As former Terrapin offensive lineman Bruce Campbell put up monster numbers at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis on Feb. 27, Nolan Carroll could only watch and cheer on his old teammate.
The 6-foot-1, 202-pound cornerback was forced into a spectator role, not yet comfortable enough to participate in drills after a broken leg sidelined him for the majority of his senior season.
But at yesterday’s Terps’ Pro Timing Day, where scouts from more than half of the NFL’s teams were in attendance, Carroll put his name back into consideration.
Carroll, who was one of 12 former Terp players to participate in the event, did 17 bench press reps at 225 pounds, recorded a vertical jump of 37.5 inches and ran the 40-yard dash in the 4.3 second-range. Scouts at the event timed Carroll from 4.33 to 4.38 seconds. His official time was 4.39 seconds.
“A guy like Nolan Carroll, I think it’s a very important opportunity for him, because of his injury last year, to show the people what he’s really capable of doing,” coach Ralph Friedgen said. “He hasn’t had the chance to really show what he can do because of his injury, so this is kind of a critical time for him.”
Arizona Cardinals’ assistant defensive backs coach Rick Courtright admitted that Carroll, along with Campbell, was one of the players he specifically came to watch at this university. Carroll is projected as a mid- to late-round pick by most draft analysts.
Carroll just hopes he made a good impression on any one of the scouts in attendance, leading to a possible phone call during the three-day NFL Draft in April.
“I hope it did [help my draft status]. I tried to do everything they told me do, coming off the injury,” Carroll said. “In their eyes, hopefully I did good. … It’s real important for me to do the drills out here to show them I can still move and I’m completely healed from my injury.”
Carroll broke his right tibia in a Sept. 12 game against James Madison, the Terps’ second game of the 2009 season.
Because Campbell recorded a 40-yard dash time of 4.85 and 34 bench press reps at 225 pounds during his much publicized combine workout, he only participated in position specific drills at yesterday’s event. But scouts, seeking further verification of last week’s eye-popping performance, still surrounded him when he ran one-on-one with former Terp offensive lineman Phil Costa.
“People are here to watch him to continue with what he’s done,” Courtright said. “He’s done some great things in terms of his athletic ability and that kind of thing. … It’s just another opportunity for us to see him.”
Defensive linemen Jared Harrell and Travis Ivey, running back/fullback Cory Jackson, safety Terrell Skinner, quarterback Chris Turner and cornerback Anthony Wiseman also participated.
And even though most of the former Terps won’t be drafted, head coach-in-waiting James Franklin said Pro Day at least gives them all a chance to be noticed, giving them the opportunity to sign as an undrafted rookie free agent.
“I think we’ve got a bunch of guys that could make teams in some capacity, whether it’s draft or free agency,” Franklin said. “However they get there, the most important thing is that they get there. Being drafted is nice, but sometimes it’s better to go free agent and go where you want and have the best chance of making a team instead of getting drafted real late.”
Richard Shelton, a Tennessee Titans scout, said yesterday’s event, while helpful, doesn’t always relate to how the draft will play out.
“It’s kind of hard to say, because each team needs to fill their needs — some team might need a linebacker, and some team might need a free safety,” he said. “It’s not rocket science, and sometimes we guess. And sometimes we guess wrong.”
Franklin agreed, saying, “You never know, because all it takes is one guy to fall in love with you.”
Carroll is hoping his performance on the gridiron yesterday will make one of the scouts “fall in love” with him. And although he didn’t participate at the combine, things are starting to fall into place. Carroll said he has workouts with the New England Patriots and Cleveland Browns scheduled for next week, with a visit to the Miami Dolphins planned by the end of the month.
His journey to the NFL is just getting started.
engelke@umdbk.com
