‘Pro day’ gives NC State draft hopefuls chance to impress

Pro day meant more for some N.C. State football players on Wednesday than others.

For All-American center Garrett Bradbury, a first-round hopeful, and the other five Wolfpack players who went to the NFL combine, there was some fine-tuning and reaffirming for the scouts and NFL personnel at the Close-King Practice Facility.

For receiver Steph Louis and defensive end Darian Roseboro, a pair players who had their senior seasons altered by injury, it was their best shot to make an impression.

“To be able to come out here today and show how I’m fully healthy was pretty big for me,” said Roseboro, who was slowed by an ankle injury throughout the 2018 season.

Louis, who was only able to play in five games due to a variety of injuries, was more ebullient about the pro-day opportunity. It was more like Christmas Eve for Louis.

“I definitely didn’t sleep last night at all,” Louis said. “I was really excited this morning. I was really excited the whole week, you know, having my guys back. It was great just to be out there.”

The band was back together for one last show. Quarterback Ryan Finley went through a series of scripted plays with his receivers —Louis, Kelvin Harmon and Jakobi Meyers — and running back Reggie Gallaspy.

Harmon had the highlight of the three-hour showcase when he caught a pass about 25 yards downfield and then, at full speed, had to hurdle over the three-foot stanchion on the sideline.

“I didn’t see it,” Harmon said of the barrier. “I just heard ‘jump.’ ”

While Harmon avoided disaster, Louis tried to showcase his route-running skills and his hands. Louis had 12 catches for 154 yards in a truncated senior season. He missed the season-opener with a hamstring injury. In the second game of the season, he took a terrifying hit to the back of his neck.

Louis had a standout second half in the win at Marshall and then had his best game, four catches for 45 yards, against Boston College. One game after the BC win, Louis injured his left ankle in a loss at Clemson. He didn’t play again.

“I’m really happy he’s healthy for this because he deserves this opportunity,” N.C. State coach Dave Doeren said. “He has done so much for our team, whether it was on the field or in the locker room, he’s just an awesome young man. You want him to have the opportunity to fulfill his goals.”

Louis originally considered petitioning the NCAA for a sixth season but the process would have taken too long.

“I prayed on it, and talked with my family about it, I was really confident in myself in terms of moving on,” Louis said. “I did what I thought I needed to do.”

Louis, who had 678 receiving yards in 2016 and 583 yards in 2017, didn’t join Bradbury at the combine but Bradbury is confident Louis will join him in the NFL.

“He’s phenomenal,” Bradbury said. “He’s the ultimate competitor. Any team is going to be lucky to have him.”

Roseboro went through a similarly challenging senior season. He suffered a high ankle sprain in training camp. He played started 12 games but missed the win at Louisville late in the regular season.

“I was probably about 65, 70 percent but I did what I had to do,” Roseboro said. “I don’t regret it.”

Roseboro finished the season with with 37 tackles and a sack. He had 11 sacks in his first two college seasons, including seven in 2016.

“To Darian’s credit, he played banged up all year,” Doeren said. “You’re not going to play as good as you can when you’re playing with a sprained ankle. I just think it shows his toughness and how much he cared about his teammates to stick it out and do that.”

Bradbury, Finley, Harmon, Meyers, linebacker Germaine Pratt and tackle Tyler Jones all went to the combine and all have a good chance to hear their names called when the draft starts April 25.

Louis and Roseboro are hoping they did enough on Wednesday to get some team workouts before the draft and get a closer look. They both understand their chances at the draft.

“The odds are definitely against me but I don’t even look at it like that,” Louis said. “Whatever happens, happens. I know what type of player I am. I know however I get that opportunity, I’m going to make the best of it.”

This story was originally published March 27, 2019 at 6:02 PM.