By Badi Cross
Howard University’s seniors tested themselves in front of National Football League (NFL) and Canadian Football League (CFL) scouts last week at Howard’s NFL pro day.
The event marked the first time since 2017 that the Howard Football program had held a pro day. Many collegiate football programs host such an event for professional scouts to measure and test the school’s student-athletes ahead of their respective drafts.
Scouts from teams including the Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Cleveland Browns, Indianapolis Colts, and Edmonton Elks of the CFL attended this year’s pro day.
The day started with an aptitude test for the players, followed by official height and weight measurements, hand sizes, bench press test, vertical jump test, the 40-yard dash, and other speed-based tests.
They ended the day off with individual skill group drills, with the offensive linemen being the first group to do their drills.
Howard lineman Anim Dankwah, who is projected to be a late-round pick in this year’s draft, was one of the athletes competing.
“I always feel like I can do better,” said Dankwah of his performance at the pro day. “For me, it’s about coming out here and showing effort, and that’s what I feel like I did.”
Dankwah, who measures 6’7” and weighs 349 pounds, didn’t participate in the bench press or vertical jump but ran the 40-yard dash and jumped 7’4” in the broad jump. He also participated in the offensive lineman drills.
Defensive lineman Darrian Brokenburr attempts the bench press during the testing. Brokenburr completed the most repetitions for Howard at 22 repetitions at a weight of 225 pounds. (Badi Cross/HU News Service)
Running back Ian Wheeler was another Bison who participated in the event. On Feb. 19, Wheeler participated in the HBCU NFL Combine, running many of the same drills he ran during the pro day.
Following the day’s events, Wheeler said he was happy with the results and felt even more confident about his chances in the NFL going into the draft.
“I was pretty sure before today,” said Wheeler. But now that I’ve improved all my numbers from my performance at the HBCU Combine, I’m very confident in my ability to at least have a chance.”
Wheeler ran a 4.41-second 40-yard dash, an improvement over his 4.57” at the HBCU Combine, and his vertical jump and broad jump were 38.5” and 10’5”, respectively.
The success of this year has sparked interest in the Bison, with some of the players on the roster showing potential for NFL signings.
A Howard player has not achieved this accomplishment since Super Bowl champion Antoine Bethea was drafted to the Colts in 2006. Bethea, a member of the Howard Athletics’ Hall of Fame, attended the pro day, watching from the sidelines.
The 14-year NFL veteran has stayed at his alma mater, providing support for the players in the years since he went pro. He advises the players to focus on “controlling what they can control.”
“People may have different opinions on you, but you can’t control that,” said Bethea. “What you can control is your attitude and your work ethic. So they just need to put the work in.”
Anim Dankwah running a lineman drill outdoors. Dankwah participated in the NFL combine earlier this month as well. (Badi Cross/HU News Service)
Howard head coach Larry Scott echoed Bethea’s sentiment, emphasizing the importance of his players striving to become the best versions of themselves.
“I’ve been telling them, ‘You have to make sure you’re preparing yourself,’” said Scott. “You don’t ever rise to the occasion, you fall back on how you’ve built.”
