Prep for the 2011 NFL Draft kicks into high gear next week with the start of the annual Scouting Combine. After that, colleges will host Pro Day events for their players. Pro days are a key piece of the puzzle in making final decisions about draft picks as scouts and coaches get one more chance to watch players work up close and personal.
A complete schedule of pro days is not yet available as many schools, especially some of the bigger ones, have yet to set a date. Still, a number of schools have announced a date for pro day. After the jump a list of scheduled pro day dates and some schools with notable prospects that the St. Louis Rams have been interested in or should be interested in when the 2011 NFL Draft finally arrives.
Baylor has the first Pro Day of note. OG Danny Watkins is getting lots of buzz, and if he weren't 26-years-old, he might be ticketed for the middle of the first round. As it is, his name is starting to seep into the late first round conversations.
Troy WR Jerrell Jeringan could be a player of interest. He has his pro day the day after Baylor.
March 9 is a big day with schools from Alabama to California having pro days. Julio Jones is the most obvious 'Bama prospect that's been linked to the Rams, but there's jewels to be found among the less heralded players from programs like that. The Rams drafted Alabama CB Marquis Johnson in the seventh round last year. He spent most of the year on the practice squad before hitting IR as rookie, but I'm still very interested to see what he can do. Cal RB Shane Vereen is a potential scatback type player the Rams could be interested in.
Expect the Rams to be in attendance at Nebraska's Pro Day on March 10. They've already spoken with Husker's OG Keith Williams. Don't rule out some interest in Nebraska WR Niles Paul either. At 6'1" 225 lbs he's a big dude who gets YAC because it's so difficult for defensive backs to tackle him. He's regarded as a good route runner. If he can show enough potential to work through some consistency issues and iffy hands, he might be a nice get in the middle rounds.
Here's a list of players that the Rams have talked to so far.
Here's the schedule so far for college pro day events.
| PRO DAYS | |||||||||||||||||||
| DATE | SCHOOLS | ||||||||||||||||||
| 03/03/2011 | Baylor, FAU, Tulane | ||||||||||||||||||
| 03/04/2011 | Alabama State, Troy, Weber State | ||||||||||||||||||
| 03/07/2011 | Arkansas Tech, Central Arkansas, Tuskegee | ||||||||||||||||||
| 03/08/2011 | Alabama A&M, Arkansas, Fordham, Liberty, Northwestern, Prairie View A&M | ||||||||||||||||||
| 03/09/2011 | Alabama, BYU, California-Davis, California, Clark-Atlanta, Colorado State, Georgia Teach, Kent State, Mississippi State, North Texas, Northern Colorado, Portland State | ||||||||||||||||||
| 03/10/2011 | Nebraska, Northern Illinois | ||||||||||||||||||
| 03/11/2011 | Eastern Illinois, Idaho, Jackson State, Ohio State, Southern Miss, TCU, Tennessee | ||||||||||||||||||
| 03/14/2011 | LSU, Newberry, Wake Forest | ||||||||||||||||||
| 03/15/2011 | Bowling Green, Montana State, Towson | ||||||||||||||||||
| 03/16/2011 | Arkansas-Monticello, Florida A&M, Illinois, James Madison, Louisian-Monroe, Marshall, Maryland, Michigan State, Penn State, Virginia Union | ||||||||||||||||||
| 03/17/2011 | Virginia, Virginia Tech, West Virginia | ||||||||||||||||||
| 03/18/2011 | Arkansas State, Northwestern State (LA) | ||||||||||||||||||
| 03/21/2011 | North Dakota State | ||||||||||||||||||
| 03/22/2011 | South Dakota State | ||||||||||||||||||
| 03/23/2011 | Boston College, Central Florida, Louisville, North Carolina State, Texas State | ||||||||||||||||||
| 03/23/2011 | Middle Tennessee State, Southern Illinois | ||||||||||||||||||
| 03/25/2011 | Arizona State, Ball State | ||||||||||||||||||
| 03/28/2011 | Central Missouri, Cincinnati, Citadel, Missouri Western, Northwest Missouri State, Rice | ||||||||||||||||||
| 03/29/2011 | Coastal Carolina | ||||||||||||||||||
| 03/30/2011 | New Mexico State | ||||||||||||||||||
| 03/31/2011 | Eastern Washington | ||||||||||||||||||