No players from Texas-El Paso were invited to the NFL Scouting Combine, so potential pro prospects from the school got their opportunity to impress scouts at the school’s pro day.

Nine Miners players participated in the workout that was attended by six teams: Arizona Cardinals, Green Bay Packers, New England Patriots, New York Giants, Oakland Raiders and Tennessee Titans. The workout was held outdoors on grass in 68-degree temperatures with no wind factor.

The notable performance from the UTEP pro day was by offensive tackle James Nelson. Nelson (6-foot-6 3/8, 321 pounds) ran a 5.77-second 40-yard dash, had a 24 1/2-inch vertical and 6-foot-11 broad jump, 5.03-second short shuttle and 8.38-second three-cone drill. Nelson performed 18 strength lifts of 225 pounds on the bench press. Nelson’s 36 1/2-inch arm length is notably impressive (by comparison, Luke Joeckel — a projected top pick — has 34 1/4-inch arm span). That length makes the UTEP lineman a possible rookie free-agent pickup after the 2013 NFL Draft.

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