Michigan State football welcomes back NFL hopefuls, scouts for pro day

Six of Lewerke’s 2019 teammates joined him working out as free agents in front of 35 representatives from 32 NFL teams: cornerback Josh Butler, safety David Dowell, offensive lineman Tyler Higby, tight end Matt Seybert, linebacker Tyriq Thompson and long snapper Ryan Armour.

Most scouts’ eyes, however, were focused on the Spartans’ three draft-eligible players — cornerback Shakur Brown, defensive tackle Naquan Jones and linebacker Antjuan Simmons — who finished their seven-game, COVID-19-shortened final season in December. They got measured for official heights and weights, were timed running sprints, took broad and vertical jumps, performed reps on the bench press and did positional drills with scouts watching their every move.

They are all hoping to have done enough to get selected in the seven-round draft, April 29-May 1 in Cleveland.

Naquan Jones goes through drills during Michigan State football’s pro day March 24, 2021. (Photo: Courtesy of Michigan State Athletics)

“I’ve dreamt of this forever actually, from when I started playing football,” Jones said. “It’s just one step closer. I set some goals for myself for this draft process, and I was able to meet many of them. And I’m still working towards meeting the rest of them.”

Scott Aligo, MSU’s director of player personnel, got hired shortly before last year’s pro day was canceled March 18, 2020, just as the players who remained on the team were sent home with the rest of the student body. Making Wednesday special — both for those who missed out last year and those who didn’t have an in-person NFL combine experience this year — became an important mission.

Coach Mel Tucker, right, talks with a Minnesota Vikings scout during Michigan State football’s pro day March 24, 2021. (Photo: Courtesy of Michigan State Athletics)

And it was one that he hopes will have a long-lasting approach for the program in the eyes of the NFL and high school prospects.

“It’s vital for them, and we take that seriously. So that’s why today, we wanted to make it their day and really kind of bring those guys back and try and make it as combine-like as possible without having to be at the combine,” Aligo said. “So everything that we structured today was to make that feel like they were in Indianapolis. So yeah, it’s very important. And we took a lot of pride in really showing off Michigan State and being able to show them what our players can do.”

NFL Networks’ Daniel Jeremiah pegged Brown for a possible fourth-round pick and felt Jones could go as early as the fifth round. ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. projected Brown as a possible fourth- or fifth-round pick, said Jones could be a third-day selection and projected Simmons could go in the late rounds or be a priority free agent – much the same way Lewerke and a number of his teammates were after the 2020 draft.

Shakur Brown goes through drills during Michigan State football’s pro day March 24, 2021. (Photo: Courtesy of Michigan State Athletics)

“We’re not doing the (in-person team) visits this year because of the COVID situation, but I got the same vibe from everybody,” said Brown, who left after his junior season. “There’s a lot of good dudes in the business. … Through the process, we’ll be doing more Zoom meetings and talking to them.”

However, Lewerke and others latched on with teams a year ago despite not having the chance to work out in person for teams after the NFL combine. Two of them, linebacker Joe Bachie and defensive tackle Raequan Williams with the Eagles, made active rosters.

Brian Lewerke goes through drills during Michigan State football’s pro day March 24, 2021. (Photo: Courtesy of Michigan State Athletics)

Something Lewerke and the others who finally got their own MSU pro day hoped would become reality.

“I had my shot with a team and didn’t get all the opportunities that I wanted with that team,” he said. “I’m trying to hopefully make an impression on someone. Hopefully I did today and they can bring me in.”