After crushing the 40-yard dash at an NFL-sponsored regional combine on Sunday, former Georgia Tech cornerback Chris Milton is counting on fortune favoring the bold.
Rather than standing pat on his 40-yard dash of 4.35 seconds and not risking a slower time – a common strategy for pro days after a strong performance at the NFL draft combine – Milton plans to run again when Tech holds its pro day Friday at the Brock indoor facility.
“I don’t think (it’s a risk to run again) because, to be honest with you, I don’t think it was a fluke or anything like that,” Milton said. “I think I can run it again.”
Milton said that he might be able to even improve on the time, which would have tied for second among cornerbacks at the NFL draft combine in Indianapolis in February. Regardless, his 4.35 has earned him some extra eyeballs at the pro day. More than likely, scouts, coaches and other decision makers will pay Milton more attention as he does his position drills. Further, now that he’s tangibly demonstrated his elite quickness and speed, scouts will likely go back to review more of his game video.
Which was exactly the plan. Milton excelled on special teams for Tech – he had seven blocked kicks during his career, finishing his career as the active career leader for blocks in FBS – and was a solid two-year starter at corner, but did not gain much notoriety for his work.
While he will have the opportunity to run and perform Friday, Milton made the unusual move to go to New Orleans to get more exposure, he said. The regional combines are typically for draft prospects at schools that likely won’t draw many scouts to their own pro days.
“I felt like that was another way for me to show what I can do,” Milton said.
It worked. Milton said he received calls from two teams – he declined to identify them – who told him they would be at Tech’s pro day. Milton’s agent, the Atlanta-based Jack Reale (who also happens to represent coach Paul Johnson) said he’s left the decision to test again up to him.
“I figured there’ll be more guys at the pro day here, too, as well, who may have not heard whawt I ran,” he said.
He also thinks that, having already performed once, he could test better.
Milton said he actually wasn’t informed at the combine what his time was, and he only found out after a friend saw a tweet from the regional combine Twitter account that posted his time. He did get his broad jump and vertical jump scores – 10 feet, six inches on the broad jump and a vertical of 37 inches. Both are excellent.
http://imgur.com/vnVaGY2
After a superior effort, Milton has more to do. Kind of like...
The broad jump would have tied for fifth among corners at the combine – former teammate D.J. White was second at the position with a leap of 11 feet – and his vertical would have tied for eighth.
Milton’s trip to New Orleans was considerably more productive and prudent than many visits. He’ll have scouts’ attention on Friday.
“First, I feel like I’m a good special-teams player, so I think I can definitely come in and contribute right now on special teams,” he said. “And definitely I feel I can compete at corner, as well. I think I’m all-around, but I feel like maybe if a team wants a hard worker, a team player, I feel like I’m that guy.”
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