Biggest Winners from Pitt Pro Day

These three Pitt Panthers made themselves some money at Pro Day.

PITTSBURGH -- The Pitt Panthers held their annual Pro Day this week in front of scouts and executives from 31 of 32 NFL teams and a litany of representatives from other professional football leagues. 

There were plenty of strong performances from the Panthers at their final workouts on the turf at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex, but three players, in particular, earned themselves some more money but showing out in front of NFL personnel.  

RB Israel Abanikanda

Abanikanda shared the shocking news following his on field workouts that he's heard from various scouts that he doesn't have breakaway speed. But whatever concerns existed about his speed and explosiveness were quickly and definitively put to rest with his performance on the turf of the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex at Pro Day. 

Abanikanda has put two pounds to his playing weight but still put up impressive numbers. At 5'10 and 217 pounds, he ran a 40-yard dash time that ranged somewhere in the range of 4.26 and 4.32. He also soared for a 41.5" vertical leap. For reference, the best 40-yard dash time among running backs at the NFL Combine was 4.32 and the best vertical leap was 40". 

Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi said that while some players slim down for events like the NFL Combine and Pro Day but Abanikanda put on "more horsepower" to get ready for his final public workout before April's Draft. He likely earned himself some more money by doing so. 

WR Jared Wayne

Despite hauling in 60 receptions for 1,063 yards and five touchdowns last season, Wayne was not invited to the NFL Combine. He had one chance to show just about every team in the NFL that he belonged at the highest level of professional football and he did that. 

At 6'2 and 209 pounds, Wayne recorded a 4.50 unofficial time in the 40-yard dash and matched Abanikanda with a 41.5" vertical leap. His speed didn't standout as much as the explosive jumping ability and on-field positional work. He capped the day with a beautiful over-the-shoulder catch deep along the sideline from the arm of Nate Yarnell. His concentration, strong hands and precise footwork was on full display with that reception. That highlight turned heads as he ended the afternoon on a high note. 

LB SirVocea Dennis

The biggest knock against Dennis as he goes through the draft process has been his lack of athleticism and Dennis put those concerns to rest. The now-227-pound linebacker looks fully recovered from the foot injury that kept him out of the Senior Bowl game and NFL Combine workouts. He got his chance to show his intelligence in team meetings at the Combine and this time, he showed off his athleticism. 

Dennis added some weight since returning from Indianapolis and the Combine but still ran a 4.52-second unofficial 40-yard dash and drew oos and ahs from his teammates and the reporters watching as he jumped out of the building, matching Abanikanda and Wayne with a 41.5" vertical leap. His vertical would have been the sixth-highest jump in NFL Combine history by a linebacker.

41.5” vertical leap for SirVocea Dennis. #Pitt pic.twitter.com/MtHdRHO8x3

— stephen thompson (@stephenethom) March 29, 2023

There should be no concerns about Dennis' ability to move after seeing those numbers and watching him run. 

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