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The season of 2011 NFL Pro Days kicks it up a notch today with the big boys starting to show off their skills. There are plenty of great athletes hitting the fields today but we all know Cam Newton is the big name today. Newton put up some solid measurables at the 2011 NFL Combine, but his performance in the throwing drills left a little something to be desired. He'll need to put on a solid performance today to give a little credence to the folks growing more and more enamored with his "tools" and "upside." If you come across any updates on Newton's performance today (twitter, articles, etc), please post them in the comments along with a link.
The other schools going today are Alabama A&M, Arkansas, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Auburn, Fordham, Liberty, Minnesota, Northwestern, Oklahoma, and Prairie View A&M. After the jump we'll take a look at some of the other notable players.
Cam Newton will get a lot of press today, but Auburn has an even higher rated player in Nick Fairley. While Newton is climbing in mock drafts, Fairley actually seems to be falling a bit. I'd be stunned if he wasn't a top five or six pick but given that he was penciled in consistently at number one for a while, it's surprising to see him slide a little bit. Beyond Fairley, the notable Tigers today will include offensive tackle Lee Ziemba and wide receiver Darvin Adams. I can't imagine the 49ers drafting an offensive tackle this year, and Adams seems like a fairly late round option, if not undrafted free agency.
Arkansas will be conducting their Pro Day, which means Ryan Mallett gets another chance to show off his arm. After appearing to blow the Combine in his opening press conference, but he bounced back with a strong showing in the throwing drills. I haven't heard much about his subsequent team interviews, but if he has done ok with this and can put together a slid showing today, he might creep back up some draft boards. The Razorbacks two other notable players are offensive tackle Demarcus Love and tight end D.J. Williams. Again, two positions the 49ers probably won't be addressing in the draft.
Oklahoma will be going as well today, although it's a bit of an off year for the Sooners in terms of draft talent. They have some solid talent, but it's not quite the top end talent we're used to seeing from them. Their most notable players today are safety Quinton Carter, running back Demarco Murray, and outside linebacker Jeremy Beal. Carter seems to be a second or third round talent, so I don't know if the 49ers would be looking to grab a safety that high. On the other hand, Beal seems like a guy worth grabbing in those middle rounds if he drops. If the team doesn't get a Von Miller or Robert Quinn, maybe go with a pass rusher then?
| PRO DAYS | |||||||||||||||||||
| DATE | SCHOOLS | ||||||||||||||||||
| 03/03/2011 | Baylor, FAU, Tulane, Utah State | ||||||||||||||||||
| 03/04/2011 | Alabama State, Albany State, Lindenwood, Troy, Weber State | ||||||||||||||||||
| 03/07/2011 | Arkansas Tech, Central Arkansas, Rhode Island, Tuskegee | ||||||||||||||||||
| 03/08/2011 | Alabama A&M, Arkansas, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Auburn, Fordham, Liberty, Minnesota, Northwestern, Oklahoma, Prairie View A&M | ||||||||||||||||||
| 03/09/2011 | Alabama, BYU, California-Davis, California, Clark-Atlanta, Colorado State, Georgia Tech, Kent State, Mississippi State, Nebraska-Omaha, North Texas, Northern Colorado, Portland State, Rutgers, West Georgia, Wisconsin, UTEP | ||||||||||||||||||
| 03/10/2011 | Akron, Buffalo, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisville, Nebraska, Northern Illinois, Ohio, Texas Tech, West Texas, Wofford | ||||||||||||||||||
| 03/11/2011 | Eastern Illinois, Idaho, Jackson State, Ohio State, Oregon State, Purdue, Southern Miss, TCU, Tennessee | ||||||||||||||||||
| 03/12/2011 | Arizona | ||||||||||||||||||
| 03/14/2011 | Air Force, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, LSU, Montana, Newberry, Wake Forest, Widener | ||||||||||||||||||
| 03/15/2011 | Bowling Green, Eastern Kentucky, Emporia State, Florida, Kansas State, McNeese State, Montana State, Pittsburgh, Robert Morris, Southeast Louisiana, Towson | ||||||||||||||||||
| 03/16/2011 | Arkansas-Monticello, Bowie State, California (PA), Delaware, Florida A&M, Illinois, Indiana, James Madison, Louisian-Monroe, Marshall, Maryland, Michigan State, Penn State, Virginia Union, William & Mary | ||||||||||||||||||
| 03/17/2011 | Appalachian State, Grambling State, Lehigh, Louisiana Tech, Michigan, Missouri, North Alabama, Stanford, Virginia, Virginia Tech, West Virginia | ||||||||||||||||||
| 03/18/2011 | Arkansas State, Indiana State, New Mexico State, Northwestern State (LA), Temple, Virginia Union | ||||||||||||||||||
| 03/21/2011 | Abilene Christian, Georgia Southern, Iowa, North Dakota State, Valdosta State | ||||||||||||||||||
| 03/22/2011 | Iowa State, Mississippi, Nevada, South Dakota State | ||||||||||||||||||
| 03/23/2011 | Boston College, Central Florida, Connecticut, East Carolina, Iowa State, North Carolina State, Tennessee-Chattanooga, Texas State | ||||||||||||||||||
| 03/24/2011 | Boise State, Maine, Middle Tennessee State, UNLV, New Hampshire, New Mexico, San Diego State, South Florida, Southern Illinois, Tennessee State, Western Kentucky | ||||||||||||||||||
| 03/25/2011 | Arizona State, Ball State, Wofford | ||||||||||||||||||
| 03/28/2011 | Central Missouri, Cincinnati, Citadel, Missouri Western, Northwest Missouri State, Rice | ||||||||||||||||||
| 03/29/2011 | Coastal Carolina, Texas, UCLA, Utah | ||||||||||||||||||
| 03/30/2011 | New Mexico State, North Carolina Central, Northern Iowa, Southern California, Texas A&M-Kingsville, Washington | ||||||||||||||||||
| 03/31/2011 | North Carolina, Stephen F. Austin | ||||||||||||||||||
| 04/01/2011 | Eastern Washington | ||||||||||||||||||
| 04/04/2011 | Southern Methodist | ||||||||||||||||||
| 04/07/2011 | Jacksonville State, Notre Dame | ||||||||||||||||||