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BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — As has become the tradition each spring on The Hill, NFL team representatives turned out in droves on Friday to watch WKU's annual Pro Day as 14 former Hilltoppers chased their NFL futures.
Thirty-five representatives from 28 teams turned out in all as Hilltopper standouts Mike White, Joel Iyiegbuniwe, and Deon Yelder put on a show along with nine of their teammates from the 2017 squad as well as two Hilltoppers from the class of 2016.
"I'm really proud of our guys," said head coach Mike Sanford. "You can tell they've put in the work. For some of these guys, this is a life-altering type of a day. In particular, guys who didn't have a chance to compete in the combine, namely Deon Yelder, I think he did incredible stuff for himself today. He had a phenomenal workout for a guy you can tell who has put in the work. The highlight for me was watching (Mike White) do some great stuff in the red zone."
For Yelder, a former four-year walk-on who earned a scholarship prior to his senior season in 2017, it was an feather-in-the-cap type of morning as he continues his ascent up team draft boards. On the day, Yelder's measurements in a number of categories would have ranked among the top five with his position group at the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine: 120" broad jump (t-4th), 4.74 40-yard dash (t-3rd), 18 bench press reps (t-5th), 33" vertical jump (t-5th).
White and Iyiegbuniwe both participated in position drills, using their times from the Combine as their measurements for the draft process. For White, the day was as much about showcasing his ability to place the football exactly where he wants it as it was enjoying one final time on the field with his teammates.
"I told the guys 'Let's just have fun. It's our last time playing anything somewhat competitive in this stadium all together.' I just wanted to have fun," White said. "When you have fun, it takes the high pressure situation out of it. I wanted to treat it like it was just another day in the summer, preparing for fall camp. There were just a few more people watching. I wanted to go out and have fun, and I think we accomplished that."
As WKU's profile has grown in NFL circles, so too has the attendance at Pro Day as NFL teams know there will regularly be NFL talent coming out of the program as evidenced by eight draft selections since 2013.
"It's awesome (to have NFL scouts here)," Sanford added. "It motivates all of us. It motivates the young players out here. A lot of these guys working out here today, I remember they were watching this last year waiting for their opportunity. It also motivates me as a head coach and as assistant coaches to be recruiting and bringing in talent so that you can have Pro Days where you're bringing in all 32 NFL teams. I want this program to be (a conduit to the NFL) year in and year out."
The former Hilltoppers will now continue their offseason preparations, which may include more private workouts or team visits, as they await the NFL Draft, set for April 26-28 from Arlington, Texas at the Dallas Cowboy's AT&T Stadium.
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