With the NFL Draft a month away, the Cincinnati Bearcats held a Pro Day for their players out of eligibility and looking to advance to the pro game on Tuesday, March 24.
Four players have already been on display at the NFL Combine: Dontay Corleone, Jake Golday, Joe Royer and Jeff Caldwell. Corleone and Royer have met with the Cincinnati Bengals with Golday soon to do the same.
NFL Draft Analyst Todd McShay, who was already high on tight end Royer a year ago, was mesmerized by receiver Caldwell, declaring the 6-foot-5 leaper “won the Combine.”
At the Sheakley Indoor Performance Facility on Tuesday, numerous NFL scouts and coaches were on hand, including Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor, Director of Player Personnel Duke Tobin and Chief of Staff Doug Rosfeld, a former UC offensive lineman.
UC Bearcats Pro Day provides opportunity for others to shine
While Corleone and Royer were present, they did not work out. Instead, they joined current and former Bearcats to watch a morning of lifting, running, jumping, catching and hopefully impressing those with stopwatches and legal pads.
Here are some of the notable performances of the 17 Bearcats who were on display
Wide receiver Cyrus Allen
Allen may have been the all-star of the day, running crisp routes and clocking a 4.47 40-yard dash. The Big 12 leader in touchdown receptions with 13 was invited to the Senior Bowl, but not the NFL Combine.
With a chip firmly on his shoulder, he also had an 11-foot broad jump and a vertical leap of 36 inches.
UC head coach Scott Satterfield thought Allen had the best morning of the UC participants.
“To me, he got snubbed not being able to go to the Combine,” Satterfield said. “He ran in the 4.4s, which was huge; he’s up to 186 pounds. I thought he tested really well. His on the field work was outstanding, the route-running and catching the football. More than anybody, he was the player everybody was anticipating to see how well he could run. His production showed on the field.”
Wide receiver Jeff Caldwell
The lanky one by way of Louisville and Lindenwood, participated in some routes with Allen, showing his reach and leaping ability. Throwing to the UC receivers was new quarterback JC French IV, so he got valuable time in a Pro Day situation along with the pass catchers.
“He took advantage of this opportunity,” Satterfield said of French. “I thought he threw the ball really, really well. He had a good week of practice the last week (ending March 13). He was 15-for-15 in 11-on-11 drills. Hard to get any better than that.”
Is UC linebacker Jake Golday potentially an early round pick?
“He came here from Central Arkansas (in 2024) an unknown guy,” Satterfield said. “Nobody knew about him. Now he’s probably worked himself into a second-round draft pick. What I appreciate about our guys is the character they have, the way they approach every single day, how hard they work. A guy like Jake will continue to develop like that.”
Golday did put in some work in the UC Pro Day, knocking out 22 reps on the bench press, two shy of his personal record of 24. The 6-foot-4, 240-pounder ran a 4.62 40, broad-jumped 10’5″ and hit 39″ on his vertical.
Afterward, he talked about fulfilling his lifelong dream of playing in the NFL.
“All glory to God, I’ve been working my tail off for this moment,” Golday said.
Golday has had an informal meeting with the Bengals and has an upcoming official gathering on the schedule. He’s also had meetings and interviews with most every team in the league. At the Combine in Indianapolis and in the Sheakley Center, Golday has passed the eye test.
“This was what I dreamed of doing my entire life, doing these drills, competing at the Combine, competing at my Pro Day and getting the opportunity to impress these scouts and amazing football coaches,” Golday said.
He will spend the NFL Draft in his hometown of Jackson, Tennessee, just north of Memphis. Linebackers coach Cort Braswell will join him.
“Close family and Coach Bras are coming to the draft night,” he said. “He’s done a lot for me. If you look at me from 2024 to 2025, I’ve grown as a football player, huge amounts and that’s on account of Coach Bras.”
Golday’s résumé shows the value of hard work. Like Caldwell, he started at the FCS level with Central Arkansas, but before GM Zach Grant’s personnel wizards plucked him to be a Bearcat. He feels the ceiling is high and he’s ready for duty next month.
“They’re going to get a high-energy guy with a big motor who will come in the locker room every day, be super-consistent and be the same guy every day,” Golday said of what he offers NFL teams. “I’m going to contribute any way possible, special teams, linebacker. You tell me to play nose guard? Whatever you ask me, I’m going to do.”
You may ask, who is Patrick Gurd?
With a national championship ring from Ohio State, Gurd came to UC for a final senior fling and was a good friend and roommate with Royer. Satterfield said he believes the 6-foot-4, 250-pound Gurd, who had a vertical leap of 37.5″ can help someone.
“Pat Gurd was a walk-on at Ohio State,” Satterfield said. “He had an excellent day today. With his size, speed and tenacity, he loves football; he loves to practice. He’ll be in a camp. He’ll go out and maybe he makes it and maybe he doesn’t, but he’ll have a great opportunity because of special teams and that utility fullback-type guy that some teams like.”
Satterfield said he feels certain that some Bearcats who don’t get drafted will make NFL rosters.
UC former captain, center Gavin Gerhardt
The veteran center from Xenia has been through meetings and has workouts with several teams and just had a detailed visit with the Vikings.
“Gavin Gerhardt brings so many intangibles,” Satterfield said. “He has such great leadership. He’ll have value for somebody’s team.”
What about Corleone, Royer not working out?
“Everybody’s got their reasons, whether it be a nagging injury or other reasons,” Satterfield said. “Those guys have shown what they can do on film. You’ve got to go back and watch that. Once they become ready to perform, you know what you’re going to get.”
Value of Sheakley Indoor Performance Facility
Satterfield said many of the players have been back and used the weight room, including several who “opted out” of the AutoZone Liberty Bowl, who were on hand. Running back Tawee Walker and defensive backs Tre Gola-Callard, Xavier Williams and Logan Wilson were all back after their December absences.
Walker did 24 reps on the bench press, Williams had a 38.5″ vertical leap and McDoom went zoom on the 40 at 4.4 seconds.
As an aside, it was the first time Bengals head coach Zac Taylor had been in the new facility. When he was UC offensive coordinator under Tommy Tuberville in 2016, the area still had the temporary “bubble”.
“He was blown away by it, as everybody else is,” Satterfield said of Taylor’s reaction. “It’s very appealing to the eye, but the functionality of this building is what makes it so great.”
Last year’s Pro Day was in Arlington, Texas, with other Big 12 teams. Satterfield was happy to be hosting again this year. Not only does it benefit the former players, but he likes that current players can see the process.
How many Cincinnati Bearcats will be drafted?
“I think for sure, three,” Satterfield said. “Maybe four. Maybe five. A lot of it depends on how it all falls out. I know several teams are having conversations with guys later on. There’s still a lot of interest in a lot of our guys.”
Satterfield said that all of last fall, there were NFL scouts at practices.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati Bearcats hosts Pro Day in preparation for NFL Draft
Reporting by Scott Springer, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
