By Eric Stock
NORMAL – Illinois State senior Cameron Lee took on the role of spectator and cheerleader for this teammates during pro day workouts Wednesday at Hancock Stadium.
Lee, an offensive lineman from Oakwood who is projected a late-round choice in the upcoming NFL draft, was satisfied with his tryout for all 32 teams at a recent pro day event at Northwestern.
“I wasn’t over the moon with any of my numbers but I thought they were all good enough and were comparable to what I had at the (NFL) combine (in February),” Lee said.
Five of Lee’s former ISU teammates; Kyle Avaloy, B.J. Bello, La’Darius Newbold, Mark Spelman and Anthony Warrum were among the NFL hopefuls who did participate in pro day drills in the light rain at Hancock Stadium and inside.Richard and Fran Owen Strength and Conditioning Center at Redbird Arena,
The Chicago Bears were the only team represented at the workouts.
Bello, a linebacker from New Lenox, wowed the small gathering on the Hancock Stadium turf with a broad jump of 10 feet 9 inches.
“It’s a little different from football training,” Bello said. “It’s like training like a track star, getting more lean and being able to run fast.”
Bello added his versatility might overcome as lack of size (230 pounds) as a linebacker in the pros.
Offensive lineman Mark Spelman from Brookfield, Wisconsin said while the workouts have shown he has the skills to make it to the NFL, he believes he also brings the intangibles that any pro team would want.
“I think I’m a very smart guy, on and off the field, and I think I’m a leader,” Spelman said. “Those are things that I need to be able to get into a camp to show. You can’t show that at a pro day.”
The NFL draft will be held April 27-29.
Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].
