LINCOLN — Matt O’Hanlon was the last to leave and one of those with the least left to give Thursday.
The former Nebraska safety took part in everything at the Huskers’ pro day. And he was spent after testing for NFL personnel.
“My legs kind of felt like jelly at the end, doing the position drills,’’ O’Hanlon said. “but everyone was like that, and I think the scouts know that you exerted yourself pretty hard through the last hour or so.’’
Defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, by far the Huskers’ best draft prospect, did little Thursday and could refer folks to his NFL Combine testing last month. For part of the afternoon, camera crews from Nike and the NFL Network followed him around the Hawks Center — even out the door to the parking lot.
For ex-Huskers like O’Hanlon and defensive end Barry Turner, pro day was way more work and far less glamorous.
Despite solid senior seasons, neither O’Hanlon nor Turner was invited to a postseason all-star game or the NFL Combine. That made Thursday about as important as it gets in helping build their portfolio for pro teams.
“I think they’ll end up in NFL camps,’’ NU defensive coordinator Carl Pelini said. “I don’t have any idea in terms of the draft process — where they’re projected and where they might go — a lot of that will be based on today.’’
O’Hanlon said he ran a 4.58-second 40-yard dash and that he was timed at 4.0 seconds in the pro-agility run and 6.80 in the three-cone shuttle. His vertical was 37½ inches, and his broad jump 10 feet.
“I’ll take it,’’ he said. “That was a pretty good day.’’
O’Hanlon and others had been preparing for pro day or the NFL Combine since the Holiday Bowl. The Bellevue East graduate said there was some relief in it being over. He lauded Husker strength and conditioning coach James Dobson for his help in preparing those who stayed in Lincoln.
O’Hanlon is glad that the next six weeks can now be spent on conditioning and football-related training.
“Getting ready for those minicamps and stuff, just working on your football game instead of these testing scores ... It’ll be fun to get back to the football part of it,’’ he said.
A total of 24 NFL teams were represented at the NU pro day. An overall crew of about 30 included head coach Steve Spagnuolo and General Manager Billy Devaney of the St. Louis Rams.
The Rams own the No. 1 pick in the April 22 draft, for which Suh is under consideration.
He undoubtedly helped create interest, which was good for everybody, according to O’Hanlon and former NU cornerback Armando Murillo.
“Gold mine,’’ said Murillo, who played his final season as a Husker in 2008. “Suh’s going to bring ’em, so you might as well take advantage of it.’’
Contact the writer:
444-1042, rich.kaipust@owh.com
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