Portland State had a player selected in the 2011 NFL Draft — tight end Julius Thomas in the fourth round — and the Football Championship Subdivision school could produce another draft pick in late April.

Offensive tackle Dustin Waldron — who participated in the NFL Scouting Combine in late February — is the sort of player a team can draft in the sixth or seventh rounds and try to develop into an NFL-caliber player. Waldron has not had much opportunity to block top-level collegiate athletes while competing in the Big Sky Conference. At Portland State’s pro day — which was held on March 14 outdoors on FieldTurf in chilly 40- to 45-degree temperatures, and strong wind and slight rainy conditions — Waldron measured 6-foot-4 3/4 and 303 pounds. Waldron had a 31-inch vertical, 8-foot-8 broad jump, 4.82-second short shuttle and 7.84 three-cone drill. Waldron kept his 40-yard dash and bench press numbers from the combine.

Also of note from Portland State’s pro day:

DeShawn Shead, safety (6-1 1/8, 220) — Shead ran a 4.53-second 40 with the wind and then a 4.58 40 against the wind. Shead had a 38-inch vertical jump, 10-foot-1 broad jump, 4.23-second short shuttle, 6.76-second three-cone and did 24 strength lifts of 225 pounds. Shead is a likely rookie free-agent pickup following the draft.

Posted in: Pro Days  | comments  |