Send Derrius Brooks and Bobby Rainey Turn Heads at WKU Pro Day

Posted: 9:20 PM Mar 8, 2012
Reporter: Kyle Allen - WKU Athletic Media Relations

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — Six former WKU football players worked out for scouts of the NFL's San Francisco 49ers and the Tennessee Titans on Thursday at WKU's annual Pro Day.

Defensive linemen Bo Adebayo and Jared Clendenin, defensive back Derrius Brooks, running back Bobby Rainey, offensive lineman Wes Jeffries and kicker Casey Tinius all went through a series of workouts and drills in the first of two scheduled WKU Pro Days.

“It was a great opportunity for all of those guys," WKU head coach Willie Taggart said. "You can tell that they have been working. I wish they would have worked like that when they were playing for us. They are working and I think these guys were able to get their names out there.”

Brooks and Rainey used the opportunity to showcase agility and speed, as the duo impressed scouts in various different drills and workouts.

Rainey, who finished his WKU career as the program's all-time leading rusher, ran the 40-yard dash on Thursday in an impressive time of 4.51 seconds, which exceeded the expectations of many.

"Bobby is Bobby," WKU head coach Willie Taggart said. "I had talked to some other people and everyone expected him to be around a 4.6 in the 40-yard dash. I was glad everyone thought that because that is what he thrives off of. He thrives off the motivation and for him that is people telling him what he can’t do. I told some people that if he ran a 4.6 then I would give them my month’s paycheck. Bobby came out here and once again proved people wrong.”

Rainey also completed the three-cone drill in 6.61 seconds, which would have ranked second among running back times at the 2012 NFL Combine. The three-cone drill is a drill to test the ability to plant, cut and change direction.

Rainey also turned in 24 repetitions of a 225-pound bench press, which would have ranked fourth among running backs at the 2012 NFL Combine.

“I think today went pretty good," Rainey said. "My overall times were good, even though I had a couple of slips. I feel like if it wasn’t for a slip then it would have been better. There were still some good times, though.”

Rainey graduated in December and has been training for the NFL since the 2011 season ended. Rainey was named to five different All-America teams following his senior season and was named the Sun Belt Conference's Offensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season.

Brooks, who made the jump from wide receiver to defensive back in 2010, caught the eye of everyone after turning in a best time in the 40-yard dash of 4.29 seconds and a best time in the three-cone drill of 6.61 seconds.

Brooks also impressed scouts with his leaping ability, turning in a vertical leap of 38 inches, which would have ranked third among defensive backs at the NFL Combine.

"Hopefully the scouts were impressed," Brooks said. "I have speed and I feel like I have a lot of things I could bring to a team, even if it’s coming in and playing special teams. I love playing that. I think I hopefully turned some heads and got my name out there.”

"We knew that Derrius can run like that and it is just a matter of him being able to show the scouts," Taggart said. "Derrius has not played the defensive back position long – he has only played it for two years. I think that is a plus for him because it shows the progress that he has made over these two years. The kid can play and I think that he really helped himself today."

Brooks led the Hilltopper defense with four interceptions in 2011, marking the second-straight season he led the defense in interceptions.

All times on Thursday were hand-held and recorded by NFL scouts. WKU is set to host another Pro Day on March 21.

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