Nine 'Canes Working Out at NFL Combine
Feb. 25, 2011
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CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The U will have more than half of its departing senior class and one early entry represented at the 2011 NFL Combine over the coming days.
Nine former Miami Hurricanes – Allen Bailey, Matt Bosher, Damien Berry, Graig Cooper, Leonard Hankerson, Orlando Franklin, Colin McCarthy, DeMarcus Van Dyke and Brandon Harris – have been invited to represent UM at the 2011 NFL Combine from Feb. 24 through March 1 in Indianapolis, Ind.
The 2010 Miami senior class was composed of 15 seniors, not including Joel Figueroa, who is applying for a sixth year of NCAA eligibility.
Bailey heads the class of draft prospects and is currently ranked as a first round selection by Scouts, Inc. (Premium Link). Bailey has been as high as the Top 15 this season and currently ranks No. 27. Orlando Franklin is listed as the top offensive guard (Premium Link) in the draft and the 49th overall prospect.
McCarthy is the 88th best prospect and the ninth-rated outside linebacker. Hankerson and Cooper come in as the 145th and 148th best prospects, although ESPN experts disagree on Hankerson.
Mel Kiper has Hankerson rated as the top senior wide receiver and someone he expects to be selected behind juniors that may come out early at the position.
Junior CB Brandon Harris is rated as the 32nd best prospect, right on the first round bubble, by Scouts.Inc and as the fourth best junior CB by Kiper.
Seniors like Ryan Hill, Pat Hill and Josh Holmes, who have not been chosen for the NFL Combine, will have a chance to impress scouts at UM’s Pro Day.
Last season, five Miami players worked out at the NFL Combine: TE Dedrick Epps, OT Jason Fox, TE Jimmy Graham, RB Javarris James, LB Darryl Sharpton.
Graham, Fox, Epps and Sharpton were drafted last season. CB Sam Shields was an undrafted free agent, who went on to start for the Green Bay Packers and James played a key role for the Indianapolis Colts, scoring six touchdowns despite not being drafted.
Miami has arguably the most impressive NFL Draft history of any college program. UM had a player taken in the first round of the NFL Draft for 14 consecutive years. The streak ended in 2008, but could be begin anew this year. The ‘Canes have also had 46 players selected in the first round of the NFL Draft since 1984, 11 more than the next highest school nationally.
The ‘Canes don’t stop on draft day. Last week, the NFL announced that UM had eight former players named to the 2011 Pro Bowl. That number is more than any other college program and tops the entire Big 12 (7) and Big East (4).
Miami has scheduled its 2011 Pro Day workouts for March 10 at the Greentree Practice Fields. For the first time ever, HurricaneSports.com and Canes All-Access will have live coverage of Miami’s Pro Day. Stay tuned to HS.com for more information in the coming weeks.
