As Jalen Tabor fielded questions from reporters Tuesday, he smiled.
Though he had just finished a mediocre-at-best performance at Florida’s Pro Day in UF's Indoor Practice Facility, little seemed to bother him or shake his confidence.
Not even after he shocked scouts and attendees — for the wrong reason — by running a 40-yard dash in the 4.7s, many ticks higher than the 4.62 he posted at the NFL Combine earlier this month.
“Just press play,” Tabor said, referring to his film while at UF. “I already did everything I could do…. I’m pretty sure I’ve got more picks than a lot of the top guys. I’m pretty sure I’ve got more touchdowns, probably more touchdowns than they got picks.”
Though Tabor may have exaggerated a bit, his numbers don’t lie.
His eight interceptions over the past two seasons are tied for 14th-most among players during that span, and his three interception-return touchdowns rank third by an FBS player during that same time period.
While his Pro Day might not have necessarily captivated coaches in attendance such as New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick or Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Gus Bradley, Tabor is convinced he’s still one of the best defensive backs available — despite where NFL mock draft experts have slotted him.
“It’s not going to be my loss if you pass on me,” Tabor said. “I’m going to be in this league for a long time. Somebody could lose their job if they pass on me, so I ain’t mad at it.”
UF head coach Jim McElwain vouched for his star cornerback as well.
“I don’t know if he’s ever been beaten,” he said, “and he’s chased guys down when he’s had to. On a double-move here and there, he might have got beaten, but at the same time, (what) he plays on film and puts on film (shows) that the speed is not an issue.”
Stock going up … on a Tuesday
Unlike Tabor, three Gators put on a clinic in front of scouts.
The result could lead to Quincy Wilson, Jarrad Davis and Marcus Maye jumping into the first round of the draft.
Davis, an inside linebacker, flashed his freakish athleticism.
From his 38.5-inch vertical jump to a 4.56-second 40-yard dash that was “the fastest 40 that I’ve run in my life,” the Kingsland, Georgia, native improved his draft stock by leaps and bounds.
Here's #Gators LB Jarrad Davis (@J_Davis_40) jumping through damn roof on his vert. pic.twitter.com/RbwgGiVRWE
— Patrick Pinak (@pinakk12) March 28, 2017
No linebacker in the combine posted better numbers than that.
In fact, out of the 48 wide receivers who partook in both events at the combine, just two recorded a better combination of vertical jumps and 40-yard dashes: LSU’s Malachi Dupre and Georgia State’s Robert Davis.
After not participating in any strength, speed or agility drills at the combine to give a sprained ankle he suffered toward the end of last season more time to heal, Davis said he was happy with his results.
“I think it was important for me to wait until today,” he said. “I didn’t have a lot of time to train, like two and a half weeks total, but for me to have just gotten ready to run, I was just getting able to run at the combine, I don’t think I would have done that well. I think I would have done pretty good, but not this well.”
Then there’s the two defensive backs: Wilson and Maye.
Wilson didn’t participate in the 40-yard dash, but on one drill, Wilson shuffled back and high-pointed a ball before channeling his inner Odell Beckham to nab it with one hand.
“It’s nothing new,” Wilson said. “They saw it in the win against Kentucky. That’s what I do.”
This is #Gators CB Quincy Wilson going up and getting it. pic.twitter.com/IheDJxI2z7
— Patrick Pinak (@pinakk12) March 28, 2017
Maye, on the other hand, wasn’t as flashy but ran through drills with ease, showing off his footwork and ball skills.
Like Davis, the 6-foot, 216-pound safety also didn’t participate in many events at the combine. But he did run an impressive 4.51-second 40-yard dash for his size.
Of the eyes he opened included his former teammate and current Atlanta Falcons safety Brian Poole.
“I don’t wanna single anyone out, but to me Marcus Maye looked really good,” he said. “You know, being that he didn’t compete at the combine. He looked really good.”
Contact Patrick Pinak at ppinak@alligator.org or follow him on Twitter @pinakk12.
UF cornerbacks Jalen Tabor and Quincy Wilson (left) walk off the field following Florida's 40-14 win against Missouri on Oct. 15, 2016, at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
