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Logan • Al Lapuaho was huffing and puffing after a morning of sprinting around cones. But the 292-pound tackle was grinning just by having his Pro Day workouts behind him.
He hopes his 33 reps on the 225-pound bench press and his surprising agility for his size will be the evidence he can be a pro player to the dozen NFL scouts who were on hand to watch him and his teammates work.
"The scouts I talked with said the good scouts don't judge it all based on Pro Day," he said. "It either solidifies what you think about a guy or it raises questions. I think I solidified myself today."
Lapuaho was one of 11 former Utah State players who tried to show their NFL potential at the Aggies' indoor football facility at Pro Day on Thursday. Fresh off an 11-2 conference-winning season, a number of seniors who helped lead the program's rise validated themselves as pro prospects.
Perhaps the biggest winner of the day was Matt Austin, Utah State's leading receiver last season. The junior college transfer who overcame a serious knee injury in his career ran a 4.50-second 40-yard dash, the fastest time of the day.
Leading up to Pro Day, scouts had openly questioned his speed. Now, with a quick mark, Austin hopes he could sneak into the NFL Draft next month.
"I know for sure they didn't think I could run that fast," Austin said. "At the [Casino Del Sol] game, at the interviews they were saying I was gonna be a 4.6 guy. I feel like I proved myself."
The Aggies' two most likely NFL draftees, running back Kerwynn Williams and cornerback Will Davis, didn't do every drill after completing most of them at the NFL Combine last month. But they spent a considerable amount of time doing position drills, solidifying themselves as NFL prospects.
Aggie pro day superlatives
Some of the top performers from Pro Day
40-yard dash • WR Matt Austin (4.50 seconds)
Broad jump • WR Chuck Jacobs (10 feet 4 inches)
Vertical jump • WR Chuck Jacobs and DB Will Davis (36 inches)
Bench press • DT Al Lapuaho (33 reps of 225 pounds) —
Who was there
Scouts from the following teams were present: Carolina Panthers, Cleveland Browns, Denver Broncos, Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins, Oakland Raiders, Philadelphia Eagles, San Diego Chargers, San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks.