BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A total of 12 former Samford football players worked out for scouts from the National Football League (NFL) at the annual Pro Day held at UAB’s Legacy Pavilion Thursday.
Scouts from over 20 NFL teams attended the event and watched players from Samford and other area schools go through drills as they prepare for next month’s NFL Draft.
Former Samford players performing were Donovan Hawkins, Noah Martin, Jordan Russell, D.J. Rias, Kamron Smith, Damonta Witherspoon, Iaan Cousin, Xavier Lanier, Xavier Nurse, Nazir Sy, Edwin Dearman and Jaylon Barden.
“I felt pretty good,” Martin said about his performance. “I know a few of my numbers. I felt good as far as those go, just seeing my verts and my broad jump and my bench with some of those numbers I hadn’t hit before. Some of the numbers we don’t know, so we’re just waiting to see, but overall, I feel pretty good.”
The participating players were evaluated in the bench press, vertical jump, 40-yard dash, pro agility drill, 3-cone drill, broad jump and position drills.
Martin, who led Samford with 114 tackles, including 62 solo stops in 2024, said he hopes that scouts will see what he can bring to their organizations.
“I know that my worth can be made on special teams,” Martin said. “It’s the same thing as in college, you come in and special teams is where you make your money at first. I want to show them I can run down, and I can hit. I’ve got the speed and the athleticism to go down there. On special teams, I can do what they need me to do, so I hope that is what they see out here today.”
The NFL Draft is scheduled for April 24-26, at Lambeau Field and its adjacent Titletown District in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
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