Ohio State Pro Day

Yesterday, Ohio State hosted scouts, media, and representatives from about two-thirds of the NFL teams to watch, time, and measure outgoing Buckeyes. This was not the highly anticipated event it has been in recent years, but there are seven players working out: Vernon Gholston, Kirk Barton, Larry Grant, Dionte Johnson, Tyler Whaley, Trevor Robinson and Jackson Haas.

Unlike like year, there were no great surprise performances. Still, Vernon Gholston solidified his place among the top 10 picks and likely to be the only Buckeye in the first round. In addition to improving his time in the 40-yard dash by running a 4.58 in the friendly confines of Woody Hayes Center, Gholston leapt out of the gym with a 42” vertical. That is 6.5” higher than he jumped at the Combine! What is more astounding is that, according to Gholston, he did all with a slightly tweaked hamstring.

"I felt it kind of pull a little bit after 20, and I kind of had a little slowdown," Gholston said, smiling.

Gholston was not the only Buckeye looking to improve his draft position, however. Kirk Barton, who was plagued by a recent surgery when at the combine, felt like he improved his draft stock. Barton ran a 4.93, which elicited a, perhaps final, colorful response from often outspoken tackle.

“I made money today, boy."

Larry Grant made a big improvement in his 40, clocking in at 4.6; much faster than his combine time.

Finally, one former Ohio State player participated yesterday. Local product Eric Haw was there to showcase himself for NFL scouts. Haw transferred to Jackson State two years ago after falling down the depth chart was allowed to participate because He ran in the mid-4.5 range yesterday.

Terrelle Pryor Update: I read the following exchange in ESPN's Bruce Feldman's mailbag column.

From Cory in Pittsburgh: The longer the Terrelle Pryor recruiting situation drags on, who do you think it benefits most?

Feldman: My hunch is Penn State benefits the most. I suspect Ohio State still probably gets him, but Pryor's ongoing basketball obligations haven't given him a chance to get to State College. We know Pryor's dad loves Penn State and he's also been ill, which clearly doesn't make any of this easier on the teenager.

And, from talking to some college administrators, there is also one thing I think people need to keep in mind: Everyone talks about this April 1 concrete deadline, but many top college athletes have made their decisions long after April 1 for a variety of reasons. Both Edgerrin James and Ray Lewis did that. So did NBA 3-point star Jason Kapono, who waited until May to make his decision to go to UCLA. The only difference here is that Pryor would be signing a scholarship agreement instead of a Letter of Intent.

I admit, I did not know this was an option for Pryor. I knew he could go past Signing Day but I thought April 1, 2008 was the hard deadline for for any student or student/athlete to enroll in school.