Six Blue Hens Participate in 2022 UD Pro Day

Photo by: Mikey Reeves

3/23/2022 4:28:00 PM | Football

NEWARK, Del. – Six members of the University of Delaware football program took the next step toward their dream of playing in the NFL on Wednesday, taking part in Delaware’s 2022 Pro Day. The six Blue Hens – Frank Burton III, Gene Coleman II, Dae’lun Darien, Nijuel Hill, David Kroll and Dejoun Lee – were joined by two members of the Delaware State football program and showcased their talents in front of NFL scouts from six organizations.

“Today was surreal,” said Lee. “It’s a moment you dream about and have been preparing toward for a long time. And to finally experience it is a dream come true. I couldn’t be more excited for what is next.”

The athletes started the day by taking the NFL’s Wonderlic test in the Whitney Athletic Center before heading into the Flacco Family Strength & Conditioning Center. After measuring their heights and weights, as well as and size and wingspan, the players started on the bench press doing as many reps as possible at 225 pounds. They then showcased their vertical jumps.

Things transitioned into the Delaware Field House where testing continued with the broad jump, the 40-yard dash, 20-yard shuttle and three-cone drill.

.@DejounL was FLYING during his 40-yard dash!! His time of 4??.3??9?? seconds would have been the 6th-fastest time by a running back at this year's NFL Combine! ?? #BlueHens pic.twitter.com/BMur5A8MB9
— Delaware Football (@DelawareFB) March 23, 2022

“Today was a team effort and a family experience for having my Pro Day, and for having it run smoothly with no injuries,” said Burton. “I’m content, personally, with the results of the preparation because before the preparation began my future was already in God’s hands. I feel encouraged about my future and the futures of all the players who participated.”

Along with the scouts and players’ families, the crowd surrounding Wednesday’s Pro Day consisted largely of current members of the UD football team and coaching staff. Additionally, a few familiar faces popped in to see how this year’s crop of Blue Hen prospects was looking. Alums like Gino Gradkowski, Pat Devlin, Paul Worrilow and Troy Reeder, who all went on to play at the next level, were able to watch and think back to their respective Pro Days.

“I remember that this was like my game day,” said Gradkowski, who played six years in the NFL and won the Super Bowl with the Ravens in 2012. “After all of the training that I had done since my last game, now I was able to get out in front of some scouts and show that I had been training hard and working out. It really just felt like this was that last opportunity to prove myself in front of scouts before the draft process started. I was nervous, I was excited, it really just felt like a game day for me. And then after it felt like a big weight off my shoulders, I could finally relax. All the work was done and now anything that is going to happen is going to happen."

“The biggest memory, for me, was the experience leading up to it because you wake up every day thinking about this day,” said Worrilow, who played for four teams over an eight-year NFL career. “Everything you do is deliberately done with this performance in mind. What you eat, how many hours of sleep you get, what body parts you’re training, what your fieldwork looks like that day. I remember feeling pretty confident, maybe nervous in a good way, but the preparation took care of everything.”

For the latest on the Delaware football program, follow the Blue Hens on Twitter @DelawareFB and Instagram @DelawareFootball, and like "Delaware Football" on Facebook. Follow Ryan Carty on Twitter @RyanCarty10.