Former Tigers strut their stuff at Pro Day

By Collin Mickle

Published: March 10, 2008

Quentin Groves was tired.

The defensive end was one of 11 former Auburn players showing off their skills for NFL scouts Monday at AU’s annual Pro Day.
Groves, the highest-profile Tiger in attendance — most draft services project him as a first- or second-round pick — also had the busiest schedule.

The crowd of 50 NFL scouts and personnel men — which also included head coaches Marvin Lewis of the Cincinnati Bengals and Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers — put Groves through his paces at two positions.

Groves spent most of his AU career at defensive end, but also spent time at linebacker. Pro teams aren’t sure where he’ll fit in on the next level.

So, Groves worked out at linebacker and defensive back, going through at least 45 minutes of drills. The work was exhausting — especially since he was still recovering from an illness he suffered last week.

But for Groves, the extra work was worth it.

“It was a great day, I think,” he said. “I showed I could drop (into pass coverage). I showed I could catch. I showed I could do the defensive line drills and things like that.”

Groves’ busy schedule doesn’t lighten up this week: He has an individual workout scheduled with the New York Jets on Wednesday and another with the New England Patriots on Thursday.

Groves isn’t the only Tiger whose draft stock is improving. Most draft services rate defensive tackle Pat Sims as the third- or fourth-best player at his position in this year’s draft.

For Sims, who declared for the draft after his junior season, his first as a starter, it’s a thrilling opportunity.

“Anything you accomplish in life is exciting,” he said. “It’ll help you in your future.

“Of course, it’s exciting. It’s a dream.”

But Sims said he doesn’t have any big shopping plans for his first professional contract.

“I have everything I need and want right now,” he said. “I have a car. I have a place.

“There’s not much I could do, really, besides buy another car or another place. It’s already done.”

While Groves’ and Sims’ places in the first few rounds seem assured, the other nine Tigers at Pro Day had more to prove.

None made more of an impression than fullback Carl Stewart. The 6-foot-1, 213-pounder ran a 4.54 40-yard dash and had the day’s best long jump, at 39 ½ inches.

Following an impressive showing at the NFL combine in Indianapolis last month, Stewart is moving into the draft picture despite rarely touching the ball as a senior. He isn’t paying attention to draft projections, but hopes to make enough of an impression to earn a place in some team’s training camp.

“I’m taking my hard road, and I don’t really have any estimate of where I’m going to be,” he said. “I’m just going to be praying and see where I end up.”

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