Orange Impress at 2016 Pro Day

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – With representatives from 24 professional football teams, including 22 NFL franchises, in attendance, seven former Orange players showcased their talents at Syracuse's annual Pro Day inside the Ensley Athletic Center Wednesday, March 23.

Punter Riley Dixon, offensive linemen Rob Trudo and Ivan Foy, defensive end Ron Thompson, linebacker Oliver Vigille, quarterback Terrel Hunt and cornerback Julian Whigham went through a series of tests and position-specific drills. Scouts also had the opportunity to watch film and meet with Assistant AD for Athletic Performance William Hicks and Head Athletic Trainer for Football Denny Kellington.

Hicks, who has been organizing pro workouts since the mid-1980s, said the Orange showed well.

"I thought we had a very good day today," Hicks said. "Ron did better than he did at the [NFL] Combine in some of the activities. Terrel showcased all the different throws. There was a little bit of a question on Rob Trudo's athleticism. They wanted to see him move a little bit better and he did very well with that today. Julian Whigham did well for himself by testing very, very well."

Trudo was Syracuse's top performer on the bench press, completing 29 repetitions of 225 pounds. That number would have tied for 10th among offensive linemen at last month's NFL Scouting Combine.

"I expected more," Trudo said. "But it wasn't bad. I have good film as far as my playing goes and hopefully I answered some of the questions about my athleticism today."

Whigham recorded the top results of any of the participants in both the vertical jump (37 inches) and broad jump (10.8 inches). Whigham's performance in the broad jump would have ranked fourth among corners at the Combine and his height in the vertical jump would have tied for eighth.

For Hunt, Pro Day provided an opportunity to prove to scouts he's making progress in his rehab after a season-ending Achilles injury against Rhode Island in the first game of 2015. Hunt did not participate in agility drills, but did 19 repetitions on the bench press and threw approximately 30-35 passes to receivers running a variety of routes.

"There was a little anxiety at the beginning," Hunt said. "I couldn't wait to get out there again and just throw. But seeing all my guys [receivers] doing what they love to do, I got better as I went along and felt more comfortable."

One of the players Hunt was throwing to was Thompson, who is projected as a possible late-round pick at defensive end. However, teams are also evaluating him as a tight end. Thompson was a four-star prospect at the latter position coming out of Michigan's Southfield High School before transforming himself into an All-ACC edge rusher.

"It was new," Thompson said of catching passes again. "I haven't done it in three years, but once I caught the first one I said 'Yeah, I can get back in the groove again.'"

Now that Pro Day is behind them, many of Wednesday's participants will go about scheduling private workouts with teams leading up to the NFL Draft, which begins on April 28.

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Syracuse University Athletics

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Players Mentioned

Riley Dixon

Ivan Foy

Terrel Hunt

Ron Thompson

Rob Trudo

Oliver Vigille

Julian Whigham

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