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Leddie Brown, trio of safeties highlight six WVU players to participate on Pro Day

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Six professional football hopefuls participated in West Virginia’s Pro Day before 21 scouts from 18 National Football League teams Tuesday inside the Caperton Indoor Practice Facility.

Showcasing their talent were running back Leddie Brown, safeties Sean Mahone, Scottie Young and Alonzo Addae and kicking specialists Tyler Sumpter and Evan Staley.

The trio of safeties opted to run the 40-yard dash, with Mahone’s time of 4.56 seconds the fastest of the three. Addae (4.58) and Young (4.68) weren’t far behind.

Brown ran a 4.64 40 at the NFL Scouting Combine earlier this month in Indianapolis and chose to stick with that time in favor of running it again Tuesday.

“I’m going to stand with my combine 40,” Brown said. “My film speaks for itself.”

Brown, who participated in the East-West Shrine Bowl, bench pressed 225 pounds 18 times and showcased a 36.5 inch vertical jump. He credited Mike Joseph — the head of WVU football’s strength and conditioning — as well as running backs coach Chad Scott for putting him in position to have an opportunity to play at the next level.

“Coach Mike and the boys beat me up for four years, so I was prepared for all of this,” Brown said. “Chad Scott, since he got on campus my sophomore year, he took my game to a whole other level.”

Brown rushed for 1,065 yards and 13 touchdowns over 12 games in his final season as a Mountaineer. He chose to begin training for the next level and did not play in a Guaranteed Rate Bowl loss to Minnesota. Brown finished his WVU career as the school’s sixth all-time leading rusher with 2,888 yards.

“I’m really confident in my ability,” Brown said. “If I go drafted or undrafted, whatever team picks me up is going to be picking up a big-league back. I’m a back that can do it all and I’m here to play special teams and contribute to any team any way that I can.”

Addae, who stands a shade taller than 5-10 and weighs 184 pounds, had a 34 inch vertical a 9’8” broad jump.

After finishing third on WVU with 73 tackles in 2021, Addae played in the Hula Bowl in January. His attention since was geared toward putting together a solid showing on pro day.

“It’s definitely different just because all eyes are on you,” Addae said. “When you take the field as a team, don’t get me wrong — there’s definitely still some nerves. Today was very different, but I’m very grateful for the opportunity to be here, for West Virginia to provide this for us and to be able to come out here and put on a show.”

Young missed the bowl game after suffering an injury late in his only full season at West Virginia. He has spent much of his time since rehabbing and posted a 31 inch vertical with a 9’2” broad jump. Young benched 225 pounds 14 times.

“I can remember being in middle school and high school and always dreaming of being able to get an opportunity to do pro day and an opportunity to perform in front of coaches at the highest level,” Young said. “It was really just a surreal moment and a dream come true for me.”

Young, an Arizona transfer, was a versatile defender who often played closer to the line of scrimmage than the rest of West Virginia’s secondary. He finished with 33 tackles in 2021.

Mahone, one of the football program’s most accomplished students over the last decade, measured 5-11 and weighs 203 pounds. He was second on the squad with 81 tackles and intercepted a pair of passes last season.

On Tuesday, Mahone had 13 reps of 225 on the bench press, a 32 inch vertical and a 9’8” broad jump.

“I’m not afraid to go downhill and make a hit,” Mahone said.

Mahone earned his MBA and graduated with a 3.7 GPA. Last summer, he was named to the Academic All-America second-team presented by the College Sports Information Directors of America, becoming the 29th Mountaineer to earn the honor.

“I’m someone that is very persistent and I’m always trying to fight and trying to lead by example on and off the field,” Mahone said. “Trying to show the way for the younger kids that are now going through what I went through on and off the field.”





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