University of Connecticut Athletics
Huskies Host Pro Day
3/24/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
March 24, 2010
STORRS, Conn. - On Wednesday, March 24, the University of Connecticut football team hosted their annual pro day where over 25 scouts from teams in the NFL and UFL showed up to see the talent of UConn's senior class.
Participating for the Huskies were Robert McClain, Andre Dixon, Marcus Easley, Lindsey Witten, Brandon Dillon, Robbie Vaughan, Mike Hicks, Dan Ryan, Desi Cullen, Brad Kanuch. A few former Huskies came back for their shot at pro day as Dahna Deleston, Terry Baltimore, and Aaron Bryant also participated in activities.
Pro Day Quotes
Head Coach of Colonials and former UConn assistant coach Chris Palmer
I think there is a place for this team and if we can get a couple of UConn players, that would be great for the UConn fans because then they would have an identity. They would see kids from UConn playing for the Colonials after seeing them play on television or going to the games to see them. Now they come and see them at Rentschler.
Wide Receiver Marcus Easley
Based on my performance with all of the other drills at the combine, I felt like I should redo the vertical jump and then do all of the position drills. I guess I made up for that drop with those few one handed catches, but it is still a drop in my book. I finished off strong and last impressions are everything and I'm feeling good about it.
I'm mentally and physically drained but this was another evaluation. It came and it went and on to the next private workouts and soon to be drafted. For me, not expecting all of this to happen, for it to be here and going through it, it is nerve racking but you want to make the most of a day like to day and the combine so you can feel good about everything when it is all said and done.
Coach Edsall is the most popular guy I know on the NFL level. But a guy like him is a great coach and well respected around the country.
Work Hard. Hopefully it will pay off. I have been going hard for the part two months for the all-star game, the combine and today and to know after all that hard work, to come out here and perform well it just shows what hard work can bring to you.
If you know me you know that I'm a laid back kind of guy. Calm, cool and collected. Knowing where I came from it didn't seem like this day would ever come. I am just soaking it all in and enjoying the experience and taking it all in as it comes.
Running Back Andre Dixon
It is still nerve racking because you have a lot on your mind. Your stock can either rise or drop based on your performance out here. You always have to do well in whatever you do.
If you take care of Coach Edsall, he's going to take care of you. We helped him out and didn't give him any problems, he is going to take care of us. He likes to see his players go on and be successful so he is helping us out through this whole process.
The workouts are tough. There is a lot of time put into these workouts. You put a lot into it because you want to get a lot out of what you do out there when you perform. I felt comfortable with my 40 time. Seeing what it was on tv made me think that I had to run it all over again, but when the official times came out I saw that I didn't do that bad. I definitely didn't hurt myself, if anything I showed them that I can run it. If you look at film you can see I'm a player, put me on the field and let me do what I do, I play.
In your house, you are more comfortable with all of your teammates and your coaches. It's not as big a stage as the combine but you have a lot of eyes on you where people want to see your perform well, you want to perform well. Going through all that we went through this year and getting to this stage where you can show what you have in front of the scouts is an amazing experience.
Offensive Lineman Dan Ryan
It was tough at first, but I told myself to relax, that its just another day out there, another practice and I had to go out there and do my best and see what happens. Coach Edsall has been helpful and hopefully he can keep helping me and we will see where it goes. You can ask me that question in about a month after the draft and I will have a better answer for you.
You always have to have a backup plan with football. Even if it does work out for a little while, it doesn't last forever. I graduated in December with a sociology degree. I made some good connections while I was here with alumni and meeting people in sales positions. I think that could be fun and I would like to give that a shot for a bit. I have always liked working with children and I have done a lot of that while I was here so that could be a possibility also.
Offensive Lineman Mike Hicks
I was at Power Train in Lancaster, Pa. I was down there for seven weeks working under Steve Saunders. It was an adjustment for me eating right. The first two weeks you couldn't have carbs, just meat and all of the greens I could eat to fill up on. After that you got used to it.
I weighed in at 313 today, the last time I was there was high school. Being healthier and on the diet I have more energy, I feel faster, and more athletic.
I am hearing some things, not too much, but just being positive and seeing what happens with everything. The whole process is exciting. I was nervous coming in here but it was more just anxious, I have been training so hard that I wanted to come in here and show what I could do and I think I did well.
UConn Head Coach Randy Edsall
What it says is what the kids have done on the field and put on film made teams interested enough to come here in person and see what they could do and see if they could help their team. The kids, first and foremost in terms of their effort on the field and with the program, show a lot of character and a good work ethic and that is why there are so many people here.
I think its simple from this standpoint, its really all about preparation. Most of the kids that are here today finished in December and they could just focus on training. They have to understand that this is a job interview and you have to prepare yourself for the things that they would ask you on an interview whether it is the different drills that they have to do and they also have to understand that people want to sit and talk to them. When this day comes they have already done the work, so just go out there and have fun and take advantage of the preparation that you have put in already. There is nothing more that they can do. This day is just an addition to their football career. They already have their degrees, this is just another opportunity and that is what you are looking to have happen.
Aaron Bryant graduated from here and wanted to play so he ended up at Bryant. He graduated from here, put in four years for us, he's from Connecticut, to give him that opportunity, I wanted to be able to do that. Dahna [Deleston] is from East Hartford, graduated from here and did the things that we asked him to do and the same with Terry [Baltimore], after this year if nothing happens for them then it is probably time to move on to the field that they got their degree in. But it is all about giving them the opportunity to come here and work out. That's the thing about our program, we have a lifelong commitment to them, it doesn't end the day that they graduate and we tell them that when we recruit them. If there is anything that we can do, we want to do it to help them.
New England Patriot and former UConn Cornerback Darius Butler
It's good to be back. I know what these guys are going through and I'm just here to tell them to calm down and relax and perform. I told them to just be professional, finish every drill, complete everything, relax and do your best.
I hope they feel good with the support I show. We had our pro day last year and some former players came out and that helped me. It feels good to come back here.
A day like this is bigger for some guys and doesn't mean as much to other guys. The higher rated guys have already shown their stuff at the combine but for the guys that didn't get to go to the combine it is a huge step in the process and is good for an up close and personal look at your ability.
