It was another successful workout for Edmond “Clyde” Gates at ACU’s Pro Day on Monday. Gates, other ACU seniors and even a few of the Lone Star Conference’s best athletes put on a show for about 20 NFL scouts looking for the next small-school success.
“It was something I have been training for ever since January,” said senior offensive tackle Trevis Turner. “I felt really confident going into it.”
Along with Gates and Turner, seniors Raymond Radway and Fred Thompson worked out for the scouts at their respective positions. Turner posted some impressive numbers, completing 22 reps of 225 pounds on bench press and running a 5.4 40. Radway caught passes and ran a quick 4.5 40. Thompson, a defensive end while with the Wildcats, worked out as a fullback for the scouts and participated in some throw and catch drills.
It was Gates who headlined the event though, and he failed to disappoint. Although he chose not to run the always-exciting 40-yard dash, Gates improved his standing broad jump from the NFL Combine by three inches for a new mark of 11 feet, 3 inches. With former Angelo State quarterback Josh Neiswander throwing him passes, Gates effortlessly caught every ball that came his way.
“We got our timing down real quick,” Gates said. “It was tough cause it was so windy, so I had to make a judgment on every pass, and make sure I caught it.”
With the draft getting closer, Gates is being hailed as the next Johnny Knox among draft gurus. Nfl.com scout Gil Brandt described Gates as even more advanced than Knox and potentially a third-round draft pick.
“I was excited to get to be with my teammates again,” Gates said. “It was like we were all back on the field together, just like old times.”
On hand to witness Gates’ Pro Day was his cousin and current Cincinnati Bengals runningback Bernard Scott. Scott gave Gates some tips heading into his workout.
“He told me to just do my thing and be myself,” Gates said. “As long as I did that, no one could say anything to me.”
Another big name on hand was former Pittsburgh Steeler and current area scout “Mean” Joe Greene. Greene is most widely known, these days, for being part of one of the most famous Super Bowl commercials of all time, when he gave a young fan his game jersey in exchange for an icy Coca-Cola.
“He is a pretty cool guy,” Turner said. “He reminds me a lot of my grandpa.”
Along with the Steelers, the scouts from the 2011 Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers were at the workout as well as the Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans to name a few.
