One of the biggest reasons major college teams hold pro day events for aspiring NFL players is to get more exposure for lesser-known talents hoping to make a mark. At LSU’s pro day event on Wednesday, two unheralded defensive backs showed off their considerable athletic potential during the workouts.
Neither safety Jay Ward nor cornerback Jarrick Bernard-Converse are typically projected to be selected highly — if at all — in the 2023 NFL draft. After Wednesday’s display, the outlook and status improved for both.
Ward is the higher-rated prospect, a converted cornerback renowned for his leadership and attitude. He’s also a heck of an athlete. Ward ran the 40-yard dash in an unofficial 4.36 seconds to go with a broad jump over 11 feet and a 36-inch vertical jump. Those are some impressive tools to work with for a Day 3 prospect, one who has experience playing in the slot safety role.
LSU DB Jay Ward got out there. 11-FEET 1-INCH! 👀@JWARD_4 is one of most versatile & least talked about DB in this draft. 💤 #TheDraftStartsInMOBILE™️ pic.twitter.com/t3Tc90QDVE
— Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_SB) March 29, 2023
Bernard-Converse really tore up the turf at the indoor training facility. From Tyler Harden’s summary at LSU Reveille,
He started the day off strong with an event-high 42-inch vertical jump. But he wasn’t done there. When it came time for the 40-yard dash, Bernard-Converse set an event-high in both of his runs; his first at 4.42 seconds, and his second at 4.4.
A transfer from Oklahoma State who spent his final season playing outside CB at LSU, Bernard-Converse offers length at 6-foot-1 and decent ball skills. With athletic testing like that, expect to at least see his name shortly after the draft as a priority free agent appealing to press-man teams.
