Draft Hopefuls Participate in 30th Annual CU Pro Day

BOULDER – The Colorado Buffaloes hosted their 30th annual NFL Pro Day at the Champions Center Wednesday. Six CU players participated, as well as three athletes from Northern Colorado and one athlete from CSU Pueblo, respectively.

In front of 22 NFL scouts, three agents and two recruiting services personnel, CU's Mustafa Johnson, Akil Jones, Kary Kutsch, Nate Landman, Matt Lynch, and Carson Wells took part in several drills alongisde the four athletes from other schools. 

Landman recorded a time of 4.32 seconds in the 20-yard shuttle as well as 6.88 seconds in the 3-cone drill, which bested every NFL Combine score in the event. His 20-yard shuttle time would have been good for fourth at the NFL Combine. He totaled 20 reps at 225 pounds.

"I thought I came out here and improved on when I needed to and it showed scouts what they needed to see from me in the position drills and the short shuttles," Landman said.

Landman did not participate in the vertical or broad jumps, as well as the 40-yard dash. He completed those drills at the NFL Combine on March 5. Landman said he was not healthy when he ran the 40 at the combine, and he decided against participating in the drill today.

"I want to be healthy for minicamp," Landman said. "I don't care what I run in the 40. At the end of the day, I get to the ball faster than anyone can. I'm not a track runner. I didn't want to run it just to prove that I'm faster than that time dictates because I know I am."

Wells participated in every Pro Day drill. He recorded 16 reps at 225 pounds as well as running a 4.56 40-yard dash.

"They clocked me anywhere from 4.55-4.62," Wells said. "That was my goal, coming in here to hit the high 4.5s (in the 40-yard dash)."

Wells said he wants his play on the field do the talking when teams look at him.

"I have my resume, and I feel like I've put in the work the last five years," Wells said. "For a majority of people, they've seen that."

Wells said he will watch the NFL Draft at home in Florida with his family.

Johnson received an NFL tryout with the New York Jets last summer. However, he did not make an NFL roster after declaring for the 2021 NFL Draft and signing with an agent. He was granted a waiver by the NCAA to return to Colorado for the final eight games of the 2021 season. In the 225-pound drill today, he totaled 29 reps after getting 27 at last year's pro day.

"It was definitely big, considering I came in a little more anxious and nervous than last (year's pro day)," Johnson said. "I never stopped training, so it was time to show up. That's all there was to it."

Kutsch joined Wells in participating in every drill. Like Johnson, he recorded 29 reps at 225 pounds.

"I would like to have got 30 (reps)," Kutsch said. "I'm happy with (my performance) but I wanted 30. It is what it is."

Kutsch added that two of the teams he has communicated with are the Kansas City Chiefs and Washington Commanders.

Lynch participated in every drill as well. He recorded a time of 4.34 in the 20-yard shuttle.

Jones, a senior in 2020 with the Buffaloes, participated in every event. He recorded 16 reps at 225 pounds as well as having a time of 4.55 in the 20-yard shuttle.

Northern Colorado's three athletes that participated in the event were linebacker Xander Gagnon, defensive back Komotay Koffie, and running back Tru Wilson. Ikenna Onwuasoanya, a defensive lineman from CSU-Pueblo also participated in the Pro Day.

The NFL Draft will be held April 28-30 in Las Vegas, Nevada.