For years, DeMarcus Walker has been told to trust in the process. From his days at Sandalwood High School to his four years on the campus at Florida State, Walker has been learning the “process” of becoming one of the best defensive ends in the country. Walker’s chance to once again show the NFL scouts and the media on Tuesday at FSU’s Pro Day proved to be one that had him smiling in the end.
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“I am working hard. I am enjoying this.”
And he should, Walker was impressive, proving he could move and be quick on his feet. Overall, his workout was impressive on Tuesday.
“Their biggest question was ‘We want to see him move’ with their own eyes. I came in here with a chip on my shoulder. I was ready to work.”
Walker went to work at the Florida State Pro Day and turned in a very solid performance. It’s a performance that he feels will really help him come draft day. There has been some talk where he fits in NFL schemes, and where teams would use him on the line. He told those in attendance it did not matter, that he was ready to play.
I came in here with my goals and I achieved everything except for one thing. I’m very proud of myself.”
The NFL personnel in attendance agreed with him. One NFL scout that came specifically to watch Walker work out raved about his performance.
The 6-foot-4, 280-pound defensive lineman ran a 4.76 unofficial 40-yard dash with a 9-foot-7 broad jump. He also put up 20 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press, which was two more than he did at the combine.
Walker hopes a senior season at FSU where he registered 16.5 sacks will stick in the minds of NFL personnel. He finished his career with 28.5 sacks which are third all-time in school history.
Walker said he is not is prepared wherever he is drafted and he is not getting his hopes up in terms of which round he hears his name called.
“I just control what I can control,” he explained.
Walker’s performance wasn’t the only one that had scouts and media talking. Dalvin Cook, the Seminoles all-time leading rusher, was clocked in the low 4.5s on his first attempt, and the mid-4.4s on his second, which should help him as a top 20 prospect in this year’s Draft. Cook did not have a standout performance at the NFL Combine and used Tuesday to show what he could do on a football field at the Moore Athletic Center.
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“First off, I left everything out there,” he explained.
Cook’s combine workout was less than stellar. For example, he tested in the top 10 among running backs in only one event (bench press, 22 reps). Similarly, his combine vertical jump of 30.5 inches didn’t even put him in the top 20. Consequently, this solidified him as the second-best runner on draft boards, a slot below Leonard Fournette of LSU.
Cook was candid in the fact he has been contacted by many NFL teams about being drafted, but would not tell anyone which teams have reached out to him. Although, he did say playing in Tampa Bay with former FSU star Jameis Winston would be “something special.”
“Long-time brother. Great bond. Jameis is a player that I look up to as a role model,” Cook said. “Being in the backfield with him, it would be something special. I feel like we started to grow a bond at Florida State, so it would be something special.”
Many mocks have Cook as high as the fourth pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Also, the Kansas City Chiefs are showing interest at #27. The Buccaneers, Philadelphia Eagles and Indianapolis Colts also have an interest in Cook.