At U.Va., a dozen audition on pro day

Polishing those résumés Players use pro day to show they really do have NFL credentials

CHARLOTTESVILLE -- A year ago, the main attraction was defensive end Chris Long. Yesterday, that distinction belonged to offensive tackle Eugene Monroe, who may be one of the first 10 players taken in the April 25 NFL draft.

Monroe wasn't the only reason, though, that every NFL team except Tennessee and Arizona was represented at the University of Virginia. About a dozen players eligible for the upcoming draft were measured and weighed and timed and tested as scouts looked on.

Wide receiver Maurice Covington drew applause from the other players with his 40-inch vertical leap, and linebacker Antonio Appleby and defensive Alex Field bench-pressed 225 pounds 24 and 23 times, respectively. Still, Virginia coach Al Groh said, a college player's body of work -- his performance in actual games -- almost always determines if and when he'll be picked in the NFL draft.

Linebacker Clint Sintim, an all-ACC pick for U.Va. in 2008, is counting on that.

"There's going to be guys who run faster and jump and do all these other things," Sintim said. "But when it comes down to it, it's all a matter of, 'Are you a football player or not?' And I think I'm a football player."

Sintim was one of the five players from U.Va. invited to last month's NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis along with Monroe, tight end John Phillips, tailback Cedric Peerman and wideout Kevin Ogletree.

That group participated on a limited basis yesterday, but Field, Covington, linebackers Appleby and Jon Copper and safety Byron Glaspy, along with wideout Andrew Pearman and quarterbacks Kevin McCabe and Jake Phillips, took full advantage of the NFL scouts' presence.

"It was a great opportunity for a lot of other guys who didn't have the opportunity to go to the combine to come out here and showcase their ability as well," Sintim said.

Pearman and McCabe are former Cavaliers who weren't on the team last season. McCabe starred at California University, a Division II power in Pennsylvania. Jake Phillips, the older brother of John Phillips, started for William and Mary. When it came time for the younger Phillips to run patterns and catch passes, his quarterback was his former Bath County High teammate.

"He always makes me look good," John said of Jake. "He's had a knack for doing that in all three sports, and he did that today."

At the NFL combine, Peerman ran the fastest 40-yard dash -- 4.45 seconds -- of any tailback. Like the others from U.Va., he's not sure what to expect in the draft.

"The only round I haven't [heard] is first round," Peerman said, laughing, "and that's the one you want to hear. But I just try not to look into everything. It's all about what the teams want and need."

Sintim said: "It's crazy, because you hear so many different things. I've heard anywhere from 25 to, like, 48. It's really just a matter of who likes me and who really wants to take a shot on me. I'm going to continue to work and continue to try to build upon that, and hopefully I go closer to 20 than to 40."

Monroe, who graduated from U.Va. in three-and-a-half years, has been interviewed and tested by NFL representatives more times than he can count. Still, he happily obliged when asked to run through blocking drills yesterday.

"It's not superfluous at all," Monroe said. "Any chance you get to perform in front of a potential team is a great time. I'm just happy I had the opportunity to do it again, and it's bringing me one step closer to April 25."

Contact Jeff White at (804) 649-6838 or .