By RON HIGGINS, Journal Sports
BATON ROUGE – Malik Nabers woke up at 5 a.m. on Wednesday, five hours before the official start of LSU’s Pro Day in the Charles McClendon Practice Facility.
“I’ve been ready to go at it,” said the former Tigers’ wide receiver who’s projected to be among the top 10 players selected in= the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft on April 25-27 in Detroit. “My legs were shaking a little bit I was so ready to get out here.”
As he has done in his entire LSU career, Nabers performed flawlessly under pressure. This time, it was provided by the watchful eyes of six NFL head coaches and more than 100 NFL assistants, scouts and other personnel on hand to put 13 draft-eligible Tigers through the paces.
His vertical jump measured 42 inches, which would have tied for second at February’s NFL combine if he had chosen to participate.
And then after one false start and shifting his feet back and forth until he settled into a comfortable starting position, Nabers blazed the 40 in 4.35 seconds. It would have been the eighth fastest 40 at February’s NFL draft combine.
“I was thinking about the 40 (yard dash),” said Nabers, a consensus first-team All-American last season when he led the nation in receiving yards per game (120.7). “I haven’t run it since high school. I started working on it two weeks ago.
“I’d seen a lot of things in the media saying that I ran 4.5, 4.6 (in the 40). I wanted to come here and showcase I’m not even close to that, to showcase my dog mentality.”
LSU head coach Brian Kelly, who was like a proud parent watching Wednesday’s proceedings, said Nabers’ 40 time and vertical number proves what makes him so great.
“It validates what you see on film and that it’s backed up by great physical traits,” Kelly said of Nabers. “What it does more than anything else is that it shows he can separate with the ball in his hands, he can be explosive after the catch. Now it comes down to ‘who is the kind of guy who you want to get the ball in their hands’. I don’t think there’s a better receiver in the country.”
Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback and possible No. 1 overall draft pick Jayden Daniels and likely top 15 draft choice wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. chose not to test in any of the six standard measurables (40-yard dash, 20-yard shuttle, 3-cone, vertical jump, broad jump and bench press.
Thomas tested at the NFL combine where he ran a 4.33 40, had 11 bench reps at 225 pounds and a 38½ inch vertical and leapt 10 feet, 6 inches in the standing broad jump.
He shined, as did Daniels and Nabers along with wide receiver/return specialist Greg Clayton and current Tigers wide receiver Kyren Lacy and tight Mason Taylor participated in a 58-play scripted passing drill.
Daniels completed all but a handful of passes, most of incompletions on deep throws of which he also completed several.
“The main thing I was trying to show was my consistency in the pocket,” Daniels said, “my footwork moving off the platform and getting my feet back under me, progressions coming back to the third read and putting the deep ball out there to showcase my guys (Nabers and Thomas Jr.) speed.”
Daniels is projected to be drafted No. 1 overall by the Chicago Bears or No. 2 by the Washington Commanders.
“It’s the same vibe for everybody,” said Daniels of any team wanting to draft him. “Who’s going to invest in me, who’s going believe in me – kind of LSU did – on and off the field.
“It will be a blessing wherever I go, just hearing my name called.”
If drafted No. 1 by the Bears, Daniels is already slotted to sign a 4-year deal (with a team option for a fifth year) for a projected $38.5 million with a $24.8 million signing bonus. If drafted No. 2 by the Commanders, the length of the contract is the same, but he’ll be paid a projected $36.8 million with a $23.8 million signing bonus.
Seven players participating in LSU’s Pro Day – Daniels, Nabers, Thomas Jr., center Charles Turner and defensive linemen Maason Smith, Mehki Wingo and Jordan Jefferson – have consistently shown up in seven-round mock drafts.
One player not projected to be drafted – linebacker Omar Speights – had a solid showing on Tuesday. He led all Tigers in the bench press with 30 reps, ran a 4.62 40 and had a 31½-inch vertical and a 10-foot standing broad jump.
Contact Ron at ronhigginsmedia@gmail.com
