(Photo: Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports)
JoJo Domann didn’t expect to be so emotional on the lawn at Lincoln, but damn, he felt it the last time he was there. It was good.
“It was just joy and happiness, which I think definitely helped me to perform today,” said the former Husker defender. “Honestly, I’m glad it’s over. Glad it’s over with. We’ve taken care of business and it’s time for the next step.”
On Tuesday, Domann and his former Husker teammates unveiled 28 NFL teams that will showcase their abilities at Pro Day in Nebraska. Most of the participants in the process seemed to think they had improved their stocks in one way or another.
wide receiver Samori Tourein particular, it seems to have gotten everything it wanted out of the day, including a time of 40 shown at just 4.43 seconds.
“I’m happy with 4.4 anything,” he said of the day he’d been waiting for. “It was one of the most important days of my life, probably still. Everything is on the line. I feel like I’ve arrived.”
While Domann, Cam Taylor-Britt, Cameron Jurgens as well as Austin Allen everyone was a participant in one form or another, even after training at the NFL Combine a couple of weeks ago it was more of a now or never day for the likes of Toure. Ben Still, Damion Daniels, Deontay Williams, Markel Dismuk and Levi Falk, who were all trying to get their message across to viewers in NFL gear.
Former Husker guard Williams showed off his wheels too, posting a minimum time of 4.48 seconds in 40th. Williams and Toure’s estimates may answer some speed skeptics.
“Preparing for specific exercises was a little different, but I think it all paid off,” Touré, who trained in San Diego, said. “I think talking to a lot of scouts, they didn’t think I could run well. I do not know why. But I felt like I came here and showed that I can run. on the field, showing that I’m smooth, showing that I have good hands, I feel like I’ve done it all.”
In the bench press, which consists of how many reps a player can perform with a weight of 225 pounds, the numbers were: Style 22; Domann 15; Williams 14; Allen 8; Cancel 8; Falk 8; Round 7. (Daniels didn’t bench press today due to a bruised chest that could have affected results.)
“I think (the day) went well,” said Allen, who posted his 40th time of 4.83 seconds on the combine bench. “My number on the bench was low, but I expected it. I have long, thin arms. So I didn’t expect a big number on this. very happy with my numbers on the combine. I wish my 40 was a little faster, but I don’t think another try is needed here.”
What Allen really did on Tuesday was run the routes, “and I think the routes went really well, so it was a great day in my eyes.”
In terms of vertical jump, Domann had 36 1/2″, Toure 34 1/2, Jurgens and Taylor-Britt 33 1/2, Williams 33, Falk 32 1/2 and Stille 32.
Another interesting figure: Daniels’ weight has dropped to 302 pounds. That’s the lowest number since… dude, maybe a high school sophomore? His brother Darrion laughed gleefully in the background as Damion broke the news to the media.
The fact that Darrion was there is evidence of brotherly love.
“At first I was a little worried that he wouldn’t make it,” Damion said. “But he ended up arriving last night, 9.5 hours from Dallas, and I was just happy to see him this morning.” Former teammates Carlos Davis as well as Khalil Davis also came for support with their brides.
It’s special.
Like chasing the NFL dream. Daniels wanted to show the staff that he could maintain his weight. “If they want me to play hard, I can play hard. And if I (need) to get down, I showed them that I can do it. And I showed them my mobility, showed them everything that I am capable of. I just showed them what my record showed.”
Daniels added that he was really happy to be back “in the great state of Nebraska” and to see all the smiles of familiar faces. He could have come back for another season, but he’s been on the Husker program for five years now.
“Dude, that kind of talk is really hard, especially just not knowing what the future really holds. But like I said, God has it all planned and I’ve spent the last five years in Nebraska and now it’s part of my life. Just parting with it was like parting with a part of me, but I just can’t wait to see what the future holds for me.”
Taylor-Britt, who ran a brilliant 40th time of 4.38 seconds on the Indianapolis combine, could also be back for another year. But his practice count and feedback from NFL staff have confirmed to him that he made the right choice to try his hand at the league right now.
“Even training with some guys who are so-called high-level guys, it just pushes you to the point where you can work even harder,” Taylor-Britt said. “I made the right decision, but I really miss the guys I played with in Nebraska.”
Taylor-Britt paused to answer as many questions as anyone had. About the NFL unification process, about the young huskers he shared a room with like Marques Buford, about the conversation he had with Scott Frost, about putting in a lot of effort to start the 2021 season, all of it.
The NFL is a big show, but as his family watched him sue the media once again in Lincoln, Courtney Britt looked at her son with pride and said, “We’re going to miss this.”