Clemson defensive end Da’Quan Bowers set out on Friday to put any medical concerns about his knee behind him.
The results of his much anticipated Pro Day may not satisfy everyone. Depending on whose clock you trusted, Bowers ran anywhere from 4.85 to over five seconds in the forty-yard dash. The consensus average seemed to be in 4.9’s.
That is a slower than expected time for the 276-pound defensive end. (For comparison, UNC’s Robert Quinn reportedly beat 4.6 on Thursday.)
Bowers’ other times were solid. Tony Pauline of SI.com reports Bowers’ average short shuttle times were in the mid 4.4’s. Broad jump was 9''2'. He had a 34.5 inch vertical and a 6.95 in the three-cone drill. (Both very impressive.)
Bowers also reportedly looked rusty and a little winded in drills. That’s not a huge surprise after a long layoff from football.
“I’m stiff and I can do it. If you can’t, you must be real stiff!” Dolphins coach Bryan Cox said at one point to motivate Bowers, via Draftbreakdown.com. (Cox and Bowers talked for a while afterward and may be close.)
Bowers will get a medical re-check in Indianapolis to send out to teams next week. Once seen as a potential No. 1 pick, his lack of consistent production at Clemson combined with the medical concerns could put Bowers seemingly anywhere in the top 12-15 picks.
UPDATE: Bowers called the performance “pretty good” according to Darin Gantt of the Rock Hill Herald. He sounded disappointed by the forty time but thought the other tests went well.