According to the website NFL Draft Diamonds, several NFL hopefuls, including some who played on the Jackson State football team, were unable to complete workouts in front of scouts after reportedly failing to perform well during the 40-yard dash.
Jackson State University, the prestigious black college, turned their players away after they did not perform a fast enough forty.
The weather was 28 degrees and after all the players ran their forty only one player was able to perform drills in front of the scouts. Get this, the player was not even from Jackson State.
Linebacker Ariane McCree and wide receiver Tobias Singleton were scheduled to participate in the workout on Thursday before being dismissed after the 40-yard dash.
Clarion-Ledger Jackson State beat writer Ros Dumalo, who chronicled pro day activities, published a few tweets that seemed to corroborate the NFL Draft Diamonds account.
Unofficial 40s: Ariane McCree 4.84, Tobias Singleton 4.72, Antonio Sutton 4.6. #jsu #proday
— Ros Dumlao (@rosdumlao) March 5, 2015
After the 40, NFL scout called together all the prospects. Said everyone was cut except one, Stephanio McNair. #proday
— Ros Dumlao (@rosdumlao) March 5, 2015
Following the pro day, NFL Draft Diamonds seemed to point the finger at school and chided the entire process in a series of tweets.
I am willing to put them on blast, yes it was a Black College, the school today was @JacksonStateU Pretty sad #AlreadyFacingAdversity
— NFL Draft Diamonds (@DraftDiamonds) March 6, 2015
It is very difficult to come from a black school and make it to the Pros. But Walter Payton’s school? Really?
— NFL Draft Diamonds (@DraftDiamonds) March 6, 2015
Regardless of talent, you have to do better than that. Jackson State is a bery prestigous school. Those kids deserve better
— NFL Draft Diamonds (@DraftDiamonds) March 6, 2015
To make things worse, after the Jackson State pro day, NFL scouts went into a room and ate boxed lunches #JSU
— NFL Draft Diamonds (@DraftDiamonds) March 6, 2015
People are trying to say we are stiring things up w/ #JSU but I am not stiring things up Im defending their players. Something they didnt do
— NFL Draft Diamonds (@DraftDiamonds) March 6, 2015
It seems to be an unfortunate break for players to be told their NFL dreams were dead on arrival after the 40, but the these athletes have learned that professional sports can be cut-throat, unforgiving business.
“They were cutting people after the 40, so I guess if your time wasn’t perfect, they were cutting you,” Singleton told the Clarion-Ledger.
“I was looking forward to doing everything. I thought it was going to be a regular pro day.”
“It’s a business,” said Singleton, who clocked an unofficial best 4.6 and had several of his family members attend. “You can’t go into every situation looking for something to be good. It’s an eye-opener. Now I know what I have to do.”
