FAYETTEVILLE — The main attraction at Arkansas’ pro day, guard Mitch Petrus, has proved to be as entertaining off the field as he’s been on it.
Petrus showed off his easy repartee with the media Tuesday - detailing his record-tying bench press performance at the NFL Scouting Combine among other things - after an eventful day in his progression toward the NFL Draft.
Petrus was the headliner for the approximately 30 scouts, assistant coaches and personnel representativesfrom nearly every NFL team as 14 former Razorbacks went through the paces at Walker Pavilion.
Tailback Michael Smith, who is still recovering from a late-season hamstring injury, did not participate, but he was on hand to encourage teammates. The groupincluded quarterback Casey Dick, who last played in 2008, and early entry junior defensive back Jerell Norton.
Also on hand were receivers London Crawford, Reggie Fish and Lucas Miller, running back Brandon Barnett, defensive linemen Malcolm Sheppard, Adrian Davis, Chris Berezansky and Robert Salinas, linebacker Wendel Davis and defensive back Matt Harris.
Petrus has the highest draft projection among the Razorbacks’ hopefuls, while Sheppard is also considered a top prospect.
Petrus, 6-4, 315 pounds, ran a pair of 40-yard dashes - with a best time of 5.2 seconds - and went through the shuttle and cone drills and the verticaljump. There was no need for him to bench press again.
The Carlisle native, who pulled up with an injury during his 40-yard dash at the combine in Indianapolis the day after bench pressing 225 pounds 45 times, said he felt confident Tuesday.
“I needed to show them that I’m not still hurt, because I don’t get hurt,” Petrus said. “Y’all have seen me. ... I wanted to set the record straight.”
Former Razorback Jeremiah Washburn, now an assistant offensive line coach with the Detroit Lions, thought it was important to see Petrus.
“He’s a legitimate guy for us,” Washburn said. “We wanted to come down and see Mitch since he didn’t get to work out at the combine.
“He’s tough, he plays quick, he’s versatile. I like his background too, being a walk-on tight end who also played fullback.”
Petrus said he first thought he had a chance to make the NFL when his draft status came back as a sixth-round pick at best following his junior year in 2007. Petrus was declared ineligible for the 2008 season after changing majors and losing hours, but it wound up being a blessing in disguise.
“After my junior year, I became more focused,” Petrus said. “Maybe not as much in the classroom. I got focused there later, but that’s kind of when I first realized [the NFL could be a reality].”
Petrus said his current draft grade projects a selection between the second and fourth rounds.
Petrus said he lost count of his record-tying bench press showing in Indianapolis after about the 35th repetition.
“That kind of gave me more strength,” he said. “That really helped me out. I surprised myself. I had never got that many before.”
Petrus said his 45th lift was tough to get up, but “when I watched the video, it looked like I did it pretty easy. If I had known the record was 45 and I had known I was on 45, I’d have ... at least attempted it [a 46th repetition].
“It doesn’t matter. It’s all good. I was happy.”
Petrus said he originally thought he had a hamstring injury at the combine and that it was called over the intercom as a pulled hamstring that day at Lucas Oil Field. As it turned out, however, Petrus believes he had a muscle spasm or a cramp.
“It’s great now,” he said. “I didn’t have any problems running or anything like that.”
Sports, Pages 19 on 03/17/2010