March 27, 2014
Photo Gallery
CONWAY - Highlighted by NFL Combine invitees Matt Hazel and Lorenzo Taliaferro, 19 student-athletes - including 15 Chanticleers - were on Coastal Carolina's campus Thursday morning showcasing their skills for a 10 professional scouts at the annual Palmetto Pro Day. Professional teams represented included the NFL's Browns, Jets, Eagles, Bills, Panthers, Steelers, Jaguars and 49ers along with the CFL's Montreal Alouettes.
Chanticleers participating in the day's events included Hazel, Taliaferro, Niccolo Mastromatteo, Adrian Sullivan, Jeffery Salley, Dontavais Johnson, Jamie Childers, Brian Kass, Jamey Cheatwood, Johnnie Houston, Mike McClure, LaDarius Hawthorne, Chris Thomas, Akeem Wesley and DeMario Bennett. Also participating were Furman's Ryan Culbreath and Greg Worthy along with Brandon McCladdie and Darian Robinson of The Citadel.
Not all in attendance elected to participate in each drill. For instance, Hazel only participated in the agility events and the position drills as measurement of his bench press, vertical and board jump were documented at the NFL Combine last month.
The event started with measuring and weighing the student-athletes. From there, the first group split into groups to measure the vertical and broad jumps. Johnson led the Chants with a vertical leap of 37 inches, while Furman's Worthy had the best broad jump of the day at 10-foot-3.
The student-athletes then moved on to the 225-pound bench press. Coastal's Salley led all, posting 33 reps.
From there, the group moved to Brooks Stadium to run the 40-yard dash, the 20-yard shuttle, 60-yards shuttle and 3-cone drill. Afterwards, the scouts worked out the players by position.
Former Coastal Carolina All-American and NFL veteran Tyler Thigpen served as the quarterback for the majority of the wide receiver/running back individual drills.
