CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — The Koman Practice Complex was a full house last Thursday with over a hundred NFL personnel pushing up for Pro Day, most of whom were eager to get a look at North Carolina’s crown jewel – Drake Maye.
Maye turned heads once again with his passing ability – a skill he opted out of in the NFL combine, but other characters including Cedric Gray and Tez Walker were also standout prospects who successfully improved their draft stocks with admirable performances. All three were invited to the NFL Combine.
The day started with player check-ins and was quickly followed by drills that began with the 40-yard dash. The guys then headed into vertical and broad jumps and position-specific drills.
Below are some of my takeaways from the day:
Drake Maye
Simply put, Drake Maye stole the show. He showed off his deep ball accuracy and ability to throw off-platform. His throwing session was observed by notable decision-makers, including those from the New England Patriots and Washington Commanders.
Commanders head coach Dan Quinn, as well as, the Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo were standing directly behind Maye during his throws and could even be seen having conversations with UNC head coach Mack Brown. Commanders offensive coordinator, Kliff Kingsbury was there as well alongside Chip Lindsey who holds the same position for the Tar Heels.
Drake made passes to UNC receivers Tez Walker, Nate McCollum and even early enrollee Jordan Shipp. Former Tar Heel Beau Corrales was also part of the mix. He made about 60 passes with just a few misses, yet his eye for perfection and determination to correct his errors left a positive impression on scouts.
Over the next month or so before the draft, Maye said he has about 30 visits lined up with different teams and will also do some private workouts before going to Detroit for the draft with his family.
Cedric Gray
The senior linebacker got some work in with the Steelers inside linebackers coach and showed his strength with the 3-cone and standard linebacker drills. He put up some good numbers at the combine so standing on those numbers, he embraced the opportunity to showcase his skills and have conversations with coaches.
He did mention how the repetitive nature of the pre-draft process can be weary, but he’s enjoyed the ride spending time training in Florida after graduation last fall. He now looks forward to more meetings with coaches and continuing to “get right” before April 25th.
Tez Walker
After a tumultuous and delayed start to his Tar Heel career, moments like yesterday are what Tez Walker has already dreamed of. Four games into the season, Walker was granted eligibility after being denied by the NCAA because of his transfer situation.
He participated in the 20-yard short shuttle and three-cone drill, standing on his previous numbers from the combine. He ran the fourth-fastest time among wideouts at the combine with a 4.36-second time.
As the countdown to the draft intensifies, it’s clear that all of these guys embody resilience and dedication, having cemented their name as some of the best to ever play at Kenan Stadium. And now, they’re positioning themselves well for success at the next level.