Cal Pro Day 2017: NFL teams high on Davis Webb as a potential first round draft pick

BERKELEY—California Golden Bears football players said they felt confident after the team’s March 24 Pro Day, despite continuous rain and temperatures hovering in the mid-50s.

Scouts from across the NFL came out to Memorial Stadium to watch 15 current and former student athletes showcase their skills.

“It was a lot of fun,” Bears quarterback Davis Webb said. “It was a little difficult, but hey, you’ve got to play in the rain sometimes.”

Webb, wide receiver Chad Hansen and long snapper Bradley Northnagel attended the NFL Combine earlier this month. All three participated in the March 24 pro day, along with Cedric Dozier, Damariay Drew, Jonathan Johnson, Zach Kline, Kyle Kragen, Steven Moore, Khalfani Muhammad, Khari Vanderbilt, Jacob Wark, Joel Willis, DeVante Wilson and Patrick Worstell.

The day got off to an early start with player check in at 8 a.m. Physical measurements and measurable testing—broad jump, vertical jump and bench press—were completed in the Simpson Center weight room.

Webb, clad in bright green cleats, began warming up his arm on Kabam Field around 10:40 a.m., and he began throwing to Hansen, Muhammad and Worstell around 10:55 a.m.

Webb said the wet conditions did change the weight of the football.

“It was a little wet out there,” Webb said. “We only had four to five footballs, those got a little heavy.”

But the rain didn’t seem to have much of an impact on his performance. Webb lofted some nice deep passes in to the hands of Hansen and Worstell.

Webb, who transferred to Cal for the 2016 season after playing with Texas Tech from 2013-2016, has thrown for more than 9,800 yards in his collegiate career, with 4,295 of those yards recorded in his last season with Cal.

“I think my potential is through the roof, and I’m going to work every day for it,” Webb said.

Webb has spent the past few months training with quarterback coach, and former NFL player and coach, Jim Zorn.

“We’ve progressed through a lot of information, both on and off the field,” Zorn said, explaining he worked with Webb on building football IQ.

Webb charted games, watched a lot of film and learned about different defensive philosophies.

“He just always wants more and more,” Zorn said, noting Webb’s strong work ethic.

Davis said he has up to 13 meetings and private workouts scheduled with NFL teams, but declined to name any of them. He said he has received good feedback from scouts and is looking forward to the draft.

“I’m just excited for the draft,” Webb said. “That’s the next step after these private workouts.”

Hansen also felt confident in his performance in front of scouts on Kabam Field.

“I was sort of glad that it was raining,” Hansen said. “It just shows that all of us can do more than just play in ideal conditions.”

Hansen played his freshman year at Idaho State before transferring to Cal, where he earned a walk-on spot on the team. Hansen had a breakout year in 2016, putting up big numbers, including 1,249 receiving yards off of 92 receptions and 12 touchdowns.

“I just felt like I was ready to take on the next step, and I think obviously the next step is professionally,” Hansen said. “I think I’m ready for that both mentally and physically.”

Speed and agility drills, including the 40-yard dash, short shuttle, three cone drill and 60-yard shuttle, were all completed outside on Kabam Field. Muhammad reportedly clocked a 4.32 40-yard dash time, which was quicker than the fasted time recorded for a running back at this year’s NFL Combine—a 4.37 from North Carolina’s T.J. Logan.

Muhammad said he’s been working on speed all year, and although he said he’s clocked 4.1 and 4.2 40-yard dash times, he was pleased with his performance.

“They emphasize a lot on speed,” Muhammad said. “I knew that was big and that was something I always had.”