29 NFL teams attend CMU Pro Day on Thursday
Twelve Central Michigan football seniors showed off their skills in front of scouts from 29 NFL teams and two Canadian football teams Thursday at the Indoor Athletic Complex.
Senior defensive back Kavon Frazier garnered attention from multiple scouts at CMU's Pro Day. He was the only Chippewa invited to the NFL Combine in February, but could not work out because of a stress fracture found in his foot.
Frazier clocked a 4.56 in the 40-yard dash — which he said was the most important drill for him, Thursday.
“It felt great out there, my legs felt great,” Frazier said. “I’ve been having some hamstring tightness, so I was a little worried coming into it, but after I finished my jumping, I started running and everything felt great.”
Frazier has a workout with the Detroit Lions next week and his agent has been in conversations with the Carolina Panthers.
“I’m very confident I’m going to end up on an NFL team,” he said.
John Bonamego — who coached in the NFL for 16 years before accepting the head coaching position at CMU in 2015 — said he knew a majority of the scouts in attendance.
“This is just one part of the overall evaluation. The biggest, most important thing is what you put on tape and the production that you have in games,” Bonamego said. “The measurables, those are the standards that put everybody on an equal playing field, regardless of where you played, what conference you were in, that sort of thing. The measuring tape don’t lie and neither does the stopwatch.”
There were 12 CMU players and about a half-dozen Ferris State players — including Division II Player of the Year quarterback Jason Vander Laan — worked out.
Besides measurements and agility drills, the players did weight room tests and positional drills.
Bonamego said there are a number of Chippewas who could have futures in the NFL, including Frazier, defensive tackle Louis Palmer, defensive end Blake Serpa, defensive end Stefon Armstead, center Nick Beamish, offensive lineman Ramadan Ahmeti and tight end Ben McCord.
One NFL scout declined to comment on the event.
Serpa worked out in New Orleans last week, but said he hasn’t talked to many NFL scouts yet. He hopes Thursday’s performance will bring more attention to him.
“You come out here every year before, just seeing the older guys do it. It just seemed like it would never get here and it’s finally here,” Serpa said. “I think we all had fun today.”
Former Chippewas that went to the NFL were in Mount Pleasant to watch, including former Indianapolis Colts running back Zurlon Tipton and Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Leterrius Walton.
The 2016 NFL Draft is April 28-30 in Chicago.
“Pro football is a business,” Bonamego said. “Coach (Bill) Parcells used to say ‘Football is an evil mistress. There are a lot of men that love her, but she loves no one.’ And it’s very true.”
Top finishers
40-yard dash (in seconds)
Wide receiver Antonio Agurs (Ferris State): 4.53, 4.47
Defensive back Kavon Frazier: 4.60, 4.56
Defensive back Stefon Armstead: 4.76, 4.81
Quarterback Jason Vander Laan (Ferris State): 4.77, 4.80
Defensive end/outside linebacker Blake Serpa: 4.84, 4.87
20-yard shuttle (in seconds)
Wide receiver Antonio Agurs (Ferris State): 2.60, 2.62
Defensive back Kavon Frazier: 2.67, 2.66
Quarterback Jason Vander Laan (Ferris State): 2.75, 2.73
Defensive back Stefon Armstead: 2.73, 2.77
Defensive back Denzel Wimberly: 2.75, 2.83
Vertical jump (in inches)
Defensive back Kavon Frazier: 40.5
Defensive back Stefon Armstead: 37.5
Tight End Ben McCord: 32.5
Wide receiver Antonio Agurs (Ferris State): 32
Quarterback Jason Vander Laan (Ferris State): 30.5
Bench Press (225-pounds, in repetitions)
Defensive tackle Shafer Johnson: 33
Offensive guard Cody Dingledey (Ferris State): 31
Defensive tackle Stewart (Ferris State): 31
Long snapper Mike Zenk: 27
Center Nick Beamish: 25
Defensive end/outside linebacker Blake Serpa: 25
Broad Jump (in feet)
Defensive back Kavon Frazier: 10’8’’
Defensive back Stefon Armstead: 10’1’’
Wide receiver Antonio Agurs (Ferris State): 9’10’’
Tight End Ben McCord: 9’6’’
Defensive end/outside linebacker Blake Serpa: 9’2’’
Wingspan (in inches)
Defensive tackle Louis Palmer: 81 1/8
Defensive tackle Stewart (Ferris State): 80
Quarterback Jason Vander Laan (Ferris State): 78 7/8
Defensive back Kavon Frazier: 78 1/2
Offensive guard Cody Dingledey (Ferris State): 78
