jacksonville after the NFL Draft. Meyer, who was previously a college sports analyst for Fox Sports, has analyzed Clemson’s program thoroughly over the years, so he’s well aware of Lawrence.
The Jaguars will hope the coordination of the pro day is the first of many great collaborations between the two. Early indications prove the relationship between Lawrence and Meyer has the potential to work out, but fans will have to wait until the draft and beyond to see it in action in the NFL.