Obviously being a former quarterback, it was vital for me to come out and catch the ball well and show I can run routes. I think I was able to do that. – Former Utah QB turned WR Kendal Thompson
SALT LAKE CITY — Kendal Thompson made one start at quarterback and played four games total in 2015, but showed off his dynamic athletic ability during Utah's Pro Day Thursday morning.
Despite having just one catch for 8 yards all of last season and spending the majority of the season backing up Travis Wilson, Thompson participated as a receiver throughout Thursday's workout in front of 28 NFL teams and two CFL squads, catching passes left and right. He had one drop that went through his hands, but also made a difficult one-handed grab while running down the left sideline.
"It went well. I caught the ball well," Thompson said, evaluating his performance. "Obviously being a former quarterback, it was vital for me to come out and catch the ball well and show I can run routes. I think I was able to do that."
The man throwing him the ball during that session, former four-year starter Travis Wilson, also could find himself in a similar spot. Wilson said he would be open to playing another position if playing quarterback doesn't work out.
"I'm a football player; I enjoy playing football, so obviously out here I did all quarterback stuff, but I don't want someone to see me as just a quarterback," Wilson said. "I just want to be the best teammate I can be and be the best player I can be as well."
However, Wilson said he thought quarterback adjustments he has made since the season ended in December have helped in his attempt to pursue a pro career.
"With those last couple of drills, I was able to do that and make some good throws," Wilson said.
Hackett skips measurement workouts
About 3½ hours after Pro Day events began, Utah punter Tom Hackett finally got his moment. Hackett, a two-time Ray Guy Award winner, is well-known for his distaste for running and skipped the measurement workouts such as the 40-yard dash, but also the verticle leap and bench press. He tossed a football around and watched former teammates do their drills before kicking in front of the scouts that walked outside to view him pin punts inside the 10-yard line on several consecutive punts.
So did he think of participating in the measurement workouts just to pass time before his on-field drills?
"No, no, no, I wasn't even considering it," Hackett said. "The best thing that could have happened to me if I had done that would be I pulled my hamstring running the 40 and then I can't so — plus I run like a penguin, everyone knows it so I'm not going to show everyone else that."
Booker skips Utah Pro Day
While Hackett skipped all the measurable events, former Utah running back Devontae Booker skipped the entire day while he recovers from a late-season knee injury.
Booker, who still attended the event, said he feels he is currently "80 to 85 percent" healthy, but opted to wait a few more weeks and will instead participate in a workout at his old high school in Sacramento, California, on April 12.
"I'll just be getting ready for that day," Booker said.
Carter measures well
Former Utah safety Tevin Carter was recorded as having a 10.5-foot broad jump and 34-inch vertical Thursday morning, which he said were personal bests. He also said he was told he ran in the 4.51 or 4.52-second range in the 40-yard dash (teams record their own times in that event). If so, that would have been the fourth-fastest 40-yard time among safeties at the NFL Combine. He skipped that event during the Combine.
"From what I hear, I know game footage is a lot," Carter said, when asked about if those numbers will improve his draft stock. "Today is only 5 percent of what they're looking at, so today is a big day for me. I mean if it can make me jump, I don't think it can hurt me as much as it helped me."