Harvey and Caldwell impress scouts at Pro Day

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NFL Pro Day came and went at The Swamp Tuesday morning without the usual fanfare or the crowds of previous years. Last year, for example, Pro Day lasted nearly four hours because the Gators had so many junior and senior prospects working out for a slew of pro scouts and coaches. This year there were only a handful of Gators working out for a very small group of coaches that included Carolina Panthers head coach John Fox, New York Giants general manager Jerry Reese, Jacksonville Jaguars general manager James Harris and Tampa Bay Bucs defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin.

Even though there were a handful of other players to watch, all eyes were on Derrick Harvey, a surefire first rounder; Bubba Caldwell, who looks like a second rounder although his draft stock is rising; and offensive linemen Drew Miller and Carlton Medder. Miller could go in rounds five through seven while Medder would be a late selection or possibly a free agent.

“Derrick Harvey … everybody is really excited about him,” said Florida coach Urban Meyer, an interested bystander on this day but ready to do some coaching of his own starting Wednesday afternoon when spring practice begins for the Gators. “Harvey and Bubba are the two guys that everybody seems to be really jacked about.”

Harvey and Caldwell declined to run Wednesday morning, both choosing to use the 40-yard dash times they recorded at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis. Caldwell ran a 4.37 on the slow track at the RCA Dome while Harvey ran a 4.81. Even though they didn’t run the 40, both Caldwell and Harvey did plenty enough to make an excellent impression on the scouts.

Caldwell did 18 reps of 225 pounds in the bench press and he recorded a 37-inch vertical jump. He also caught passes and turned in another impressive workout. Thought to be a third rounder before the combine in Indianapolis, Caldwell almost certainly will be a second rounder now and his draft stock continues to rise.

“I hear more of the second round,” said Caldwell. “I’m climbing up the board but you never know what’s going to happen on draft day.”

He surely will hear from other teams, but right now he has three NFL teams set for personal visits.

“I got a visit with the Patriots, the Rams and the Minnesota Vikings right now,” he said.

The interview with the Patriots will be Wednesday when coach Bill Belichick stops by Gainesville to spend a couple of days. It’s the coaches like Belichick, who take plenty of time to learn everything they can about a potential player, that Meyer admires the most.

“What’s amazing to me and I’m not here to throw stones are the people who don’t ask opinions,” said Meyer. “It’s like going to recruit a high school player and by the way, not asking the coach about his character, practice and work ethic. I get confused but I always admire the guys like Belicheck. He’s coming in coming in tomorrow and he wants to meet with them [Florida prospects] personally. John Fox is here and they’re very interested in Derrick Harvey because they have an early pick. They’re asking about some other guys. I admire that. That’s called doing your homework. You can’t be everywhere at once, but it’s mind-boggling when you talk about the money you spend on athletes and not getting direct questions answered.”

Harvey, who has never been much of a talker, tends to let his actions do all the talking. The Defensive Player of the Game in the 2006 BCS National Championship Game, Harvey is impressive enough that Kiffin came specifically to watch him workout. Even though the Bucs have a solid defensive line, Kiffin said you can’t get enough good defensive ends.

“If you watched the Super Bowl you can never have enough pass rushers. The giants just kept coming. They were about eight deep. Ends are like corners. You can never have enough.”

James Harris, the general manager of the Jacksonville Jaguars, said that Harvey has added weight (he’s 271 now) and is being viewed as more of an every-down defensive end instead of just as a pass rushing specialist.

“He’s added some weight so he can probably be a four-down, three-down defensive end,” said Harris, who said the Jaguars will be looking to have further interviews with Harvey before draft day.

Miller, who was not invited to the NFL Combine back in February, got his first chance to run for the scouts Wednesday and he was told that his times ranged from 5.04 to 5.18, which is impressive for a 300-pounder. At Florida, Miller played all three positions on the offensive line but he played mostly at guard as a sophomore and junior and finished up by starting 13 games at center his senior year. He said he expects to play inside at the next level but his versatility is a plus.

“They all ask me what I like the best but I just tell them whatever you want me to play I will because I know I can play all three positions,” said Miller.

Medder, who started at right tackle for two seasons, said his agent is starting to field inquiries from NFL teams and he hopes to have some workouts lined up soon.

“We’ll be talking next week,” he said. “We’re hearing some things from some teams and I hope we’ll get something lined up. Right now, we’re hearing the late rounds or free agency. All I want is just a chance and I’ll make the most of it if they’ll give me one.”

Meyer said he’s proud to see players like Miller and Medder get their opportunities to work out for the scouts.

“When I look at Drew Miller out there who’s going to play in the NFL and then Carlton Medder is about as changed as person as I have ever seen … I’m so proud of them,” said Meyer. “To earn a living playing the greatest game there is, that’s a dream come true and there are going to be some dreams answered for some of these players.”