Eastern Washington’s Taiwan Jones ran 40-yard dash times in the 4.3- to 4.35-second range and had vertical jumps of 39.5 and 40 inches, according to a source who attended the running back’s pro day Thursday.

Twenty-seven NFL teams were at the private workout in Northern California to watch Jones, who has generated a lot of intrigue leading up to the April 28-30 draft. The workout was important for Jones, who couldn’t participate in any postseason bowl games or the NFL Scouting Combine because of a broken foot sustained during the season. Jones was in a walking boot until March 15.

Jones’ 40 time would have put him among the top three running backs at the combine, where Maryland’s Da’Rel Scott led with a 4.34. Jones’ best vertical jump would have tied Virginia Tech RB Ryan Williams for second-best among all running backs, behind Georgia Tech’s Anthony Allen‘s 41.5-inch vertical.

Jones will visit the Dolphins early next week, according to a source with knowledge of the situation. He also has a visit planned with the 49ers. Jones already has met with the Eagles, Browns and Bengals.

This year’s crop of draft-eligible running backs has failed to generate significant buzz beyond Alabama’s Mark Ingram and, in recent days, Eastern Washington’s Taiwan Jones, but that didn’t prevent Noel Devine from taking advantage of West Virginia’s pro day March 17.

The 5-foot-7 7/8, 180-pound Devine — who rushed for 936 yards as a senior in 2010 after rumbling for 1,465 yards in 2009 — performed the full slate of drills before 22 NFL teams, running a 4.43-second 40-yard dash and 4.35-second short shuttle on pristine indoor FieldTurf. Devine also logged a 35 1/2-inch vertical jump, 10-foot-1 broad jump and 6.88 seconds in the three-cone drill.

Other Mountaineers of note among the 12 working out:

DL Chris Neild (6-1 7/8, 317), a three-year starter and leader of the Big East Conference’s top-ranked defense in 2010, participated in positional drills and ran a 5.15 40-yard dash, 4.52 short shuttle and 7.35 three-cone drill. He stood on the rest of his numbers from February’s NFL Scouting Combine.

DB Robert Sands (6-4 5/8, 218) kept his numbers from the combine but staged positional drills for the Eagles and Packers.

OLB J.T. Thomas (6-1 1/2, 237) ran 4.68 and 4.69 in the 40 and had a 33-inch vertical jump. He ran a 4.18 short shuttle and 7.01 three-cone drill, then stood on the rest of his combine numbers. Thomas was seen running through positional drills for Bears personnel.

DB Brandon Hogan (5-10 1/2, 190) chose to bypass the pro-day look-see as he continues to nurse the anterior cruciate ligament he injured last season. Hogan had the left knee examined in Indianapolis this week and appears to be in good health. He has scheduled visits with the Giants, Panthers and Cowboys ahead of the April 28-30 NFL draft.

In other news:

The Citadel held its pro day March 28, as three Bulldogs worked outdoors on FieldTurf before representatives from 16 NFL teams.

CB Cortez Allen (6-1 3/8, 198) notched a 37 1/2-inch vertical jump and stood on the rest of his combine numbers. He spent time with the Dolphins, as assistant head coach/secondary aide Todd Bowles closely worked with him during positional drills. Allen projects as a solid third-day player for a team seeking depth in the defensive backfield.

Five NFL teams were on hand for New Mexico’s pro day on March 24, which was highlighted by OL Byron Bell.

Bell (6-foot-5 3/8, 339 pounds) ran 5.36 and 5.44 seconds in the 40-yard dash, had an 8-foot-6 broad jump, a 30 ½-inch vertical, ran a 4.76-second short shuttle and 7.69 three-cone drill, and did 20 bench presses at 225 pounds.

Bell had a good personal workout. He’s so big that when we come down to the end of the draft, somebody might end up drafting him on his size alone.

Fifteen were on hand to witness Iowa State’s pro day on March 22, which was highlighted by DB David Sims and TE Collin Franklin.

Sims (5-foot-9 ¾, 205 pounds) ran 4.52 and 4.56 seconds in the 40-yard dash, a 4.32 short shuttle, a 6.94 3-cone drill, had a 36 ½-inch vertical jump, 10-3 broad jump, and did 26 bench-press repetitions at 225 pounds. He looked good and is probably a sixth- or seventh-rounder.

Franklin (6-5 5/8, 256) ran 4.69 and 4.74 in the 40, 4.29 in the short shuttle, 7.44 in the 3-cone drill, had a 34 ½-inch vertical jump, a 10-4 broad jump, and did 28 lifts. He already had one visit with the Bears and will have another with the Raiders the week of April 17.

Villanova OL Ben Ijalana, who was unable to work out at the NFL Scouting Combine or the school’s pro day, held a personal workout Wednesday for scouts indoors on FieldTurf.

Ijalana (6-foot-3 5/8, 313 pounds) ran 5.25 and 5.27 seconds in the 40-yard dash, had a 25 ½-inch vertical jump and 8-9 broad jump, and ran a 4.68 short shuttle and 7.76 3-cone drill. He was unable to do the bench press because of his sports hernia.

Ijalana is expected to be drafted on the second day, probably in the third round.

The last “big school” pro day took place Thursday, as Notre Dame played hosted to representatives from all 32 teams to watch nine players work out.

And it was clear who the main attraction was, as TE Kyle Rudolph put on a good showing in front of six tight end coaches from the NFL who were in attendance.

Rudolph (6-foot-6 1/8, 258 pounds) ran 4.75 and 4.83 seconds, had a 34 ½-inch vertical jump and 9-5 broad jump, ran a 4.36 short shuttle and 7.24 3-cone drill, and did 19 bench presses at 225 pounds. His high school quarterback from Cincinnati was there to throw to Rudolph, who caught the ball very well and showed really soft hands.

If there was any doubt before about Rudolph being the top overall TE in this year’s class, he erased it with his workout.

Other notables:

DL Ian Williams (6-0 ¾, 309) ran 5.15 and 5.14 in the 40 and. 7.75 in the 3-cone drill. He stood on everything else from the NFL Scouting Combine and had a nice individual workout.

RB Armando Allen (5-8 ¼, 201) ran 4.60 and 4.61 40s, had a 31 ½-inch vertical and 10-0 broad jump, and ran a 4.17 short shuttle and 7.08 3-cone drill. He looked like he had good quickness and caught the ball well in the positional workout.

Indiana WR Tandon Doss could not work out at the NFL Scouting Combine in February while he recovered from hip surgery, so he had a lot to prove at his pro day held Wednesday.

Let’s say the jury is still out on him.

Doss, who measured in at 6-foot-2 1/8 and 201 pounds, is still not 100 percent, but he worked out anyway in front of representatives from 32 teams — including five receiver coaches — indoors on FieldTurf.

Doss ran 4.67 and 4.62 seconds in the 40-yard dash, had a 32 ½-inch vertical jump, a 9-8 broad jump, and ran a 4.21 short shuttle and 7.04 3-cone drill. These numbers are probably not indicative of what he’d be able to do if healthy. During his individual workout, he showed great hands.

I think he would probably be a good slot receiver in the NFL.

Virginia CB Ras-I Dowling needed a big pro day performance Monday to prove that an injury-riddled senior season hasn’t diminished what he can bring to an NFL team, and the kid excelled in front of representatives from 25 teams who came to watch him work out.

Dowling measured in at 6-foot-1 5/8 and 199 pounds, running 4.36 and 4.43 seconds in the 40-yard dash. He also ran a 6.85 3-cone drill and 4.26 short shuttle, but stood on his jumps and bench press from the NFL Scouting Combine.

Dowling did all the DB position drills and looked very good, definitely increasing his position in the draft. He could very well end up being taken in the bottom of the first round, and definitely should be gone by the top of the second.

Of the 25 teams in attendance, 11 sent their DB coach, including Tim Walton of the Lions. It was no surprise, then, that Detroit hosted Dowling on Wednesday. Dowling actually has eight visits lined up with other teams.

Alabama QB Greg McElroy demonstrated that he has recovered well from a fracture in his throwing hand, tossing 50 passes to teammate Earl Alexander and South Alabama WR Courtney Smith on Tuesday at a makeup for the Crimson Tide’s March 9 pro day.

McElroy, who injured his hand at the Under Armour Senior Bowl on Jan. 29, was joined by Alabama TE Preston Dial, who missed the orginal pro day while recovering from a sports hernia.

Only two Seattle Seahawks scouts were on hand for the event, which was taped. Footage of the workout will be distributed to all 32 NFL teams.

“I think I threw the ball well,” McElroy told The Birmingham News following the workout. “I thought I was pretty accurate. It had good pop on it. The drop felt good. Accuracy-wise, I thought we were pretty dang good.”

McElroy, who began throwing again two and a half weeks ago, said he’s still regaining his arm strength.

“I feel like I have good command,” McElroy told the newspaper. “It doesn’t take long. I’ve been doing this my whole life. Am I perfect right now? No. Accuracy-wise is good. Arm strength is good. It’s just the fatigue. My arm gets pretty tired. I don’t have a lot of longevity I would have during the season.”

According to NFL Network insider Jason La Canfora, McElroy has impressed scouts with his composure and intelligence. While he’s not as physically gifted as others at his position, McElroy has the intangibles that teams covet. He could stick around in the league for a long time as a valuable backup, able to start when needed and help others learn and digest an offensive system.

A year ago, WR Emmanuel Sanders went from a third-round pick out of SMU to playing in the Super Bowl with the Steelers.

While Aldrick Robinson isn’t expected to go quite as high in this year’s draft, the receiver should be a late-round choice and helped solidify his standing with a solid positional workout at SMU’s pro day on Monday.

Seventeen teams were on hand to see Robinson and 10 other players, including one from Midwestern State, work outdoors on FieldTurf.

Robinson (5-foot-9 5/8, 182 pounds) caught the ball well away from his body and comes from a pass-first offense. He stood on all of his combine numbers.

LB Pete Fleps (6 7/8, 236) also impressed. He likely earned himself a free-agent contract after running the 40-yard dash in 4.77 and 4.76 seconds. He also had a 4.57 short shuttle, 7.07 three-cone drill, 34 1/2-inch vertical jump, 10-2 broad jump and did 23 reps on the bench at 225 pounds.

Some people might be jumping off the Da’Quan Bowers bandwagon after a pro-day workout that could be viewed as subpar and the Clemson defensive end himself described as just “decent.” But NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock isn’t one of them.

Bowers chose to work out for 20 NFL teams Friday, three months after having surgery on his right knee, and he claimed it’s “100 percent.” Mayock doesn’t view Bowers’ pro day as something that should alter teams’ opinions on him. For Mayock and many others, it’s all about the tape.

“It’s a process, and in this process, medical is a big deal,” Mayock told NFL Network. “There are still questions about his knee. He fatigued during the position drills, and his measurables were not what Bowers wanted to see. … However, let’s be fair. On tape, the kid is an explosive defensive end.

“If you liked him before, you’re still going to like him.”

Any lingering questions about Bowers’ knee will force teams to do medical re-checks during their private workouts leading up to the April 28-30 NFL draft. Bowers also will undergo his own medical re-evaluation, which NFL.com’s Steve Wyche reports will happen April 9 in in Indianapolis.

Only Bowers knows the true readiness of his knee after Friday’s workout. But NFL Network’s Charley Casserly doesn’t believe prospects should work out unless they’re completely healthy.

“Don’t put yourself in a position where you give a bad performance,” Casserly said. “That’s what (Bowers) did today. I don’t think this workout served him any purpose because it was not good and he wasn’t in shape. He’s entered more doubt in people’s minds than maybe he should have allowed himself to do.”

The state of Bowers’ knee will dominate the conversation over the next four weeks. His private workouts with teams, who will be forced to do their homework, now take on even more importance.

Eastern Washington hosted its pro day on April 1, but those who want to see Taiwan Jones in a pre-draft setting will have to wait a little longer.

The buzzed-about running back is recovering from foot surgery, and will have an individual pro day workout on April 14 at Los Medanos Junior College in Pittsburg, California.

Jones was nowhere to be seen, but there were four teams at the pro day, including one Canadian team out of Vancouver. Four Eastern Washington players took part in the event, held outdoors on a red FieldTurf.

The most notable workout came from Tyler Jolley, an Eagles defensive lineman. Jolley (6-foot-2 1/2, 285 pounds) posted two 40 times of 5.16 seconds, a 28-inch vertical leap, 8-4 broad jump, 4.72-second short shuttle, 7.65-second 3-cone drill, and 21 strength lifts. Jolley’s workout put on him on the radar as a free agent.

Hawaii hosted its pro day on March 31, not near the beautiful beaches of Honolulu but rather the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.

Seventeen players worked out in front of representatives from 30 teams, including Green Bay Packers general manager Ted Thompson and Oakland Raiders head coach Hue Jackson.

Running back Alex Green (6-0 1/4, 224) was a standout, building on his performance at the NFL Scouting Combine in February. He helped himself with his positional workout, showcasing good hands and impressive explosion in his running style.

Green has scheduled upcoming visits with the Philadelphia Eagles, St. Louis Rams, and Tennessee Titans.

A player not invited to the combine made waves as well. Keanemana Silva sent a lot of people scrambling to find out more about the defensive back after he delivered an eye-opening performance at pro day. Silva (6-0 3/4, 206) averaged a 40 time of 4.44 on two runs, had a 40-inch vertical leap, 10-3 broad jump, 4.16 short shuttle, 7.01 three-cone drill, and 23 strength lifts.

Two Hawaii wide receivers also excelled:

Kealoha Pilares (5-10 3/8, 201) posted two 40 times of 4.42, had a 40 1/2 inch vertical leap, 10-5 broad jump, 4.11 short shuttle, and 6.85 three-cone drill.

Gregory Salas (6-1 1/2, 214) stood on all of his combine numbers, but looked good in positional workouts.

If there are any questions about where North Carolina DE Robert Quinn projects in the upcoming NFL Draft, NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock doesn’t share them. After watching Quinn work out at North Carolina’s pro day Thursday, Mayock sees him as a top-10 pick.

“From a measurable perspective, I think the kid has rare and elite skills for a defensive end in the NFL,” Mayock said of Quinn.

“To me the bottom line is that what this kid does as well, or better, than anyone I’ve seen in the last couple of years is he’s got an ability to get up the field, bend, dip and get to the quarterback,” he added.

Mayock had Quinn, who weighed in at 264 pounds, running a 4.58-second 40-yard dash. He believes Quinn’s primary position is as a defensive end in a 4-3 defense, but that he also fits as a rush outside linebacker who drops into coverage infrequently in a 3-4 scheme. Mayock sees Quinn as “not so much different” from DeMarcus Ware entering the NFL.

Quinn, who has faced questions about his NCAA suspension for receiving illegal benefits that wiped out his 2010 season, certainly flashed the elite athletic ability teams expected to see. Mayock has Quinn rated as his top defensive end and the No. 6 overall draft prospect on his big board.

Clemson DE Da’Quan Bowers has yet to take the field to audition for NFL teams since having arthroscopic right knee surgery in January, making his workout Friday extremely important.

There’s a lot riding on Bowers’ pro day, and I expect personnel from all 32 teams to be there, as well as a few head coaches.

Bowers is expected to participate in all combine and defensive line tests and drills. Teams will be looking to see whether he has his movement back. He will need to show quickness, explosiveness off the ball and movement in the knee through all the drills. That’s what scouts want him to show.

If Bowers’ knee proves to be OK and he’s back to at least 75 percent, or better, of what teams have seen in the past, then I don’t see any concerns. If that’s the case, I still see Bowers as a top-10 pick in the draft.

If there are any remaining questions over Bowers’ long-term health, teams will need to rely on their medical staffs to determine if there are any issues going forward. As long as they don’t see any reason why he can’t get to 100 percent before the start of offseason camps, there aren’t any worries.

Bowers will also go back to Indianapolis soon for a medical re-check for teams.

Really, there’s no reason for Bowers to rush a workout if he’s not healthy. So by choosing to do it April 1 tells me that his camp and his doctors believe he’s ready to go.

Teams should evaluate Bowers the way they evaluate any other player. Go back to the start of the season and watch the tape, when he played lights out. Under a new coaching staff and defensive coordinator, Kevin Steele, Bowers really bought into the new scheme at Clemson last season. Coaches implemented things to help Bowers, moving him around the defense to take advantage of pass protections.

For NFL teams, there are no questions, at all, about his ability. They just need to see he’s healthy.