March 10, 2010

Photo Gallery

By Zak Gilbert
Athletic Media Relations

FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Four of Colorado State’s starting five offensive linemen in 2009 could be in NFL training camps this summer.

Guard Shelley Smith and tackle Cole Pemberton got their first opportunity to work out for NFL scouts at last month’s scouting combine in Indianapolis, Ind.

On Wednesday, it was linemate Adrian Martinez’s turn to show his strength at the Rams’ 2010 Pro Day. The guard, who started more games at CSU than all but one player in program history, bench pressed 37 continuous reps of 225 pounds. Had Martinez lifted at the combine, the 37 reps would’ve ranked among the most ever by an offensive lineman, as many as Michigan’s Jake Long put up in 2008 just before the Miami Dolphins made him the No. 1 overall draft choice.

Martinez wasn’t alone Wednesday. WR Ryan Gardner, a former college basketball player, wowed more than 100 observers in the Rams’ new weight room with a 40-inch vertical leap and a 10-foot, 4-inch broad jump. Then, after the event moved to the Rams’ new $13 million Indoor Practice Facility, WR Rashaun Greer ran the day’s fastest 40-yard dash, an unofficial 4.46.

Scouts representing 10 teams, including longtime scout Kent McCloughan from the Oakland Raiders, were in attendance Wednesday. One of those scouts will share information with every NFL personnel department prior to pre-draft meetings, once the army of scouts return to their respective war rooms to rank their draft boards.

Other notes from Wednesday: Safety Josh Gabler, who led off most drills because he was first alphabetically among CSU players, had a 37-inch vertical jump…Smith, who enjoyed one of the best overall workout days among offensive linemen at last month’s Indianapolis combine, didn’t participate in any of the workouts other than individual offensive lineman drills at the end…Pemberton increased his bench-press reps from 18 at the combine to 23 Wednesday…RB Mike Myers and K Jason Smith, both seniors during CSU’s 2008 season, participated Wednesday in hopes of turning scouts heads for another shot at the next level; Myers reeled off 25 bench-press reps…RB Alex Square also had an impressive vertical leap and benched 21 reps…S Klint Kubiak, still not 100 percent after the injury that ended his 2009 season, has asked for and been granted permission to work out at the University of Houston’s Pro Day March 30 (the NFL allows players to work out at Pro Days within a 50-mile radius of their hometowns)…James Morehead, injured during a workout preparing for Pro Day, instead will hold private workouts arranged by his agent…Two members of CSU’s 2008 senior class, Tommie Hill (Giants) and Kyle Bell (Jaguars), as well as 2007 senior Jesse Nading (Texans), returned Wednesday to offer support; all three signed as undrafted free agents after their respective Pro Days…CSU allowed three players from other programs to work out Wednesday, DL Mitch Unrein (Wyoming), CB Quincy Wofford (Northern Colorado) and CB C.J. Lovett from Fort Hays State.