Former teammates and coaches were also on hand to watch Kyle Rudolph, Armando Allen, Robert Hughes, Duval Kamara, Chris Stewart, Ian Williams, Kerry Neal, Brian Smith and Darrin Walls show NFL teams what they can do.
It was Rudolph’s first chance to put his talents on display since having season-ending surgery on his hamstring in mid-October.
“The big thing for me was to get out there and show everybody that the hamstring is a thing of the past and I think I did that today,” said the tight end, who declared early for the NFL Draft. “I think everyone was happy with the way I came out here and worked today.”
Rudolph is six months removed from that surgery and said his rehab has been ahead of schedule the entire time.
“They wanted to see I’m healthy,” Rudolph said of the scouts. “With as severe an injury as I had - to be back to normal six months later is tough. Not many people do it. They heard it and everybody told them I was healthy, but to finally come out here and see it is what they really wanted.”
Rudolph and the rest of the offensive skill players caught passes from Rob Florian, who played quarterback at Rudolph’s Elder High School a couple years ahead of the talented tight end. Rudolph called his 40-time, “OK.”
“I put up a number that people now have on paper,” he said. “It’s not the fastest, it’s not a record, but it’s fast enough and it’ll only improve as I keep training.”
NFL Network and NBC Notre Dame analyst Mike Mayock was in attendance and was impressed by Rudolph’s performance.
“He ran in the low-4.8s, which is comparable to what a lot of the first-round tight ends run,” said Mayock. “What I love about him is he has a big throwing radius and he catches everything. I think everybody came away today with a buzz about how good his hands are. I think all of them know they have to go back to the ’09 tape to really see him healthy.”
Mayock doesn’t think speed is an issue for the 6-foot-6, 265-pound Rudolph.
“To me, he’s a first-round tight end talent,” Mayock said. “That doesn’t always mean you’re going to get drafted in the first round, based on needs and other things.”
Williams was able to participate in February’s NFL Draft Combine, but wasn’t pleased with his performance in Indianapolis.
“I’m the type of person that wants to do great in everything,” the nose tackle said. “I was very disappointed in myself and I knew I could do better. I think coming out here today, I improved what I needed to.”
Williams weighed in at 319 in Indianapolis, but checked in at 310 pounds on Thursday.
“I just wanted to show out in my position drills and drop my 40-time, I accomplished everything today,” he said.
Williams got a thumbs up from Mayock after the drills.
“I thought he looked quick,” Mayock said of Williams. “He ran a better 40, his 10-yard dash was good and I thought he looked good in drills.”
Stewart also shaved weight, checking in at 317 pounds, down from the 345 the offensive lineman weighed in at the Texas Vs. The Nation All-Star Game.
“It’s totally different with the lean body, being able to bend, being able to move,” said Stewart. “On a lot of my field drills, I did a lot better than I expected. It’s a good thing to be low and be able to move your hips.”
Stewart credited the weight loss with being able to focus on football full-time.
“It’s my first time to focus totally on football and I’m just going to take advantage of it,” he said.
The Texas native said he received positive feedback from the scouts.
“A lot of scouts told me I looked good and was moving well, bending well, which is important for offensive linemen,” he said.
Stewart juggled law school during his final year at Notre Dame, but the legal studies are on pause for now.
“Law school is on hold…for a long time I hope,” he said.
Hughes was listed at 245 pounds as a senior, but after training in Chicago since the Sun Bowl, weighed in at 226 pounds on Thursday.
“I felt like I was in pretty good shape,” the running back said. “I felt like I did great. I feel like I helped myself. I’ve just got to stick it out and see.”
Hughes wanted to show scouts he was in shape and also his ability to block and catch the football.
Allen was also coming off an injury after missing the final portion of his senior season with hip issues. The running back said those are behind him now.
“I feel finally back to 100 percent,” he said. “It took awhile, but I think I’m finally back to that phase where I feel comfortable moving around.
“I’m not sure about my times, but I feel pretty good. At the end of the day, I worked out hard and put it all out on the line. At this point, it’s not in my hands anymore.”
Kamara confirmed it was an academic issue that caused him to miss the Sun Bowl, but said he’s back on track to graduate in May.
“It was tough (missing) your last game,” he said. “But things happen, you’ve got to go on and continue in life.”
Kamara has been training back in New Jersey.
“I just wanted to show my ability to do different things - block, catch, run down field, just be a complete receiver,” he said. “I thought the workout went well and I thought it was an acceptable day.”
Smith said he was more nervous for Thursday than for some of the games he’s played, but added it was good to get out there and said he got positive feedback as well.
“I’m excited to see what the weeks ahead will bring leading up to the Draft,” he said. “I’m just excited to be a part of the process. It’s been a dream of mine since I was a little boy.”
Walls, on the other hand, felt no pressure at all.
“I didn’t get invited to the Combine, I didn’t get invited to the Senior Bowl, so I came out here with a chip on my shoulder,” he said. “I had nothing to lose. I came out here and tried to prove people wrong, hopefully I did that.”
Walls was told he clocked a 4.39 in the 40.
“I thought I was going to run a little faster than that, but I’ll take that,” he said.
Neal had to fight through a calf injury he suffered during training two weeks ago.
“It’s nothing major, but it’s still an injury,” he said. “I just tried to fight through it and show the scouts that I’m a tough guy, I’m willing to work. I just want a shot.”
The 2011 NFL Draft will be held from April 28th-30th.
