Badgers put to the test
Senior players audition for upcoming NFL draft
By JEFF POTRYKUS
jpotrykus@journalsentinel.com
Last Updated: March 5, 2003
Madison - Al Johnson on Wednesday reminded National Football League scouts why they might want to consider selecting him before any other center during the annual player draft next month.
The University of Wisconsin senior center was timed at a personal-best 4.95 seconds in the 40-yard dash and generally displayed the quickness and agility of a player who could stay at center or move to guard.
"I think that is my one area that might put me over the top," Johnson said after he and a handful of his teammates tested for scouts at the McClain Center. "The guard (possibility) is going to be in my corner if (a pick) comes down between two guys on draft day."
Now those same scouts want to see Johnson work on his upper-body strength, which was sorely lacking Wednesday. The 6-foot-31/2, 305-pound Johnson made it through just 18 repetitions of 225 pounds in the bench-press. By comparison, 11 of the 15 centers who tested at the NFL scouting combine last month in Indianapolis had better numbers.
"I wasn't all that thrilled," said Johnson, who said he can easily hit the 20s and that he plans to work out for scouts a few more times before the April 26-27 draft. "Just so that they get a better feel, a higher number."
Green Bay Packers offensive line coach Larry Beightol didn't seem too concerned with Johnson's bench-press effort. He was more focused on Johnson's mobility.
"The way he ran only enhanced his position in the draft," Beightol said. "I was impressed. The strength is something he can help himself on and will by working at it. But what you see on tape is what you get. He is a physical football player."
Tucker turns heads
Cornerback B.J. Tucker, who enjoyed a solid senior season with five interceptions and 76 tackles, did nothing to hurt his draft chances and now seems a lock to be taken on the second day.
Last month at the combine, Tucker was timed between 4.34 seconds and 4.40 seconds in the 40-yard dash. On Wednesday, he was timed at 4.29 and 4.30 seconds.
Perhaps the most impressive facet of the workout was that Tucker posted those numbers weighing 188 pounds, up 12 pounds from his playing weight last fall.
Work to be done
Offensive tackle Ben Johnson, Al's cousin, had an uneven day. He felt good about his individual blocking drills but wasn't pleased with his work in the broad jump (8-3) and vertical jump (28 inches), which measure explosiveness.
"They've been telling me I'll go in the third or fourth round, closer to the fourth round," Johnson said. "I have to work on my explosiveness and my pass-blocking."
Sprague must wait
Defensive lineman Jake Sprague impressed scouts by putting up 225 pounds 30 times Wednesday, four more than he did at the combine. However, the former Oak Creek High School star wasn't able to run because he is still recovering from a pulled hamstring suffered during rehabilitation from off-season surgery on his left knee.
Here are the UNOFFICIAL 40-times, according to players, coaches and scouts following the event. The following numbers are the BEST reported numbers heard by Badger Nation:
Russ Kuhns - 4.65
Chad Kuhns - 4.56
Jason Jowers - 5.34
Jesse Mayfield - (no time reported to Badger Nation)
Ryan Simmons - 4.54
Tarek Saleh - 4.70
B.J. Tucker - 4.29
Erik Bickerstaff - 4.47
Brooks Bollinger - 4.75
Al Johnson - 4.98
Ben Johnson - 5.35
Juniors:
Ryan Aiello - 4.71
Kyle McCorison - 4.66
Jeff Mack - 4.73
Alex Lewis - 4.61
Erasmus James - 4.79
Here are the OFFICIAL Bench Press totals for each player. Each player performed their maximum number of repetitions at 225 pounds:
Jesse Mayfield - 17
Jason Jowers - 10
Al Johnson - 18
Jake Sprague - 30
Erik Bickerstaff - 18
Ryan Simmons - 13
Tarek Saleh - 22
Chad Kuhns - 27
WISCONSIN: MARCH 5
Eight of the more than 50 people who attended were offensive line coaches, including Pat Morris of San Francisco, Tony Wise of Miami, and Larry Beightol of Green Bay. From Gil Brandt
"Brooks Bollinger QB measured 6-1½, ran better than he did at the Combine (4.71) and had a 32-inch vertical jump. Wisconsin offensive coordinator Brian White, a former Harvard QB, thinks Bollinger is one of the real sleepers in this draft. There have been only seven players in college football history to have won 30 or more games in his career as a starting quarterback. Bollinger has everything you look for in a QB: leadership, smarts, good feet, all the intangibles you want. White predicts Bollinger will be a starting QB in the NFL. I agree."
Senior players audition for upcoming NFL draft
By JEFF POTRYKUS
jpotrykus@journalsentinel.com
Last Updated: March 5, 2003
Madison - Al Johnson on Wednesday reminded National Football League scouts why they might want to consider selecting him before any other center during the annual player draft next month.
The University of Wisconsin senior center was timed at a personal-best 4.95 seconds in the 40-yard dash and generally displayed the quickness and agility of a player who could stay at center or move to guard.
"I think that is my one area that might put me over the top," Johnson said after he and a handful of his teammates tested for scouts at the McClain Center. "The guard (possibility) is going to be in my corner if (a pick) comes down between two guys on draft day."
Now those same scouts want to see Johnson work on his upper-body strength, which was sorely lacking Wednesday. The 6-foot-31/2, 305-pound Johnson made it through just 18 repetitions of 225 pounds in the bench-press. By comparison, 11 of the 15 centers who tested at the NFL scouting combine last month in Indianapolis had better numbers.
"I wasn't all that thrilled," said Johnson, who said he can easily hit the 20s and that he plans to work out for scouts a few more times before the April 26-27 draft. "Just so that they get a better feel, a higher number."
Green Bay Packers offensive line coach Larry Beightol didn't seem too concerned with Johnson's bench-press effort. He was more focused on Johnson's mobility.
"The way he ran only enhanced his position in the draft," Beightol said. "I was impressed. The strength is something he can help himself on and will by working at it. But what you see on tape is what you get. He is a physical football player."
Tucker turns heads
Cornerback B.J. Tucker, who enjoyed a solid senior season with five interceptions and 76 tackles, did nothing to hurt his draft chances and now seems a lock to be taken on the second day.
Last month at the combine, Tucker was timed between 4.34 seconds and 4.40 seconds in the 40-yard dash. On Wednesday, he was timed at 4.29 and 4.30 seconds.
Perhaps the most impressive facet of the workout was that Tucker posted those numbers weighing 188 pounds, up 12 pounds from his playing weight last fall.
Work to be done
Offensive tackle Ben Johnson, Al's cousin, had an uneven day. He felt good about his individual blocking drills but wasn't pleased with his work in the broad jump (8-3) and vertical jump (28 inches), which measure explosiveness.
"They've been telling me I'll go in the third or fourth round, closer to the fourth round," Johnson said. "I have to work on my explosiveness and my pass-blocking."
Sprague must wait
Defensive lineman Jake Sprague impressed scouts by putting up 225 pounds 30 times Wednesday, four more than he did at the combine. However, the former Oak Creek High School star wasn't able to run because he is still recovering from a pulled hamstring suffered during rehabilitation from off-season surgery on his left knee.
Here are the UNOFFICIAL 40-times, according to players, coaches and scouts following the event. The following numbers are the BEST reported numbers heard by Badger Nation:
Russ Kuhns - 4.65
Chad Kuhns - 4.56
Jason Jowers - 5.34
Jesse Mayfield - (no time reported to Badger Nation)
Ryan Simmons - 4.54
Tarek Saleh - 4.70
B.J. Tucker - 4.29
Erik Bickerstaff - 4.47
Brooks Bollinger - 4.75
Al Johnson - 4.98
Ben Johnson - 5.35
Juniors:
Ryan Aiello - 4.71
Kyle McCorison - 4.66
Jeff Mack - 4.73
Alex Lewis - 4.61
Erasmus James - 4.79
Here are the OFFICIAL Bench Press totals for each player. Each player performed their maximum number of repetitions at 225 pounds:
Jesse Mayfield - 17
Jason Jowers - 10
Al Johnson - 18
Jake Sprague - 30
Erik Bickerstaff - 18
Ryan Simmons - 13
Tarek Saleh - 22
Chad Kuhns - 27
WISCONSIN: MARCH 5
Eight of the more than 50 people who attended were offensive line coaches, including Pat Morris of San Francisco, Tony Wise of Miami, and Larry Beightol of Green Bay. From Gil Brandt
"Brooks Bollinger QB measured 6-1½, ran better than he did at the Combine (4.71) and had a 32-inch vertical jump. Wisconsin offensive coordinator Brian White, a former Harvard QB, thinks Bollinger is one of the real sleepers in this draft. There have been only seven players in college football history to have won 30 or more games in his career as a starting quarterback. Bollinger has everything you look for in a QB: leadership, smarts, good feet, all the intangibles you want. White predicts Bollinger will be a starting QB in the NFL. I agree."
