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Sixteen current and former SMU football players took part Wednesday in the school’s annual Pro Day, in which a host of NFL scouts gather at SMU’s Gerald J. Ford Stadium to measure, weigh, time and test the Mustangs who have their sights set on playing professional football.

Two of the players - offensive tackle Kelvin Beachum, Jr. and guard Josh LeRibeus - declined to take part in some of the events, choosing instead to rely on the results of their tests at last month’s NFL Combine in Indianapolis. But most of the rest of the players were more than willing to do anything and everything asked of them, in the interest of catching the eye of the scouts in attendance. (Among the others in attendance: Aldrick Robinson, Sterling Moore, Shawnbrey McNeal, Gil Brandt and Michael Irvin.)

The participants were:

Defensive back Chris Banjo - 5’9 ├é┬╛", 206
Offensive lineman Kelvin Beachum, Jr. - 6’2 7/8", 303
Wide receiver Cole Beasley - 5’ 7 7/8", 174
Offensive lineman J.T. Brooks - 6’ 4 ├é┬╜", 306
Defensive back Richard Crawford - 5’ 10 1/8", 189
Defensive lineman Marquis Frazier - 6’ 3", 276
Tight end/wide receiver Bradley Haynes - 6’ 2 1/8", 233
Quarterback J.J. McDermott - 6’ 4 1/8", 225
Offensive lineman Josh LeRibeus - 6’ 3 3/8", 318
Defensive back Justin Sorrell - 5’ 8 7/8", 197
Kicker/punter Matt Szymanski - 6’ 1 ├é┬╜", 204
Offensive lineman Bryce Tennison - 6’ 2 ├é┬╜", 293
Tight end Taylor Thompson - 6’ 5 7/8", 259
Wide receiver Terrance Wilkerson - 5’ 10", 179
Linebacker Youri Yenga - 6’ 0 ├é┬╛", 243

The top five performers in each event:

Vertical jump
1. Chris Banjo (39.5 inches)
1. Richard Crawford (39.5 inches)
3. Cole Beasley (38 inches)
4. Taylor Thompson (37 inches)
5. Bradley Haynes (34 inches)

Broad jump
1. Cole Beasley (10' 6")
1. Taylor Thompson (10' 6")
3. Richard Crawford (10’ 5")
4. Chris Banjo (10’ 4")
5. Justin Sorrell (9’ 6")
5. Marquis Frazier (9’ 6")

Bench Press
1. J.T. Brooks (24 reps)
2. Chris Banjo (23 reps)
2. Marquis Frazier (23 reps)
4. Taylor Thompson (22 reps)
5. Bryce Tennison (21 reps)

40-yard dash
1. Chris Banjo (4.47)
2. Justin Sorrell (4.51)
3. Cole Beasley (4.52)
4. Taylor Thompson (4.55)
5. Richard Crawford (4.56)

20-yard shuttle
1. Chris Banjo (4.22 seconds)
2. Justin Sorrell (4.29 seconds)
3. Cole Beasley (4.33 seconds)
4. Taylor Thompson (4.39 seconds)
5. Richard Crawford (4.45 seconds)

Three-cone shuttle
1. Cole Beasley (7.04 seconds)
2. Justin Sorrell (7.11 seconds)
3. Chris Banjo (7.15 seconds)
4. Bradley Haynes (7.24 seconds)
5. Richard Crawford (7.32 seconds)

60-yard shuttle
1. Chris Banjo (11.38 seconds)
2. Cole Beasley (11.48 seconds)
3. Justin Sorrell (11.52 seconds)
4. Richard Crawford (11.55 seconds)
5. Youri Yenga (11.84 seconds)


Head coach June Jones


Offensive tackle Kelvin Beachum, Jr.


Guard Josh LeRibeus


Receiver / tight end Bradley Haynes


Receiver Cole Beasley


Tight end Taylor Thompson


Mustangs running shuttles ... and Taylor Thompson showing off his receiving skills.

Greatness - thanks.

Most impressive stat, IMHO, is Thompson's 40 time. That's fast for a dude that big!

Fantastic work, as always.
Thompson's speed is impressive, but I'm equally impressed by the numbers Banjo put up. Hopefully he'll get a shot.

Are these numbers real or typos?

Broad jump
1. Cole Beasley (38 inches)
1. Taylor Thompson (38 inches)

Man, all of Taylor's stats are eye popping. Wow.

PK wrote:Are these numbers real or typos?

Broad jump
1. Cole Beasley (38 inches)
1. Taylor Thompson (38 inches)

Apparently they decided to broad jump up instead of forward.

Oops - fixed...
Thanks.

Youri looks huge

In today's Denver Post, one of their columnists had an article about how prospective tight ends are in short supply in this years draft. He also mentions the Patriot's offense with it's use of tight ends. He then writes about Taylor Thompson's performance at SMU's pro day. Good to see that Thompson is getting some national notice.

PK wrote:Are these numbers real or typos?

Broad jump
1. Cole Beasley (38 inches)
1. Taylor Thompson (38 inches)

Now your talking.

Broad jump
1. Cole Beasley (10' 6")
1. Taylor Thompson (10' 6")

Once again, you guys absolutely killed it on Pro Day coverage. Thanks.

Richard Crawford, Justin Sorrell and Chris Banjo trained for Pro Day under the guidance of former SMU punter Ryan Mentzel, who runs Athletes Enhancement Speed and Performance Training in Midlothian, Texas.

Former SMU and current Oakland Raiders cornerback Bryan McCann also trains with Mentzel, and gives Mentzel ample credit for the sizzling times he put up when he ran on Pro Day a couple of years ago. McCann comes back in the offseason to train with Mentzel, who trains an array of athletes from high school, college and pro football players to Major League Baseball players.

For more information about Athletes Enhancement Speed and Performance Training, click here.