Former LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson’s jersey selection many years ago may have been a precursor to the future.
Peterson picked to wear the No. 48 jersey of Carolina Panthers running back Stephen Davis during pee wee football.
“At the time my favorite player was Davis,” Peterson said Monday at LSU’s Pro Day. “He wore No. 48, and I was a running back, so I ended up wearing No. 48.”
Ironically enough, Carolina holds the top pick in April’s NFL draft, in which Peterson is regarded as a consensus top-five selection.
“I never thought I would be in this position right now coming from a 6-year-old playing pee wee ball to 20-year-old young man,” Peterson said.
Peterson garnered the bulk of attention from Monday’s Pro Day even though he didn’t participate in timing drills, but 11 other former Tigers were on display to NFL coaches and scouts in the LSU indoor practice facility.
Most of the eight players who worked out at the NFL Scouting Combine a few weeks ago stuck with their times from Indianapolis.
A few former Tigers, however, aimed to reach better marks.
Defensive tackle Drake Nevis kept his 31 bench press reps from the Combine, but he wanted to improve his 40-yard dash time.
Nevis ran a 4.90-second 40-yard dash Monday after being clocked with a 4.97 at the Combine.
“I talked it over and felt like the 40 was something I needed to improve, so I put my focus on running a faster 40 time,” Nevis said.
Not every player saw improved numbers.
Wide receiver Terrence Toliver’s 40-yard dash slowed down from 4.52 seconds at the Combine to 4.64 seconds Monday, but he injured his hamstring during the run.
Toliver worked through the pain and did catching drills for NFL coaches.
“I kind of tweaked my hamstring a little bit, but I just pushed through it,” Toliver said. “Coaches and scouts want to see if you can.”
Running back Stevan Ridley recorded 21 reps on the 225-pound bench press after opting not to do the bench press at the Combine.
Ridley said limited carries in college will give him an advantage going into the NFL.
“Even if I came back, to really up my stock, I’d have to have a [1,500-yard] season,” Ridley said. “I’d really come a year back to beat up my body.”
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Kicker Josh Jasper said he hit a 60-yard field goal going with the wind and completed all kicks against the wind except two from 45 yards during Monday’s workout.
“This was the last chance to prove what you can do,” Jasper said.
Middle linebacker Kelvin Sheppard didn’t blaze the trail with a 4.76-second 40-yard dash Monday, but he did work out for New Orleans Saints linebackers coach Joe Vitt.
Sheppard already has a visit lined up with the Buffalo Bills in couple of days.
“I’m going off to the cold,” Sheppard joked. “I love the game of football. It doesn’t matter where I’m playing.”
But Peterson has a jump on Sheppard, having already met with a possible suitor. Peterson spent Sunday night eating dinner with new Carolina head coach Ron Rivera.
“We were just getting to know each other,” Peterson said. “It’ll be an honor if Carolina would take me No. 1.”
The Pompano Beach, Fla., native said he also has workouts planned with the Denver Broncos, Tennessee Titans and Arizona Cardinals.
The four former Tigers who didn’t get the opportunity to shine under the bright lights of the Combine got their chance Monday with the hopes of being a late-round pick or free agent selection.
Special teams standout Dan Graff posted a 4.54-second 40-yard dash, while cornerback Jai Eugene clocked in at 4.59 seconds.
Running back Richard Murphy recorded 21 repetitions in the bench press, and punter Derek Helton participated in punting drills with Jasper.
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Contact Michael Lambert at [email protected]