CARDINALS

Louisville football’s big names lure 29 NFL teams to Cards’ pro day

By Jonathan Lintner
jlintner@courier-journal.com;

Projected first-round draft picks Teddy Bridgewater and Calvin Pryor lured representatives from 29 NFL franchises, including five of their head coaches, to the University of Louisville’s pro day on Monday.

It was the lesser-rated players who stood to take advantage.

“This is a great opportunity with all us being out here and them two bringing in teams,” said running back Senorise Perry.

All but the Pittsburgh Steelers, Washington Redskins and Miami Dolphins took a peek at the Cardinals’ outgoing class. Thirteen players other than the quarterback Bridgewater and safety Pryor worked out in front of scouts, plus analysts from ESPN and the NFL Network, in what was recognized as likely the Cardinals’ largest-scale pro day ever.

As camera crews swarmed Bridgewater and followed him around U of L’s Trager Center indoor practice facility, personalities such as ESPN’s Ron Jaworski, former NFL quarterback Donovan McNabb and Kurt Warner, now working for the NFL Network, observed drills.

“I said to the guys, ‘This is like a combine, honestly,’ ” said receiver Damian Copeland, one of five Cardinals who did attend last month’s NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, where top players are invited to perform for scouts. “You have GMs out there. You have coaches. It’s a big opportunity for the guys who didn’t get to go to the combine because this is a step down from it.”

A number of other former and current U of L players made their way into the Trager Center as well, along with new coach Bobby Petrino and athletic director Tom Jurich.

“I had all my old teammates come up to me like, ‘We can’t wait for our time,’ ” said Pryor, projected as a late first-rounder in a number of mock drafts. “I just told them to stay focused and their time’s coming.

“Three years ago, we didn’t think this would come true. But having a chance to actually feel the moment — enjoy the moment — it’s just kind of hard to put it in words.”

• Perry stood out among U of L’s non-combine players on Monday, posting the best 40-yard dash time (an unofficial 4.40). He also had a 37-inch vertical jump.

“I sell myself as (someone) that can go out there and compete not only on offense but also special teams,” Perry said.

• Copeland, who was in the top five of all combine performers in a number of drills last month, said interest has picked up in his services.

“I’ve been getting a lot of great news,” he said. “Actually, I was talking to coach (Shawn) Watson after the combine. He called me and said his phone has been blowing up about me, which is a good thing.”

• Pryor said he met with 28 of the NFL’s 32 teams during his time at the combine last month and plans to see more before the draft.

“I’ve been getting great feedback,” he said. “They’ve been saying first round or early second, but you never know what to expect. I’m just taking it a day at a time and focusing on my craft.”

Jonathan Lintner can be reached at (502) 582-4199; follow him on Twitter @JonathanLintner.