University of North Carolina Athletics
2016 NFL Pro Timing Day
March 21, 2016 | Football
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Fourteen former UNC football players participated in Carolina's annual Pro Timing Day on Tuesday, March 22. More than 35 scouts from 26 teams were on site to evaluate the Tar Heels.
The fourteeen Tar Heels that competed included 2015 seniors Quinshad Davis (WR), Romar Morris (RB), Shakeel Rashad (LB), Jeff Schoettmer (LB), Malik Simmons (S), Kendrick Singleton (WR/TE), Sam Smiley (S), Justin Thomason (DT), Landon Turner (OG), Damian Washington (WR) and Marquise Williams (QB). Former Tar Heels Alex Dixon (DB), Brandon Ellerbe (S/LB) and Ethan Farmer (DT) also participated.
Quotes from Marquise Williams:
On what he did to prepare for today:
I wake up and I eat right. You eat like a winner, you play like a winner. I heard that from Cam (Newton). I watch his Unstoppable video every time I started college ball. I'd watch it before training camp, and I watch it before a big day like today. I worked hard, I lost a lot of weight and leaned down. I'm more trim. I did different drop steps, drop steps that I'm going to do in the pro style offense I'll be in. You could tell it wasn't new to me today, like I was in my backyard doing it. That's been my main focus. Short and intermediate throws. I saw a lot of commotion about how I probably couldn't throw the football around today, but I only missed two. I felt good today about that.
On if he was nervous:
It was exciting. I woke up happy and excited. This is my opportunity. It's the only opportunity I had to get, so why not come out and have fun? I couldn't waste it. I walked in at 8:15 this morning and I was the only one getting loud and having fun. C'mon, this is football! Let's go have fun. I wasn't nervous one bit today.
On how much weight he loss:
Lost 10 lbs, changed the way I ate. I was too busy eating Bojangles or McDonalds and things like that. I haven't had fried food or pasta or things like that in four or five months. I eat fish and baked chicken. That's mainly what I eat, and broccoli and spinach.
On what did he have to prove today
Only thing to prove today was that I can make any throw that anyone at the combine can make. The play they threw, I threw the same routes. Like out routes, dig routes, I threw everything they threw. A lot of people criticized me, 'Can he throw the ball short and intermediate?' Yeah I can throw the ball short and intermediate. I proved that today. I only missed two throws. Someone's going to be excited for me.
On how he feels going into the draft
I feel good. I feel excited. I came out and proved to everyone that I can do different things. I can throw short and intermediate throws. They wanted to see if I could throw a comeback. I hit a comeback. See if I can hit a dig. I hit a dig. I'll be grateful for whatever happens next.
Quotes from Landon Turner:
On what he wanted to accomplish on pro day
I wanted to show that I could move in the body that I'm in and that I can follow directions. Not much more to it than that. I can move around, and how athletic I am for my weight. (327lbs).
On doing the individual drill
I think I did well. There's always a lot to work on. I'm very critical of myself. It's tough for me to say that I did great because what I see is what I need to work on. Working on conditioning and being in good shape. I worked my hardest and put all my effort in, so I can hang my hat on that.
Did it feel like a pro workout?
Yeah, it was intense. From drill to drill to drill for 12 minutes. It was a once in a lifetime chance so I was happy to be a part of it. It's my job, it's what I do.
On how he feels going into the draft
I fell very confident. I'm very excited for this draft and I think I have a lot to offer a lot of different teams. I don't think they want to miss out on me. I'm ready to give my all to my new organization.
Quotes from Jeff Schoettmer
On if being a walk-on gives him an advantage from a nothing to lose standpoint:
I think I proved myself in college so that I'm not a walk-on going into the next level. I got just as much confidence. There's definitely a chip on your shoulder because it's a lot harder to get to the next level. It's like anything. If you lose your edge, there's so much competition out there that you'll get beat out. Being a walk-on has nothing to do with it. Just how bad I want to get to the next level keeps my edge.
On if he hears feedback on his performance today:
You kind of get feedback as you go along. Some scouts will pull you aside and say 'good job on that,' or 'we'll be in contact with you.' Throughout the past couple months teams have contacted me and they just wanted to see me in person today. How fluid I was in the drill and things like that. I thought I did well.
Anything unexpected happen today:
No, they gave us an itinerary for each drill. We've been practicing these drills for two months now. The only thing you don't know what to expect is the position drills. You get a coach who gets to run whatever he wants to, to see what he can get out of you. During our training we prepared for some drills.
On where he goes from here:
They reach out to me more so. I had dinner with a team. I have a workout with a team in April. Really it's between your agent and them at first.
Feedback on today
They said I moved well in the drills. A lot of this gets hyped up, but they fall back on your tape and what you did in your career. This is really just a numbers day. I believe that a lot of guys, regardless of what their numbers are, if they're good football players, then they're good football players.
Quotes from Romar Morris
On if he thinks he improved his status today:
Yes, sir. I think I improved my status because I didn't have the stats, like last year. Coming out here and performing the way I did, I think I improved my status a lot.
On his 40 time:
I feel like I could have ran faster but it was pretty good. It's great being out here at UNC and I was glad to get back here.
On doing multiple things here at UNC how if may help him in the NFL:
It prepared me well. I've been out in the slot, I've blocked in the slot. I ran routes in the slot. I've run out of the backfield, blocked in the backfield. I did special teams. I did returning. I feel like I've done a lot. Being on special teams really prepared me for the NFL.
On the opportunity of Pro Day:
I feel like a lot of scouts didn't recognize who I was because I hadn't been showing up in the last couple years. Coming out here was a great experience for me. A great time to show what I've been working for the past two and a half months. It was a great experience all over
2016 NFL Pro Timing Day Results
| Name | Height | Weight | Bench (Reps at 225) | 40-Yard Dash | Broad Jump | Vertical Jump |
| Quinshad Davis | 6-3 3/8 | 218 | 17 | 4.65 | 9-5 | 31.5 |
| Alex Dixon | 5-11 1/8 | 185 | 14 | 4.77 | 9-7 | 30.5 |
| Brandon Ellerbe | 5-11 1/2 | 224 | 16 | 5.01 | 8-9 | 30 |
| Ethan Farmer | 6-2 1/8 | 285 | 24 | 5.07 | 9-2 | 29.5 |
| Romar Morris | 5-8 5/8 | 188 | 15 | 4.35 | 9-8 | 38 |
| Shakeel Rashad | 6-1 7/8 | 237 | 23 | 4.61 | 10-3 | 33.5 |
| Jeff Schoettmer | 6-1 | 233 | 20 | 4.77 | 9-3 | 30 |
| Malik Simmons | 5-10 3/8 | 189 | 20 | 4.65 | 10-0 | 33.5 |
| Kendrick Singleton | 6-0 5/8 | 204 | 23 | 4.69 | 9-11 | 32 |
| Sam Smiley | 5-10 5/8 | 193 | - | - | - | - |
| Justin Thomason | 6-3 | 295 | 28 | 5.19 | 8-4 | 28.5 |
| Landon Turner | 6-3 7/8 | 327 | - | - | - | - |
| Damien Washington | 5-11 7/8 | 190 | 16 | 4.47 | 10-2 | 35 |
| Marquise Williams | 6-1 7/8 | 218 | - | 4.77 | 9-3 | 32.5 |
Players Mentioned
