Graduating Buffs take field together one last time at Colorado’s pro day
- Sarah Binette
- 4 hours ago
- 3 min read
As the school year comes to an end, many of the Colorado Buffaloes graduating football players are looking toward the next level. At Tuesday’s NFL Showcase, many of these seniors were given the opportunity to display their skills, making the most of what could be their last shot at a professional career.
“They’re hungry, and they want it”, linebacker Jeremiah Brown said as his teammates wrapped up position drills on the field.
The showcase hosted scouts from 26 NFL teams who watched as 19 departing CU players took to the field and the weight room for testing. The players completed a bench press, vertical jump, 40-yard dash, broad jump and various position drills to demonstrate their individual skills.
For these players, Tuesday wasn’t just another practice, but an opportunity for a turning point in their football careers.
“My biggest process has been putting on some mass, muscle and weight,” said cornerback Ivan Yates of how he prepared for the showcase. Yates' hard work paid off when he accomplished the second-highest vertical jump at 35 inches, just behind quarterback Kaidon Salter’s 35.5.
Many of his teammates had similar things to say about their offseason training and development. Brown added that he’d “wake up at 3:50, be here at 4:30” for early-morning training sessions with Colorado head strength and conditioning coach Andreu Swasey.
That preparation carried over into the day’s drills, where players were put through specific physical tests and position drills in front of scouts.
Brown recalled Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders encouraging him, saying, “You got this, man, you got this.” It helped to ease the pressure of the moment, and for some players, it helped the day seem like any other, as Colorado’s constant publicity has accustomed them to performing under a spotlight.
While the NFL seems to be the ultimate goal, some players are drawing attention from other professional leagues. Defensive end Tristan Marois, for instance, is being scouted by the Canadian Football League, saying that he is “absolutely” open to playing for them, especially as a Canadian National.”
Regardless of league, players know that scouts are always watching, and beyond Tuesday’s drills, they rely heavily on their film from past years to show their skills.
“When they pull out the tape, what I’ve done is there. It was just a matter of going out there and reinforcing what they’d seen on tape, ” Yates said.
While past years of film and the event both helped players get recognized, neither is the sole determinant of their success as athletes.
These graduating seniors put in years of hard work, determination and teamwork that brought them to this moment. So how does a player sum up all their years of sacrifice in a single moment? Long snapper Kameron Hawkins left it all on the turf.
“I took it all in. I can't name a specific moment.”
For the Buffs on the field, the showcase was about more than just drills and tests — it was a celebration of their journey, a testament to their perseverance and a final opportunity to show exactly who they are as prospects for the next level.