Now that his medical documents have been extensively reviewed by NFL teams, it’s time for former Georgia defensive standout Jarvis Jones to show off his athletic prowess.
A large contingent of NFL executives, coaches and scouts are set to attend the University of Georgia’s Pro Day on Thursday.
Since Jones didn’t perform any drills at the NFL scouting combine in February, the crowd on campus will be larger. The NFL teams are ready to scrutinized Jones, who’s considered a top 10 draft prospect.
The crowd could be bigger than the one that attended in 2009 to watch quarterback Matthew Stafford and running back Knowshon Moreno. ESPN3 will televise the workouts starting at 10:30 a.m.
Linebacker Alec Ogletree and defensive tackle John Jenkins, Georgia’s other projected first-round picks, also will participate.
Ogletree performed all of the drills at the combine and will try to improve some of his numbers. Jenkins did only the bench press at the combine and lifted 225 pounds 30 times.
But Jones is the main attraction.
“He’s explosive,” NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock said. “He’s quick. I love him in a 4-3.”
Some teams have Jones projected as an outside linebacker in the 3-4 alignment.
“Different 3-4 teams look at that outside linebacker position differently,” Mayock said. “If you’re not tall, if you’re not long, you better be explosive, and that’s what he is. He’s a top-10 pick.”
Jones measured 6-foot-2 and weighed 242 pounds at the combine.
Jones has a condition called spinal stenosis, but he never had an issue with his neck or spine at Georgia. Jones did have a severe stinger when he was at USC in 2009. He said everything checked out fine during his medical exams at the combine.
Jones doesn’t have any concerns about the condition affecting his ability to play in the NFL after registering 28 sacks at Georgia over the past two seasons.
“Anybody who steps on that field has a chance of getting hurt,” Jones said. “I know that I’ve got to be careful about my technique and how I play this game.”
Jones said that he does extra lifting and conditioning in order to protect his neck and shoulders.
Pass rushers are coveted in the NFL, and some scouts believe that Jones is a natural. He’s considered on par with Denver linebacker Von Miller, who was selected with the second overall pick in 2011.
Miller, who’s 6-3, 245, has gone to two Pro Bowls and was the defensive rookie of the year in 2011.
If Jones goes to a 3-4 team, he will have to improve on his drops into pass coverage. Another knock on Jones is that he became nonexistent at times last season while playing through ankle and leg injuries. NFL players rarely are 100 percent healthy and have to play hurt.
Other Georgia players slated to participate in Pro Day include:
Wide receiver Marlon Brown, cornerback Sanders Commings, long snapper Ty Frix, defensive tackle Kwame Geathers, linebacker Michael Gilliard, defensive end Abry Jones, wide receiver Tavarres King, kicker Jamie Lindley, safety Bacarri Rambo, linebacker Christian Robinson, running back Richard Samuel, cornerback Branden Smith, defensive end Cornelius Washington and safety Shawn Williams.
Also, quarterback Jon Richt, son of Georgia coach Mark Richt, will participate.
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