COLUMBIA – Former South Carolina running back Mike Davis was not happy with his performance at the National Football League scouting combine.
Probably the most disappointing part of the outing for Davis was his 40-yard dash time, which was clocked at 4.61 seconds.
Because of that Davis was seen as — at best — a late round selection in the upcoming draft.
He appeared to turn that around at South Carolina's Pro Day when he weighed in at 210 pounds, 15-20 pounds less than his reported playing weight as a junior for the Gamecocks.
Davis also improved his speed as he was timed at 4.38 and 4.45 in the 40.
Whether or not that has helped him move up in the draft remains to be seen. It does appear he has caught the attention of some.
"Mike Davis from South Carolina could wind up being a really good value pick," said ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay. "He got a little heavy last year because he was injured. But if you go back and study the 2013 tape, he is a strong, powerful runner who can catch the ball."
While McShay and other analysts have moved Davis up their draft board, ESPN analyst Mel Kiper remains skeptical.
"When you look at Davis, who had a disappointing year because he was not 100 percent, as a running back, he can drop a little bit," said Kiper. "He is my 12th-highest rated running back. That could push him down just a bit."
Gamecock offensive guard A.J. Cann still appears to be a second day draft pick. He may hear his name relatively early, however.
"At the offensive guard position, he is probably a second round pick," said Kiper. "At worst, he is a third round pick."
Another player who moved up on the boards after an impressive workout is wide receiver Damiere Byrd, who caught the attention of many after running a reported 4.19 in the 40.
"You talk about speed, that's what this league is about," said Kiper. "He is a guy who can come in and give you that dimension you don't have. You have to respect that.
"I think he is a late round pick. But he is a certainly a guy — if there wasn't the depth at wide receiver — he could maybe be a draftable entity. He still could be. But, for me and the way I have him graded right now, he would be a priority undrafted free agent."
