Wisconsin Football Players Gearing Up For Pro Day, NFL Showcase

The University of Wisconsin held its Pro Day on Wednesday in advance of the NFL Draft. With the cancellation of the league's annual Scouting Combine due to COVID protocols, these scouting days will take on a greater significance in the evaluation of prospects ahead of the 2021 draft, which will take place from April 29 to May 1.

Offensive lineman Cole Van Lanen, fullback Mason Stokke, long snapper Adam Bay, safety Eric Burrell, offensive lineman Jon Dietzen, running back Garrett Groshek, wide receiver Adam Krumholz, defensive end Isaiahh Loudermilk and cornerback Rachad Wildgoose all participated in the workout on Wednesday.

Van Lanen said he viewed the whole process as a positive thing and not as additional pressure.

“I had an extra week, week and a half, to train for this," he said. "Coming from a 2020 season, you know, you expect the unexpected."

Loudermilk said there was that feeling of uniqueness to the day.

“There are certain things, you know, kind of meeting with teams. We weren’t really able to talk to anybody today, you know, which kind of sucks, but it’s been different,” Loudermilk said.

Burrell said players have to be ready for anything, regardless of the situation, and Pro Day confirms it.

"You just have to continue to elevate yourself and go beyond everything that you do on the field, off the field, just soaking up everything that you possibly can and whatever comes your way," he said, per Spectrum News. "You just gotta go."

Cornerback Rachad Wildgoose, who decided to pursue his pro dreams after suffering a shoulder injury against Northwestern during the regular season, posted an impressive 4.41 seconds in the 40.

“I knew I was going to do position work well, I knew I was going to kill that. The other stuff is kind of just repetition. But I feel like the 40 is something that can change based on the way you are feeling," Wildgoose said. "If you’re nervous, if you’re, like, having an anxiety attack, I feel like the 40 is one that can waver depending on what you have going on in your personal life. That’s the one that I’m proud of."

A UW spokesperson said 30 NFL teams attended the Pro Day and that the other two requested video.