When NFL scouts, coaches and executives gather at Georgia Tech’s pro day March 18, former Tech B-back Synjyn Days anticipates having something to show them.
Namely, elite speed. Days, who has continued his pursuit of an NFL job since a brief offseason stint with the Dallas Cowboys last year, said he has been running the 40-yard dash in 4.4 seconds.
“I’ve been running that consistently,” Days said last week.
Days has been training with renown pre-draft trainer Chip Smith in Norcross while working a part-time job at Barton Executive Search. Former Tech players Broderick Snoddy, Chris Milton, Errin Joe, Bryan Chamberlain and D.J. White are also training with Smith in advance of Tech’s pro day.
A year ago, Days ran the 40 in 4.63 seconds, an ordinary time for a running back. A 4.4 is in a different realm. At last year’s NFL combine, only two running backs ran under 4.5 seconds. Electronic times can be .1 to .2 of a second slower than hand times, but it also bears mention that his 4.6 at last year’s pro day was also hand timed. Either way, Days is evidently significantly faster than he was 12 months ago.
He said he is also running the 20-yard shuttle in 3.9 and 4.0 seconds and the 3-cone drill in 6.5 and 6.6 seconds, both of which are elite times. The fastest 3-cone drill time at last year’s combine among running backs was 6.79 seconds.
Further, Days said he isn’t merely just better at running the 40, but that his improved speed translates to football.
“Working on speed, explosion, I see a huge difference,” Days said. “I’m just excited to take part in pro day again and see my former teammates and all the hard work they’ve been putting in.”
Days gave credit to a rededication to his Christian faith.
“I know what I’m capable of doing, and God has given me all the talent in the world to show what I can do,” Days said. “It’s really been about me focusing on him and the things that actually matter, my family and my faith.”
Last year, Days went undrafted but was signed to an undrafted rookie free agent contract by Dallas. He was with the team for about a month before being released in June. He said the Tennessee Titans brought him in for a tryout later in the summer, but the team was looking for a traditional fullback, which is not what Days is.
If a team is interested, it would be able to sign Days immediately, as he has been through the draft process and is a free agent. Days said that this pro day will be his last shot at the NFL. On top of his employment at Barton, he said he has a job offer on the table to become a financial adviser. Dental school is also a possibility. But it’s on hold for now.
“I definitely am more excited now this year than I was last year just because I know my walk with God is stronger and I’ve really been doing everything I can,” Days said. “I’ll be able to look back and say I have no regrets.”
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