Former Griz shine at Pro Day
3/12/2019 12:47:00 PM | Football
When Eric Williams stepped up for his turn in the 225-pound bench press test at the Montana football team's Pro Day, a scout in attendance spoke up and said: "Punter's don't have to this if they don't want."
Williams' response: "No, I want to."
It's a good thing he did, too, because the former UM punter proceeded to hammer out an eye-popping 20 reps, a mark that would be the third-most by any punter at the NFL Combine since 2006.
"It's good to stay sharp in the weight room, especially because a lot of scouts want to see that if they bring you in, you're going to work hard in the weight room, you're going to be a good team member, and you're going to be a leader anywhere they put you," said Williams.
"Hopefully I showed enough of that today, and they know I'm an athlete who's going to work hard. That was the goal."
(3/12/2019) FB:: Pro Day 2019
Griz alums Keenan Curran (WR), Caleb Hill (QB/TE), Reid Miller (DB), and Williams (P) each returned to Missoula to undergo testing in hopes of catching a scout's eye. Also performing at Pro Day were linemen Troy Bacon and Jo-Jo Bones from Rocky Mountain College in Billings, and receiver Dion Williams of Montana Tech.
In addition to William's bench total, several other Griz turned in impressive marks at Pro Day as well.
On the national level, Miller proved to be an elite-level safety with his performance. The 5-8, 203-pound Pennsylvania native who is finishing his MBA at Montana put up numbers that would have placed him among the best safeties at the 2019 NFL Combine.
Pretty good day at the office.
"It felt good. The six weeks of training with Coach (Matt) Nicholson definitely helped, I put up some OK numbers, and it is what it is," said Miller.
"You just want to come in and try to do your best, and I think I put up good enough numbers to make an impression."
Icy and cold conditions inside Washington-Grizzly Stadium moved the testing indoors this year, with all events except position-specific drills being held in the Champions Center. In the drills that were held outside, wind and an icy field made for less-than-ideal conditions.
Despite the conditions, former Grizzly receiver Keenan Curran, who finished his career at UM ranked in the top-11 all-time in touchdown catches, came away with good feelings.
"I thought it went pretty well. I feel like we should all just be thankful to be here in front of scouts. When you think about it like that, there's nothing you can stress over. You just come out here and do your best," said Curran.
Other big performances from visitors included Jo-Jo Bones, a center out of Rocky Mountain College. Bones put up 28 reps on the bench press, a mark that would have been ninth-best among O-linemen at the NFL Combine this year.
The 2019 NFL Draft will take place April 25-27 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Official Pro Day Results
Williams' response: "No, I want to."
It's a good thing he did, too, because the former UM punter proceeded to hammer out an eye-popping 20 reps, a mark that would be the third-most by any punter at the NFL Combine since 2006.
"It's good to stay sharp in the weight room, especially because a lot of scouts want to see that if they bring you in, you're going to work hard in the weight room, you're going to be a good team member, and you're going to be a leader anywhere they put you," said Williams.
"Hopefully I showed enough of that today, and they know I'm an athlete who's going to work hard. That was the goal."
Griz alums Keenan Curran (WR), Caleb Hill (QB/TE), Reid Miller (DB), and Williams (P) each returned to Missoula to undergo testing in hopes of catching a scout's eye. Also performing at Pro Day were linemen Troy Bacon and Jo-Jo Bones from Rocky Mountain College in Billings, and receiver Dion Williams of Montana Tech.
In addition to William's bench total, several other Griz turned in impressive marks at Pro Day as well.
On the national level, Miller proved to be an elite-level safety with his performance. The 5-8, 203-pound Pennsylvania native who is finishing his MBA at Montana put up numbers that would have placed him among the best safeties at the 2019 NFL Combine.
- His most eye-catching number was 25 reps on the bench press, a figure that would have been the most of any safety at this year's combine.
- His 11.41 long shuttle run would have been the second-fastest for a safety at the combine.
- His 40-inch vertical jump would have been the third-highest among safeties at the combine.
- His 7.15-second three-cone drill time would have placed him at No. 13 among safeties at the combine.
- His 9' 11" broad jump and his 4.58 40-yard sprint time would both have been good enough to come in at No. 15 at the combine among safeties as well.
Pretty good day at the office.
"It felt good. The six weeks of training with Coach (Matt) Nicholson definitely helped, I put up some OK numbers, and it is what it is," said Miller.
"You just want to come in and try to do your best, and I think I put up good enough numbers to make an impression."
Icy and cold conditions inside Washington-Grizzly Stadium moved the testing indoors this year, with all events except position-specific drills being held in the Champions Center. In the drills that were held outside, wind and an icy field made for less-than-ideal conditions.
Despite the conditions, former Grizzly receiver Keenan Curran, who finished his career at UM ranked in the top-11 all-time in touchdown catches, came away with good feelings.
"I thought it went pretty well. I feel like we should all just be thankful to be here in front of scouts. When you think about it like that, there's nothing you can stress over. You just come out here and do your best," said Curran.
Other big performances from visitors included Jo-Jo Bones, a center out of Rocky Mountain College. Bones put up 28 reps on the bench press, a mark that would have been ninth-best among O-linemen at the NFL Combine this year.
The 2019 NFL Draft will take place April 25-27 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Official Pro Day Results
| Name | Pos. | Height | Weight | Hand Size |
Wing Span |
40-yard | Vertical | Broad Jump |
Pro (Long) Shuttle |
L-Drill | Bench |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keenan Curran | WR | 6'0 | 194 | 10" | 76" | 4.69 | 34 1/2" | 10' | 12.07 | 7.35 | 11 |
| Caleb Hill | TE/QB | 6'0 | 235 | 8 3/8" | 76 1/2" | 4.99 | 27" | 8'10" | 12.05 | 7.65 | DNP |
| Reid Miller | S | 5'8 | 203 | 9 7/8" | 69" | 4.58 | 40" | 9'11" | 11.41 | 7.15 | 25 |
| Eric Williams | KP | 5'10 | 192 | 8" | 70 1/8" | 4.84 | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | 20 |
| Troy Bacon (Rocky) | OL | 6'0 | 313 | 10" | 79 1/2" | 5.39 | 23 1/2" | 7'9" | DNP | 8.03 | 17 |
| Joseph Bones (Rocky) | DL | 6'1 | 301 | 8 7/8" | 76 1/8" | 5.20 | 28" | 8'8" | DNP | 8.09 | 28 |
| Dion Williams (MT Tech) | WR | 5'11 | 188 | 8 5/8" | 75 7/8" | 4.90 | 29 1/2" | 9'7" | 12.59 | 7.8 | 0 |
"You just want to come in and try to do your best, and I think I put up good enough numbers to make an impression."@Reid_Miller11 definitely impressed at #GrizProDay. His 25 reps on the bench would have been the most of any safety at this year's #NFLCombine!#GoGriz #RTD pic.twitter.com/qzSyCcUXg1
— Montana Griz FB (@MontanaGrizFB) March 12, 2019
"I thought it went pretty well. I feel like we should all just be thankful to be here in front of scouts. When you think about it like that, there's nothing you can stress over. You just come out here and do your best."
— Montana Griz FB (@MontanaGrizFB) March 12, 2019
Hear Keenan Curran's thoughts after #GrizProDay!#GoGriz pic.twitter.com/BvEZoN5YsE
"It felt good. There's so much that goes into leading up to Pro Day. To to finally get here and have your few hours to show what you can do inside and outside, it felt great."
— Montana Griz FB (@MontanaGrizFB) March 12, 2019
Eric Williams turned heads at #GrizProDay Hear his thoughts.#GoGriz #RTD pic.twitter.com/VOd9TayoJv
😳 Eric Williams with 2️⃣0️⃣ on the bench! How many punters you know can do that?!#GrizProDay pic.twitter.com/6XK1bx4yNN
— Montana Griz FB (@MontanaGrizFB) March 12, 2019
25 for Reid Miller!!! pic.twitter.com/OhCQ0qK9Cb
— Montana Griz FB (@MontanaGrizFB) March 12, 2019
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