Austin, Quinn, Little back on field at crowded N.C. pro day
CHAPEL HILL -- NFL scouts, coaches and front-office executives took a different look at some of North Carolina's top potential draftees, including highly touted defensive linemen Marvin Austin and Robert Quinn during Thursday's pro day on campus.
It was an unusual session given that Austin, Quinn and wide receiver Greg Little were three of the primary participants, yet none of them competed during the 2010 season because of NCAA-related suspensions. Odd circumstances aside, there was no shortage of onlookers.
Some of the key observations included NFL evaluators monitoring interaction between the top draft hopefuls and their former teammates because NFL teams want to be sure character issues aren't lingering. One scout representing an NFC team said the attention naturally drifted toward the top-line players who are trying to make up for the missed season.
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Austin and Quinn, whose natural position is defensive end, had certain objectives during the workout. A position drill for this duo drew considerable attention, with Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli heading that session.
"I thought I was in pretty decent shape," said Austin, a projected second-round pick by NFLDraftScout.com, which rates him as the No. seven defensive tackle. "It was fun to get out there with (Quinn). We both weren't able to get out there during the season.
"I never want to be out of the game of football (again) until my body says I can't go (any) more."
Austin was described as "slimmed down" at 301 pounds -- he weighed 309 at the scouting combine. Austin passed on other drills with the exception of the broad jump and checked in at 9 feet, 1 inch in that event.
Austin's lower-body power drew some raves, while Quinn appeared explosive in several situations.
Scouts wanted to see Quinn, a potential top-10 pick despite last year's suspension, work out as a stand-up outside linebacker as well, so he went through a series of drills designed to put him at that position.
"That's what we want to see, those guys getting after it," said a scout from an AFC team.
North Carolina coach Butch Davis said many draft inquiries about the trio of suspended players had centered on off-field issues that gained so much publicity last summer and autumn. He said much of that has died down the last few weeks as those questions have been answered.
"Maybe now it's a minor part of it for some teams," said Davis, a former NFL head coach with the Cleveland Browns. "I think there's a lot of relief with a lot of these teams knowing exactly what he situation was."
Quarterback T.J. Yates said: "A lot of the questions at the combine were about the three guys. I tried to portray, as much as I could, that they were our brothers."
With Austin and Quinn -- currently listed as the sixth overall prospect by NFLDraftScout.com and the No. 2 defensive end available -- dubbed as first-round products, there was a horde on hand. It made the school's 2002 pro day that featured eventual top six overall draftees Julius Peppers and Ryan Sims seem downright tame by comparison.
Head coaches representing five teams -- the Steelers, Lions, Cardinals, Bears and Panthers -- along with twice as many general managers were in attendance. Defensive coordinators and defensive line coaches were in high supply as well as they took close-up looks at Austin and Quinn.
At least 80 of 94 scouts or coaches who signed up attended along with about 60 media members. The Broncos, Bears, Steelers and Panthers appeared particularly well-represented.
Austin said his pre-workout energy was more a response to cool temperatures than nerves.
"I wasn't really nervous," Austin said. "I just wanted to be warm. It's like 40 degrees out here."
Quinn, who had trouble with footing during a three-cone drill, said he wanted to compete and improve his numbers. He said he achieved that with a broad jump of 10-5 1/2 (compared to 9-10 at the combine), 24 repetitions on the bench press (compared to 22) and a 40-yard dash of 4.59 seconds.
"People say I look slimmer, but I weighed the same (at 264 pounds as the Combine)," Quinn said.
Quinn said the season-long 2010 suspension has been a subject for him to address with the NFL teams.
"Every team I talked to, they bring it up," he said. "I kind of expected the questions were coming."
Still, he said he has 12 to 14 individual workouts scheduled, mentioning the 49ers first. San Francisco has the seventh overall pick in the draft and has a need for a pass rusher.
"I'll have a busy three weeks coming up," he said.
Linebacker Quan Sturdivant, who's projected as a possible middle-round selection, limited his workout to the 40, which he ran in 4.68 seconds, and position drills and seemed clearly overshadowed by the presence of Austin and Quinn.
Little said one of his objectives was to lower his time in the 40-yard dash. He was clocked in 4.53 seconds, though some watches had him slightly under 4.50 at 6-3, 220 pounds -- and that was a goal for the receiver and it made him the fastest athlete at the workout.
Austin and Little talked at length about the poor decisions they made and how they've matured because of the fallout.
"Me going out there and performing every week, that's my revenge," Austin said.
Little called returning to the university's practice field "an unbelievable joy."
"It was like the scouts weren't out here," he said. "It was just us. It was like we were back."
It was a deep North Carolina senior class and thus there was interest spread throughout the workout. Yates hit targets on 110 of 112 passes in a workout described as well above average. The passing segment took place with players only back together for a couple of days prior to the workout, and given the separation since summer in some cases it was a crisp exercise.
Meanwhile, there's more waiting on safety Deunta Williams, who is still recovering from a fractured ankle suffered in the Music City Bowl.
Bob Sutton covers Tobacco Road sports for the Burlington Times-News.
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