Five former Arkansas players were among more than 100 participants in the NFL's inaugural veterans combine Sunday in Tempe, Ariz.
Running back Felix Jones and quarterback Tyler Wilson received the most attention.
Jones, who last played in 2013 with the Pittsburgh Steelers, ran the 40-yard dash in 4.79 seconds. That is significantly slower than his 4.47 time he ran at the 2008 NFL Combine.
"It's tough to leave from a game or from anything you want to be a part of," Jones told the Associated Press. "It's tough watching and knowing you can still play with these guys that are out there."
Slower times were clocked across the board at the veterans combine. Maryland's Da'Rel Scott - who ran the 40-yard dash in an impressive 4.31 seconds just four years ago - was timed at 4.74 seconds, the fastest by a running back in Tempe.
Jones was a first-round pick by the Dallas Cowboys in 2008 and led the NFL with 5.9 yards per carry in his second season.
The 27-year-old had 6,081 all-purpose yards and 15 touchdowns during his six-year tenure, proving to be a versatile player that could catch passes out of the backfield and return kicks.
"Every veteran wants another opportunity to showcase what he can do," Jones said. "I can bring speed, quickness and excitement. I'm a special teams player, I can catch the ball out of the backfield, I can even play in the slot if they want me to do it. Whatever it takes."
Wilson, who has spent time with the Oakland Raiders, Tennessee Titans and Cincinnati Bengals, but never played in a regular-season game, stood out amongst the quarterbacks, according to NFL.com's Marc Sessler and Conor Orr.
The former fourth-round pick in the 2013 draft "displayed the strongest arm at Sunday's tryout, throwing the ball with some pop."
After being waived by the Bengals during the 2014 preseason, Wilson said he has had "a lot of contact with a number of teams."
Defensive end Jamaal Anderson viewed the veterans combine as a second chance.
The former No. 8 overall pick in the 2007 draft played four seasons with the Atlanta Falcons and had one-year stints with the Indianapolis Colts and Cincinnati Bengals before blowing out his knee in training camp with the Chicago Bears in 2013.
"I feel outstanding, not just physically but mentally, and I think it definitely humbled me to sit back and realize that I'm not entitled as a first-rounder to be on a roster," Anderson told NFL.com. "I think I'm going to cherish more of the journey now."
During his six years in the NFL, Anderson made 132 tackles, while racking up 7.5 sacks and two forced fumbles.
"A sense of ego comes with (being a first-rounder)," Anderson said. "It doesn't translate for everyone once they get into the NFL. It's a grown man sport and fortunately I got to go through the ins and outs, the highs and lows, and now hopefully I'll be back enjoying the highs."
Wide receiver Joe Adams and offensive lineman Ray Dominguez also participated in the event, giving Arkansas the most former players at the veterans combine.