Defensive back Sammy Seamster from Ooltewah runs a shuttle during MTSU's Pro Day for NFL representatives Thursday.MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Sammy Seamster and Josh Walker are not used to this kind of attention, but it's growing on the former Middle Tennessee State football players from Chattanooga-area high schools.
They were the main attractions Thurday at MTSU Pro Day, which drew 25 scouts from 23 NFL teams and spanned four hours at two sites.
Both had strong showings.
"This is a day you wait for. I had fun," Seamster said. "Scouts were pulling at me left and right, and that's exciting."
Seamster, a defensive back from Ooltewah, measured in at 6-foot, 1/2 inch and ran the 40-yard dash in 4.44 seconds. He has been clocked in the high 4.3s in other workouts in preparation for the May 8-10 NFL draft.
Seamster put up good numbers in the 225-pound bench press (15 reps), broad jump (10-4) and vertical jump (35 inches).
"I think a mixture of size and speed is what [the scouts] like the most about me," said Seamster, who had a career-high 33 tackles, two fumble recoveries and one interception last season.
Walker, an offensive lineman from Rhea County, measured 6-5 1/2 and 320 pounds, and he ran a 5.17-second 40. His height and nimble footwork might push him from an interior offensive lineman to tackle.
"I played last season at about 330 to 335, so I can play inside or outside," Walker said. "Pro Day is a track meet. They want to see you move well, and I ran around pretty good. My 40 was 5.17, which is good for my size. All my shuttles were good. And I did 27 [reps] on the [225-pound] bench. Anything above 20 is good for an O-lineman.
"I've gotten a lot of good feedback. This is a little surreal. You always tell yourself you are going to play in the league, but when it starts to unfold around you, it can be exciting."
Walker will have a private workout with an Indianapolis Colts offensive line coach on April 7 in Murfreesboro. He will fly to New Orleans for a workout with the Saints on April 9 and then fly to Indianapolis the next day for a second visit with the Colts.
"I have played [safety, cornerback and nickel back] and I don't know what they want me at yet," Seamster said. "It doesn't matter to me. I just want to play and get an opportunity somewhere. I had that NFLPA all-star game [in January], and then I took one day off and been training ever since then. I have worked hard for this. I will continue to train and hopefully get some private workouts.
"I hope that I get drafted, but if free agency is what I have to do, then I'm fine with that."
He and Walker were among 18 former Blue Raiders participating in Pro Day, which began at MTSU's weight room and ended at Oakland High School's indoor facility and game field, because Floyd Stadium's turf at MTSU is being replaced.
Beyond Seamster and Walker, defensive lineman Jimmy Staten, cornerback Kenneth Gilstrap and quarterback Logan Kilgore have also drawn attention. All five could at least land in an NFL camp as an undrafted free agent.
Since the end of the 2013 MTSU season, Kilgore has gone through an NFL prep course. He has worked out at QB Country, a specialized training facility in Jackson, Miss., alongside Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron, a close friend and fellow counselor at the Manning Passing Academy the past three summers.
Kilgore also has worked with Ken Anderson, the 1981 NFL MVP quarterback for the Cincinnati Bengals and a former NFL coach. And Kilgore's agent is Bus Cook, best known for representing such quarterbacks as Brett Favre, Steve McNair, Jay Cutler, Cam Newton and Russell Wilson.
On Thursday, Kilgore went through a 54-play script on Oakland's game field, with an emphasis on seven-step drops and taking snaps under center.
"Me and AJ [McCarron] have the same script. It's an aggressive script, but we wanted to incorporate all the deeper drops and throws we felt were relevant," Kilgore said. "There are four years of tape on me in [shotgun] throws, so I wanted to show what else I can do. I have gotten some good feedback. I've done all I can do, and I'll have some other workouts where I can throw it some more."
Kilgore participated in an NFL Regional Combine in Atlanta on March 8-9. And on April 12-13, he will work out at the NFL Super Regional Combine in Detroit, which will be televised on NFL Network.