NFL pro day results: Clemson, TCU stars working out on Thursday

Here is a rundown of the major schools and players in action.

Here’s Watkins discussing his performance and NFL prospects, via the Atlanta Journal-Consitution.

Boyd, on the other hand, came in with plenty to prove. Once considered a sure-fire first-rounder, his stock has plummeted in recent months (SB Nation ranks him as the No. 9 quarterback). He didn’t do himself many favors in Indianapolis, where he looked inaccurate in the passing drills and ran a 40 in the middle of the pack among his fellow quarterbacks. He needed to be sharp Thursday to regain some of his former luster.

If reports are to be believed, sharp is exactly what he was.

Boyd completed 66 of 67 passes on Thursday, with the only incompletion coming on a drop, according to the Journal-Constitution. NFL Network analyst Mike Maycock was impressed with the outing, but was quoted as saying Boyd still has more to prove in order to move above the fifth round, where Maycock currently projects him.

“The things he has to improve on, you’re not really going to see at a Pro Day,” Mayock said. “It’s more of the pocket awareness. When to scramble? When to step up? Those are the things that I think he has to work on and he can only do that over time.”

Clemson’s Pro Day was broadcast on ESPN3, and as expected, the ESPN cameras brought on a full-fledged media circus packed with NFL players and personalities.

There are more than 60 NFL scouts in attendance, as well as some big-time execs and coaches. Rams general manager Les Snead showed up, presumably to get a look at Watkins, who is a strong candidate to land in St. Louis if it can move up high enough to grab him.

Newly hired Detroit Lions head coach Jim Caldwell was also hanging around.

Even Rex Ryan showed up … decked out in Clemson gear.

While Rex was really just there for the BBQ, his New York Jets are in dire need of a playmaking wideout.

News broke early Thursday that potential first-rounder Jason Verrett will undergo surgery to repair a torn labrum, a setback that will cause concern among NFL teams. But the star cornerback -- who played through the injury for most of the 2013 season -- didn’t let it slow him down on pro day.

Verrett is expected to recover in time for NFL training camps, which, compared with his ability to play through the injury, should lessen the impact of the surgery on his draft stock. SB Nation projects Verrett as the No. 13 pick to the St. Louis Rams, who recently released starting corner Cortland Finnegan.

He’s clearly been working on his footwork, as well.

On Thursday, Carey ran a 4.66 in the 40-yard dash in front of representatives from 31 of 32 NFL teams, according to CBS Sports. While it’s unfair that a faster time should hurt a player’s stock, Carey’s time confirmed that his Combine time wasn’t a fluke, and that he’ll be one of the slowest among the running backs expected to go near the top of the NFL Draft in May.

Of course, Carey still has impressive game tape going for him, and he posted a six-inch improvement in his vertical by going up to 38.5 inches, so his stock is still very high. His straight-ahead speed won’t be a big selling point, however.

Furman isn’t usually a landing place for NFL scouts, but guard prospect Dakota Dozier is worth the trip. He spent his college days at left tackle, but projects inside at the next level. He proved capable of the position change with a strong performance at the East-West Shrine Game and showed off his athleticism at the combine.

Dozier decided to let his Combine numbers stand Thursday, instead going through position work with NFL coaches and scouts for Furman’s pro day. His biggest obstacle on draft day will be the low level of college competition. He could go as high as the third round.

The Cornhuskers aren’t flush with top-flight talent, but they do have several intriguing names, Taylor Martinez perhaps chief among them. The former quarterback began his journey toward redefining himself as a football player.

So far so good. Martinez put on a show, running a reported 4.28 40-yards dash, 39” vertical jump and 10’9 broad jump, according to Hail Varsity magazine.

Jack Cassidy at Illini blog The Champaign Room [ED: best-named SB Nation blog?] has the full results from Illinois’ pro day. Linebacker Jonathan Brown is expected to get the most attention of any Illini player come the NFL Draft, but he has struggled during offseason evaluations. Cassidy found a way to spin the numbers however.

Not too shabby.