R.J. Oliver's NFL Draft Diary -- March 11, 2006

R.J. Oliver's NFL Draft Diary

March 12, 2006

We had a our first Pro Day Friday (March 10) at Arizona State and scouts from about 25 teams showed up to test us.

The good news is I did well at the weight lifting drills. In the NFL, they like to measure how many times a player can bench press 225 pounds. I benched it 26 times, which is good for a cornerback. I've been told the average for cornerbacks at the NFL Combine last month in Indianapolis was 21.

I'm glad I was able to show the scouts my strength. It lets them know I've been working hard to stay in shape while rehabbing my foot injury suffered in the last game against Arizona. I plan to be fully prepared for the NFL Draft and a shot at my dream -- playing pro football.

I was disappointed I wasn't able to do some of the running drills. It's only been about 3 1/2 weeks since I started running, and my trainers advised I wait until the next Pro Day on March 29 at Arizona State. My trainer, Warren Anderson, gave me a letter to bring to Friday's Pro Day to show the scouts. I gave it to the Arizona State strength coach, Joe Kinn, who organized the Pro Day, and he gave copies to the scouts.

Warren's letter said my rehab was going well, but I needed more time to test well in the running drills.

I did do some of the jumping drills, though. My vertical jump was 33 1/2 inches, which is another good sign my rehab is going well. But my personal record is 38 inches, so I want to jump higher on March 29. As a 5-foot-9 cornerback, it's important for me to show the scouts I have good jumping ability as well as good strength for my size.

My standing broad jump was 9 feet, 6 inches. I'm not quite sure what that means, because I don't think it's as important as my 40-yard time, vertical jump or weight lifting.

It's kind of funny that the NFL puts so much stock in testing you in these drills. What's most important is what you can do on the field, and I think I've proven that in my college career. But if they want to see you test well, I plan to test well on March 29.

I remember my former teammate and roommate, defensive end Terrell Suggs, didn't test well when he entered the draft early in 2003. I thought it was funny that some teams downgraded him, because he was such a dominant player on the field. He proved the test didn't mean much when he was named the Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2003 and made the Pro Bowl in 2004.

Some of the guys were pretty nervous about Pro Day, but I don't get nervous over things like that. Some guys tested well, and I was happy for them.

I've still got a ways to go on my rehab for the running drills, but you can count on my working hard in the days leading up to the March 29 Pro Day.