By Bill Cornwell
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Fourteen Marshall football seniors who wrapped up their college careers last fall tried to impress possible future employers Wednesday when they took part in MU’s annual Pro Day inside the Chris Cline Athletic Center.
Ahead of his third year at Marshall, head coach Charles Huff says the event was a big moment for his program and the future prospects for former MU players.
“It’s an exciting day for our seniors,” Huff said. “This is something you dream about for a long time when you play this game at a high level and today, to have many NFL scouts and personnel people here was really good.”
Scouts from 10 National Football League teams had representatives in attendance in Huntington Wednesday.
Players took part in strength, speed and agility drills that translate to the next level.
Among players taking part in Pro Day were two All-Sun Belt Conference picks from the 2022 Herd team in running back Khalan Laborn and cornerback Steven Gilmore.
Gilmore’s brother, NFL veteran Stephon Gilmore, was on hand to encourage his brother and take in the drills. Stephon Gilmore was recently traded by the Indianapolis Colts to the Dallas Cowboys.
“It’s definitely a great feeling, just having everyone out there with you,” Steven Gilmore said. “We all sweated together being here, so coming out here and putting on a show and doing it all together, you want to go hard for your brother.”
Gilmore impressed those in attendance with a 4.44 finish time in the 40-yard dash. Laborn and safety Isaiah Norman were close with 40-yard run times of approximately 4.5 seconds.
Laborn and Gilmore were also standouts in the vertical jump and broad jump, while Laborn was tops in the three-cone shuttle run at 6.92 seconds. Norman led the 20-yard shuttle run at 4.16 seconds.
The top strength exhibition of the day came from offensive lineman Kendrick Sartor, who completed the 225-pound bench press 27 times.
“This is just a piece of the puzzle,” Huff said. “You aren’t going to make it or not make it in the NFL based on what you did today. The consistency of your film and what you do between now and the time that you get that opportunity is going to matter.”
Football activities will continue at Marshall as the Thundering Herd holds the first of 15 spring football practices next Monday. Spring drills wrap up with the annual Spring Football Game on April 22 at Joan C. Edwards Stadium.