Five Lumberjacks Workout during SFA’s 2018 Pro Day Tuesday Afternoon
3/27/2018 7:40:00 PM | Football
Four Lumberjack seniors and former SFA great Gus Johnson worked out in front of NFL scouts Monday inside Homer Bryce Stadium
NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Homer Bryce Stadium served as the setting for Stephen F. Austin football's 2018 Pro Day Tuesday afternoon as four Lumberjack seniors and former SFA great Gus Johnson participated in workouts in front of National Football League personnel. Defensive end John Franklin, offensive lineman Josh Keith, running back Kijana Amous and wide receiver Trae Hart, in addition to the Lumberjacks' all-team leading rusher Johnson, took part in the one-day workout organized by the NFL's Houston Texans.
Including Houston, who had two members in attendance, a total of nine NFL teams and 10 scouts were in Nacogdoches Tuesday afternoon to test and observe some of SFA's best playmakers. Joining the Texans were team members from the Oakland Raiders, Green Bay Packers, New England Patriots, Cleveland Browns, Seattle Seahawks, Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions, New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers.
With Franklin drawing the most attention from NFL scouts due to his standout performances at the NFL Scouting Combine earlier this month and the National Football League Players' Association Collegiate Bowl in January, all five completed designated workouts.
After posting top-10 marks among all defensive lineman at the NFL Combine in five different workouts, Franklin only participated in individual drills during Tuesday's pro-day workout. The 6-foot-4, 284-pound defensive lineman was worked out by several of the NFL teams in attendance, completing drills designated for players at his position.
Franklin continues to see his NFL Draft stock rise on multiple draft boards after a strong showing inside Lucas Oil Stadium back on March 4. While at the NFL Combine, Franklin ran the 40-yard dash in 4.75 seconds, fifth-fastest among defensive lineman at the event, 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 was yet another opportunity for him to showcase his talent in front of the league's teams. He was the only Southland Conference football player to participate in the NFL Combine and led Mike Martz' National team to a 23-0 rout over the American squad at the 2018 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl inside the historic Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, California on Jan. 20. The Greenville, Texas (Greenville H.S.), native 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.
Amous, SFA's leading rusher in 2017 who racked up the most all-purpose yards by a Lumberjack in a single season since Johnson in 2014, participated in all on-field workouts and posted several impressive marks. He was the second-fastest SFA player on the day with a 4.63 40-yard dash time and claimed the highest vertical jump at 29 inches. In the three-cone drill, Amous notched a 7.26 time and bench pressed 225 pounds a total of 16 times.
The Mansfield, Texas (Legacy H.S.), native accumulated 983 total yards for the 'Jacks in 2017 with 639 rushing yards, 287 receiving yards and 57 kickoff return yards. He rushed for seven touchdowns on the year to lead the SFA in scoring among non-kickers.
Keith, a native of Katy, Texas (Houston Christian), took on pro day in front of NFL team personnel Tuesday, shining in the 40-yard dash (5.47), vertical jump (24.5 inches) and 225-pound bench press (15 reps). An All-Southland Second Team selection in 2016 and a preseason All-Southland pick in 2017, Keith made 17 starts as a Lumberjack primarily at left tackle and played in 21 total games over the last two seasons.
A native of Mesquite, Texas (First Baptist Academy), Hart set the pace for the 40-yard dash, running it in a 4.62 as the fastest player at SFA's Pro Day. He also had an impressive vertical jump of 28 inches. An All-Southland Second Team selection as a punt returner in 2016, Hart finished his Lumberjack career with 1,108 total all-purpose yards in 20 games played. He ranked seventh nationally and was first in the Southland his junior year with 12.4 yards per punt return. Across his two seasons at SFA, Hart averaged 9.33 yards per return to finish ninth in program history in career punt return average.
Johnson, the Lumberjacks' last NFL Draft participant prior to Franklin, also completed all on-field workouts during Tuesday's pro day. For Johnson it was his second SFA Pro Day after working out in front of NFL scouts following the 2014 season. During his time in a purple and white jersey, Johnson set sever school records including career rushing yards (3,907), season rushing yards (1,683, 2014), career rushing touchdowns (51), season rushing touchdowns (23, 2014) and season scoring (138 points).
Following his immaculate career in Nacogdoches, Johnson signed as an undrafted free agent with the Oakland Raiders before joining the Dallas Cowboys in 2015. From there, he spent time with the Atlanta Falcons, San Diego Chargers and most recently the Pittsburgh Steelers last spring.
Franklin is seeking to become the first NFL Draft pick for SFA in seven years. Former All-American linebacker Jabara Williams was taken 228th in the seventh round of the 2011 NFL Draft, becoming the 32nd draft pick for the 'Jacks in program history.
In addition to SFA's players, Houston Baptist linebacker Garrett Dolan participated in pro-day workouts Tuesday inside Homer Bryce.
Spring practice for the 'Jacks got underway Monday night and continued with practice two Tuesday afternoon. SFA hosts a total of 15 total spring football sessions, including a pair of scrimmages Saturday, April 7 and Saturday, April 14, and culminating with the annual Purple and White Spring Game scheduled for Saturday, April 21 at 6 p.m.
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-
Including Houston, who had two members in attendance, a total of nine NFL teams and 10 scouts were in Nacogdoches Tuesday afternoon to test and observe some of SFA's best playmakers. Joining the Texans were team members from the Oakland Raiders, Green Bay Packers, New England Patriots, Cleveland Browns, Seattle Seahawks, Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions, New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers.
With Franklin drawing the most attention from NFL scouts due to his standout performances at the NFL Scouting Combine earlier this month and the National Football League Players' Association Collegiate Bowl in January, all five completed designated workouts.
After posting top-10 marks among all defensive lineman at the NFL Combine in five different workouts, Franklin only participated in individual drills during Tuesday's pro-day workout. The 6-foot-4, 284-pound defensive lineman was worked out by several of the NFL teams in attendance, completing drills designated for players at his position.
Franklin continues to see his NFL Draft stock rise on multiple draft boards after a strong showing inside Lucas Oil Stadium back on March 4. While at the NFL Combine, Franklin ran the 40-yard dash in 4.75 seconds, fifth-fastest among defensive lineman at the event, 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 was yet another opportunity for him to showcase his talent in front of the league's teams. He was the only Southland Conference football player to participate in the NFL Combine and led Mike Martz' National team to a 23-0 rout over the American squad at the 2018 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl inside the historic Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, California on Jan. 20. The Greenville, Texas (Greenville H.S.), native 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.
Amous, SFA's leading rusher in 2017 who racked up the most all-purpose yards by a Lumberjack in a single season since Johnson in 2014, participated in all on-field workouts and posted several impressive marks. He was the second-fastest SFA player on the day with a 4.63 40-yard dash time and claimed the highest vertical jump at 29 inches. In the three-cone drill, Amous notched a 7.26 time and bench pressed 225 pounds a total of 16 times.
The Mansfield, Texas (Legacy H.S.), native accumulated 983 total yards for the 'Jacks in 2017 with 639 rushing yards, 287 receiving yards and 57 kickoff return yards. He rushed for seven touchdowns on the year to lead the SFA in scoring among non-kickers.
Keith, a native of Katy, Texas (Houston Christian), took on pro day in front of NFL team personnel Tuesday, shining in the 40-yard dash (5.47), vertical jump (24.5 inches) and 225-pound bench press (15 reps). An All-Southland Second Team selection in 2016 and a preseason All-Southland pick in 2017, Keith made 17 starts as a Lumberjack primarily at left tackle and played in 21 total games over the last two seasons.
A native of Mesquite, Texas (First Baptist Academy), Hart set the pace for the 40-yard dash, running it in a 4.62 as the fastest player at SFA's Pro Day. He also had an impressive vertical jump of 28 inches. An All-Southland Second Team selection as a punt returner in 2016, Hart finished his Lumberjack career with 1,108 total all-purpose yards in 20 games played. He ranked seventh nationally and was first in the Southland his junior year with 12.4 yards per punt return. Across his two seasons at SFA, Hart averaged 9.33 yards per return to finish ninth in program history in career punt return average.
Johnson, the Lumberjacks' last NFL Draft participant prior to Franklin, also completed all on-field workouts during Tuesday's pro day. For Johnson it was his second SFA Pro Day after working out in front of NFL scouts following the 2014 season. During his time in a purple and white jersey, Johnson set sever school records including career rushing yards (3,907), season rushing yards (1,683, 2014), career rushing touchdowns (51), season rushing touchdowns (23, 2014) and season scoring (138 points).
Following his immaculate career in Nacogdoches, Johnson signed as an undrafted free agent with the Oakland Raiders before joining the Dallas Cowboys in 2015. From there, he spent time with the Atlanta Falcons, San Diego Chargers and most recently the Pittsburgh Steelers last spring.
Franklin is seeking to become the first NFL Draft pick for SFA in seven years. Former All-American linebacker Jabara Williams was taken 228th in the seventh round of the 2011 NFL Draft, becoming the 32nd draft pick for the 'Jacks in program history.
In addition to SFA's players, Houston Baptist linebacker Garrett Dolan participated in pro-day workouts Tuesday inside Homer Bryce.
Spring practice for the 'Jacks got underway Monday night and continued with practice two Tuesday afternoon. SFA hosts a total of 15 total spring football sessions, including a pair of scrimmages Saturday, April 7 and Saturday, April 14, and culminating with the annual Purple and White Spring Game scheduled for Saturday, April 21 at 6 p.m.
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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