Judgment day for Rutgers NFLhopefuls at Pro Day
Rice, Zuttah attract the most attention at annual event
BY DAN NEWMAN Sports Editor
Anybody who has followed Rutgers football over the past three seasons knows that Ray Rice will be among the first running backs selected in the NFLDraft later this month.

PHOTOS BY JEFF GRANIT staff Above: Rutgers linebacker Brandon Renkart participates in the 40-yard dash at the school's Pro Day onMarch 26. Left: Running back Ray Rice goes through a drill at event. In all, 16 current and former Scarlet Knights players were involved. Players went through drills such as the 40-yard dash, vertical jump, 60-yard shuttle run and standing broad jump. Besides Rice, offensive linemen Jeremy Zuttah and Mike Fladell are expected to be among those selected in the April 26-27 NFLDraft. Other playersmay have opportunities to be picked up as free agents.

But what some may not realize is that there are a slew of other draft hopefuls on the team, many of whom showed scouts what they can bring to a team at Rutgers Pro Day last Wednesday.

Among the Scarlet Knights assembled were offensive linemenMike Fladell and J.P. Stevens High School graduate Jeremy Zuttah, both of whom expect to hear their names called at some point during the twoday draft. For Zuttah, the ProDay eventwas an opportunity to show his stuff in front of about 30 NFLscouts from 20 teams.

"There were a ton of scouts and general managers in Indianapolis [at the leaguesponsored NFLcombine in February], but this was nice because I was in familiar surroundings today, in front of friends and teammates," said Zuttah, measuring 6 feet 4 inches and weighing 308 pounds. "I've shown that I am durable and I'm very well-rounded, so I think that'll help me, but you just never know what will happen sometimes."

At the NFLCombine, a conglomeration of drills designed to test a prospect's skill level, Zuttah clocked a 4.99 in the 40-yard dash and bench pressed 225 pounds 35 times, both of which certainly raised his stock. Add in his 31-inch vertical jump and there's no wonder that his name is being mentioned as a possible second- or third-round selection.

Just as well as Zuttah has done, there's the case of line mate Pedro Sosa. Like Zuttah, Sosa also enjoyed a stellar collegiate career. But late in the season, the fifth-year senior, who at one point was projected as a third-round pick, had some knee trouble and was at the Rutgers Pro Day on crutches, something he was more stable with, rather than discussing his future.

"It's been frustrating, but there's really nothing I can do about it," said Sosa, who said that he recently had his knee scoped and should be able to resume physical activity in about two months. "I'm trying to rehab as best as I can, and I just hope that teams understand, once I get off these [crutches], that I'll be ready to show them that I can play at the next level."

So with 12 former and current Scarlet Knights trying to show how fast they can run (wide receiver James Townsend had the fastest 40-yard dash time of the day, 4.39 seconds), how far and high they can jump (Townsend had a standing broad jump of 11 feet 5 inches and a 41.5-inch vertical jump), and how much they could lift (defensive tackle Eric Foster took top honors with 29 reps; Zuttah declined to participate), there was still one person who everybody always had at least one eye on.

"Ray Rice is a great player and it's no wonderwhy somany scouts came out today," Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano said. "Sure, there are a lot of guys here today that are deserving of being selected in the draft, but Ray is right at the top of that list."

Rice came in having already clocked a 4.42 40-yard dash at the NFLCombine, a time that many prognosticators were surprised that he could pull off, considering his smallish 5-foot-8, 199-pound frame. There was one area, though, that the New Rochelle, N.Y., native did not do well in at the combine, and he sought to quiet the critics early in the day.

"I don't want to say that they messed up [at the NFLCombine], but I knew that I could do better than just a 32-inch vertical leap. They must not have measured it right maybe," Rice said. "I just wanted to get it over with and show everybody that I could do it."

A leap of 39.5 inches helped to quell any fears of his lack of hops. Rice also showed he was adept at catching passes out of the backfield, something else that scoutsweren't sure he could succeed at on a regular basis. ("I had to catch balls today. That was very important," Rice said.)

Overall, the junior was pleased with his performance and said he is looking forward to draft day.

"It would mean a lot for me to be selected in the first round,being that no Rutgers player has ever gone that high before," Rice said. "Really, though, I'm just looking to hear my name called."

"Hopefully I didn't disappoint anyone today."

According to the scouts, or at least the twinkle in their eyes and the rapidity with which they jotted down notes about his every move over the course of the day, it's safe to say that Rice was not a disappointment.