Date Set for SFA Football’s 2018 Pro Day
3/13/2018 2:18:00 PM | Football
Four Lumberjack seniors to participate in SFA’s 2018 Pro Day on Tuesday, March 27, inside Home Bryce Stadium
NACOGDOCHES, Texas – The Stephen F. Austin football program has announced the date for its 2018 Pro Day to be held Tuesday, March 27 at 1:30 p.m. CT inside Homer Bryce Stadium on the campus of SFA. Organized by the National Football League's Houston Texans, a total of four Lumberjack seniors will take part in the one-day workout with NFL team scouts in attendance, including defensive end John Franklin, offensive lineman Josh Keith, running back Kijana Amous and wide receiver Trae Hart.
Franklin, a native of Greenville, Texas (Greenville H.S.), is a projected pick in the 2018 NFL Draft and continues to see his draft stock rise on multiple draft boards after a standout performance at the NFL Scouting Combine. At Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis earlier this month, Franklin posted top-10 marks among all defensive lineman at the NFL Combine in five different workouts. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.75 seconds, fifth-fastest among defensive lineman at the prestigious pre-draft combine, tied for sixth in the 20-yard shuttle run (4.48 seconds), was seventh in the vertical jump (33 inches), tied for eighth in the broad jump (113 inches) and was ninth in the three-cone drill (7.36 seconds).
After going 0-40 as a prep player, Franklin is continuing to pursue his dream of playing in the NFL and SFA's Pro Day is another great opportunity for him to showcase his talent in front of the league's teams. The only Southland Conference football player to participate in the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine, Franklin played in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl at the historic Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, California, back in January and led Mike Martz' National team to a 23-0 rout over the American squad. The 6-foot-4, 283-pound defensive end posted a team-high tying seven total tackles in the college all-star game, including a tackle for loss, and had a pass breakup and a quarterback hurry.
A three-time All-Southland honoree, including claiming All-Southland Second Team accolades this past fall, Franklin finished out his Lumberjack career as one of SFA's top performers on the defensive line all-time. He led the Lumberjacks' defensive front in his final season suiting up for the Purple and White, posting a team-best 13.5 tackles for loss for negative 46 yards, including dishing out 3.5 sacks for a loss of 24 yards. In league play, Franklin's 11.5 tackles for loss were fifth-most in the conference as he tied for sixth in tackles for loss per game (1.28). Ranked 42nd nationally in tackles for loss per game (1.2) for the entire season, Franklin finished with the fifth-most total tackles (55) on the team, including 27 solo stops.
Prior to the 2017 season, Franklin was tabbed as the 31st most important player in Texas by Dave Campbell's Texas Football. Franklin completed his Lumberjack career fifth on SFA's all-time career tackles for loss list with 37.5 over the past four seasons, while finishing ninth in program history in all-time career sacks (17.5). He compiled 130 total tackles across the last four seasons, including making 70 solo stops, forced five fumbles and had 22 quarterback hurries.
Keith, a native of Katy, Texas (Houston Christian), was an All-Southland Second Team selection in 2016 and a preseason All-Southland pick in 2017. After transferring into Nacogdoches from Blinn Community College, Keith made 17 starts as a Lumberjack primarily at left tackle and played in 21 total games over the last two season. He was the highest rated offensive lineman for SFA heading into his senior year.
A native of Mansfield, Texas (Legacy H.S.), Amous racked up the most all-purpose yards by a Lumberjack in a single season since 2014. He accumulated 983 total yards in 2017 as SFA's lead rusher with 639 of those coming on the ground. Amous had an additional 287 yards receiving and 57 yards off of three kickoff returns. He rushed for seven touchdowns on the year to lead the 'Jacks in scoring among non-kickers. Starting all 11 games as a senior this past season, Amous completed his career in the purple and white with 1,357 total all-purpose yards in 21 games played. Prior to his time in Nacogdoches, Amous spent two seasons at Navarro College where he rushed for 1,140 yards and 12 touchdowns during his junior college career.
Hart, a native of Mesquite, Texas (First Baptist Academy), was an All-Southland Second Team selection as a punt returner in 2016 and was tabbed as both a preseason All-Southland First Team punt returner and Second Team all-purpose player in 2017. Finishing his Lumberjack career with 1,108 total all-purpose yards in 20 games played, Hart ranked seventh nationally and first in the Southland his junior year with 12.4 yards per punt return. Across his two seasons at SFA, Hart reeled in 74 catches for 869 yards and scored three touchdowns. He collected 224 yards off of 24 punt returns over the last two season, averaging 9.33 yards per return and scoring on a 75-yard punt return against West Alabama in 2016. Prior to his time in Texas' oldest town, Hart spent two seasons at the Big Ten Conference's Purdue where he appeared in 18 games and made four starts for the Boilermakers. Claiming a reception of 31 yards against nationally-ranked Wisconsin, he registered 16 catches for 111 yards at the FBS level.
In addition to the Lumberjacks' four seniors, Houston Baptist linebacker Garrett Dolan and East Texas Baptist University linebacker CJ Johnson will also be participating in SFA's Pro Day.
Spring practice for SFA gets underway Monday, March 26 and will feature 15 total dates, including two scrimmages held Saturday, April 7 and Saturday, April 14. The first scrimmage will take place at Nacogdoches High School while the second will be held inside Homer Bryce Stadium, both are scheduled for 2 p.m. The Lumberjacks' annual spring game is set for April 21 at 6 p.m. as each spring practice will start at 3:50 p.m. in Homer Bryce.
Practice and scrimmage times are subject to change due to weather. Fans should call (936) 468-3502 for all weather-related schedule changes and follow Lumberjack football on social media, via Twitter (@SFA_Football), Facebook (@SFAFootball) and Instagram (@sfa_football).
SFA opens up its 2018 fall campaign Saturday, Sept. 1 with a trip to SEC mainstay Mississippi State, before hosting NCAA Division II Tarleton State for its home opener Saturday, Sept. 8.
Tickets for the 2018 football season go on sale Monday, April 2.
Stay tuned to SFAJacks.com, as well as SFA's social media platforms, for complete coverage of Lumberjack football throughout the offseason this spring.
-SFA-
Franklin, a native of Greenville, Texas (Greenville H.S.), is a projected pick in the 2018 NFL Draft and continues to see his draft stock rise on multiple draft boards after a standout performance at the NFL Scouting Combine. At Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis earlier this month, Franklin posted top-10 marks among all defensive lineman at the NFL Combine in five different workouts. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.75 seconds, fifth-fastest among defensive lineman at the prestigious pre-draft combine, tied for sixth in the 20-yard shuttle run (4.48 seconds), was seventh in the vertical jump (33 inches), tied for eighth in the broad jump (113 inches) and was ninth in the three-cone drill (7.36 seconds).
After going 0-40 as a prep player, Franklin is continuing to pursue his dream of playing in the NFL and SFA's Pro Day is another great opportunity for him to showcase his talent in front of the league's teams. The only Southland Conference football player to participate in the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine, Franklin played in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl at the historic Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, California, back in January and led Mike Martz' National team to a 23-0 rout over the American squad. The 6-foot-4, 283-pound defensive end posted a team-high tying seven total tackles in the college all-star game, including a tackle for loss, and had a pass breakup and a quarterback hurry.
A three-time All-Southland honoree, including claiming All-Southland Second Team accolades this past fall, Franklin finished out his Lumberjack career as one of SFA's top performers on the defensive line all-time. He led the Lumberjacks' defensive front in his final season suiting up for the Purple and White, posting a team-best 13.5 tackles for loss for negative 46 yards, including dishing out 3.5 sacks for a loss of 24 yards. In league play, Franklin's 11.5 tackles for loss were fifth-most in the conference as he tied for sixth in tackles for loss per game (1.28). Ranked 42nd nationally in tackles for loss per game (1.2) for the entire season, Franklin finished with the fifth-most total tackles (55) on the team, including 27 solo stops.
Prior to the 2017 season, Franklin was tabbed as the 31st most important player in Texas by Dave Campbell's Texas Football. Franklin completed his Lumberjack career fifth on SFA's all-time career tackles for loss list with 37.5 over the past four seasons, while finishing ninth in program history in all-time career sacks (17.5). He compiled 130 total tackles across the last four seasons, including making 70 solo stops, forced five fumbles and had 22 quarterback hurries.
Keith, a native of Katy, Texas (Houston Christian), was an All-Southland Second Team selection in 2016 and a preseason All-Southland pick in 2017. After transferring into Nacogdoches from Blinn Community College, Keith made 17 starts as a Lumberjack primarily at left tackle and played in 21 total games over the last two season. He was the highest rated offensive lineman for SFA heading into his senior year.
A native of Mansfield, Texas (Legacy H.S.), Amous racked up the most all-purpose yards by a Lumberjack in a single season since 2014. He accumulated 983 total yards in 2017 as SFA's lead rusher with 639 of those coming on the ground. Amous had an additional 287 yards receiving and 57 yards off of three kickoff returns. He rushed for seven touchdowns on the year to lead the 'Jacks in scoring among non-kickers. Starting all 11 games as a senior this past season, Amous completed his career in the purple and white with 1,357 total all-purpose yards in 21 games played. Prior to his time in Nacogdoches, Amous spent two seasons at Navarro College where he rushed for 1,140 yards and 12 touchdowns during his junior college career.
Hart, a native of Mesquite, Texas (First Baptist Academy), was an All-Southland Second Team selection as a punt returner in 2016 and was tabbed as both a preseason All-Southland First Team punt returner and Second Team all-purpose player in 2017. Finishing his Lumberjack career with 1,108 total all-purpose yards in 20 games played, Hart ranked seventh nationally and first in the Southland his junior year with 12.4 yards per punt return. Across his two seasons at SFA, Hart reeled in 74 catches for 869 yards and scored three touchdowns. He collected 224 yards off of 24 punt returns over the last two season, averaging 9.33 yards per return and scoring on a 75-yard punt return against West Alabama in 2016. Prior to his time in Texas' oldest town, Hart spent two seasons at the Big Ten Conference's Purdue where he appeared in 18 games and made four starts for the Boilermakers. Claiming a reception of 31 yards against nationally-ranked Wisconsin, he registered 16 catches for 111 yards at the FBS level.
In addition to the Lumberjacks' four seniors, Houston Baptist linebacker Garrett Dolan and East Texas Baptist University linebacker CJ Johnson will also be participating in SFA's Pro Day.
Spring practice for SFA gets underway Monday, March 26 and will feature 15 total dates, including two scrimmages held Saturday, April 7 and Saturday, April 14. The first scrimmage will take place at Nacogdoches High School while the second will be held inside Homer Bryce Stadium, both are scheduled for 2 p.m. The Lumberjacks' annual spring game is set for April 21 at 6 p.m. as each spring practice will start at 3:50 p.m. in Homer Bryce.
Practice and scrimmage times are subject to change due to weather. Fans should call (936) 468-3502 for all weather-related schedule changes and follow Lumberjack football on social media, via Twitter (@SFA_Football), Facebook (@SFAFootball) and Instagram (@sfa_football).
SFA opens up its 2018 fall campaign Saturday, Sept. 1 with a trip to SEC mainstay Mississippi State, before hosting NCAA Division II Tarleton State for its home opener Saturday, Sept. 8.
Tickets for the 2018 football season go on sale Monday, April 2.
Stay tuned to SFAJacks.com, as well as SFA's social media platforms, for complete coverage of Lumberjack football throughout the offseason this spring.
-SFA-
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