31 scouts from 23 NFL teams take a look at Irish players

Published 1:05 am Thursday, March 20, 2008

By By SCOTT NOVAK / Dowagiac Daily News
With the National Football League draft less than a month away, 31 professional scouts from 23 teams took a look at several Notre Dame players on Wednesday.
Fighting Irish tight end John Carlson turned in the best workout and the longest of the day.
Carlson worked out for nearly an hour in front of the pro scouts.
He began his workout by catching 30 passes from former Notre Dame quarterback and current assistant coach Ron Powlus.
Carlson bobbled one of the passes and caught the rest before doing line drills with John Sullivan, who also worked out along with teammates Trevor Laws, Travis Thomas, Tom Zbikowski. J.J. Jansen, Dwight Stephenson Jr., Geoff Price and Joe Brockington.
Carlson said he felt good about his 21 repetitions in the bench press, vertical jump of 35.5 inches and his 40-yard dash times of 4.67 and 4.72.
Carlson only jumped 30.5 inches at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis and ran a 4.89.
"I think it is a combination of things," Carlson answered when asked if he had the most to prove on Wednesday after a poor showing at the combine. "Obviously, I was healthy, but I didn't have my strength back. And the combine is four tough days and you workout on the fourth day. So I think it's a combination of probably not getting my strength back and being fatigued from the four days."
Zbikowski, who opened a lot of eyes at the NFL Combine, also had a good work out Wednesday.
The Notre Dame defensive back ran a 3-cone time of 6.83, while also doing position specific drills. He also took part in the broad jump and vertical jump.
Zbikowski said that he did not do the broad and vertical jump at the combine because he wasn't feeling good.
On Wednesday, he was pleased with his performance.
"It felt good," he said. "You hear some times, but you don't know what's what. But some people said I had a good workout and it felt good out there.
"I've heard pretty much every round imaginable. I've heard ninth round, and there isn't a ninth round. So you here about everything. April 26th and 27th will come and you find out where you're going. But it's frustrating not knowing."