TTU shows out at Vandy pro day – tntechoracle.com

Vanderbilt University held its football pro day on March 20. Recent Tech alums Aaron Swafford, Tim Coutras and Theron Gaines all participated in hopes of raising their draft stock.
The NFL pro day is held by most collegiate football programs in the country. 
Much like the NFL combine, players participate in performance-measuring drills such as the 40-yard dash, broad jump, vertical jump, etc.
Oftentimes, larger programs will allow players from local universities to participate in their pro day in hopes of getting better exposure for the athletes.
For Coutras, Gaines and Swafford this was exactly the case. Heading into the event, the three were all well-established athletes due to their careers at Tech.
All three were listed as first-team All-OVC selections, with Gaines being named a first-team FCS All-American by FCS Football Central.
Gaines measured well among his fellow linebackers – a 4.63-second 40-yard dash, 37-inch vertical jump, 4.55 second short shuttle, a 9-foot, 11-inch broad jump and 20 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press.
His 37 inch vertical was second-highest among the participants for the day, behind only Vanderbilt defensive back Marlon Jones.
Linebacker Aaron Swafford ran a 4.78-second 40-yard dash with a 32-inch vertical and a 9-foot, 8-inch broad jump.
Swafford spoke about the preparation leading into the Pro Day. “I wasn’t even, technically, supposed to be here,” Swafford said.
 “I was supposed to go to [a different Pro Day] next week, but that fell through, so it was like last minute…I’m not on the freshest legs, but you got to do what you got to do.”
Swafford spoke about the potential exposure a place like Vanderbilt could provide, saying it was “100 percent” the place to be because of the NFL scouts in attendance for the event.
Of the 32 NFL teams, 31 of them had a scout in attendance at the Vanderbilt pro day, scouting athletes such as All-SEC selections Diego Pavia and Eli Stowers.
Safety Tim Coutras finished the day with respectable measurables as well, running a 4.63-second 40-yard dash, 32.5 inch vertical and a 10-foot, one-inch broad jump.
This year’s NFL Draft is set for April 23-25 in Pittsburgh, Penn., with the Las Vegas Raiders holding the first pick.

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