Dawg day developments
Donald Butler
Just back from the University of Washington Pro Day, where eight draft-eligible players from last season’s team and three former Huskies worked out for NFL scouts and coaches.
The “stars” of the show were linebacker Donald Butler and Daniel Te’o-Nesheim – who could be an undersized end in a 4-3 defense or an oversized outside linebacker in a 3-4, depending on which scout you ask.
Butler and Te’o-Nesheim were the only Huskies among the 329 players invited to the scouting combine last month, and each enhanced his draft stock today.
Here are the players’ marks in the vertical leap and bench press (with 225 pounds). Sorry, no “official” times in the 40-yard dash:
Player Vertical Bench press
LB Donald Butler 35½ combine
DE/OLB Daniel Te’o-Nesheim combine combine
LB Josh Gage 31½ 23
FB Paul Homer 29 26
DE Darrion Jones na 26
OG Ben Ossai 27½ 24
LB T.J. Poe 32 23
FS Jason Wells 32 17
FS Chris Hemphill 31 16
DT Jovon O’Connor 27½ 20
DL Ceasar Rayford 34½ 16
The “combine” designation means that Butler and Te’o-Nesheim stood only their marks from Indianapolis, and it definitely was understandable. Butler did 35 reps in the bench press to lead all linebackers at the combine, while Te’o-Nesheim popped a 37-inch vertical leap (fifth best among the defensive ends) and did 29 reps with 225 pounds.
Rayford played for the Huskies in 2007 and has had stints with the B.C. Lions of the CFL and Spokane Shock of the Arena League 2. O’Connor played for the Huskies in 2008. Hemphill transferred from UW to Central Washington University in 2007.
