March 7, 2007

LAS VEGAS - A large turnout of NFL scouts and some very successful workouts by UNLV football players highlighted the annual pro day, which was held at the Lied Athletic Complex and Rebel Park on Wednesday.

No less than a dozen scouts from the league were on hand to time and test former and current Rebels as they tried to impress and move on to the next level of football. Among the drills were bench-press repetitions, shuttle runs, receiving drills and defensive and offensive lineman workouts.

"This has been a good pro day," UNLV head coach Mike Sanford said. "It ended up being a great weather day and there was a great turnout by NFL scouts, and there were some great individual performances."

Sanford noted that a pair of defensive backs had strong showings on the day.

"Eric Wright had an excellent workout, as did Jay Staggs," Sanford said. "They both have really improved themselves."

Sanford and his staff will open up spring workouts for the 2007 edition of the Rebels on March 19 and it will span 15 sessions culminating with the Scarlet vs. Gray game at Sam Boyd Stadium on April 20. The other spring practices will be held on the AstroPlay synthetic surface on campus at Ernie Becker Sr. Football Fields at Bill "Wildcat" Morris Rebel Park.

A crowd of scouts watch players bench press in the Lied Athletic Complex weight room. NFL scouts mark down times during drills at Pro Day on Wednesday.