The college pro day circuit was just getting started when the coronavirus pandemic struck. Nearly every school was forced to cancel the workout exhibition that promotes its players to the gathered NFL scouts, coaches and GMs.
Two of the few schools that did get pro days in before the pandemic were New Mexico State and Wisconsin. The Detroit Lions were one of the few NFL teams to attend both of those pro days.
Detroit’s diligence paid off. The Lions selected WR Quintez Cephus from Wisconsin and RB Jason Huntley from New Mexico Stsate on Day 3 of the 2020 NFL Draft.
Cephus was prominent enough that the Lions would have had legit interest, pro day or not. But traveling to Las Cruces on March 10th proved fateful for the Lions in unearthing Huntley, who was not invited to the NFL Scouting Combine.
Huntley put on a show for the Lions and the 14 other teams in attendance.
Huntley emerged as one of the highest-drafted players that were not at the combine. His impressive pro day and the Lions being present for it paid off for both parties.
