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Pro Day recap: Missouri’s Ray, Golden go through LB position drills

Ethan Levine

By Ethan Levine

Published:

The NFL Draft Pro Day circuit continued on Thursday afternoon in Columbia, Missouri, where a number of former Missouri Tigers worked out for representatives of all 32 NFL organizations.

Although Missouri had more than a dozen players working out, most eyes were on the star defensive end tandem of Shane Ray and Markus Golden, both of whom are expected to be selected in the early portion of the draft in April, Ray as early as the top 10 picks.

Just like at last month’s NFL Combine, both former defensive ends impressed. However, neither player may be a defensive end for much longer, as both underwent linebacker position drills during the Pro Day festivities.

Golden said most scouts have told him they’d like him to play outside backer in a 3-4 system, while Ray worked out as both a defensive end and linebacker on a busy Thursday.

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Ray said his biggest goal on Thursday was to prove to teams that he was big enough to play defensive end in a 3-4 scheme, widening the pool of teams with which he’d be a good fit. He noted he felt he achieved that goal by showing up much heavier than he played last season or even registered when weighed at the combine.

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For what it’s worth, Ray weighed 245 pounds.

More news involving Ray circulated throughout the Pro Day Thursday, as the reigning SEC Defensive Player of the Year told admitted he will be in Chicago for the draft.

And if you needed any more proof of Ray and Golden stealing the show, just read the list of people in attendance with the primary intention of scouting those two players.

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It’s implied Tomlin was in attendance to see Golden given his reported interaction with Porter, a former Steeler and current Pittsburgh assistant coach.

Ray and Golden may have been the brightest stars of the day, but they weren’t the only linemen on display for NFL teams.

Defensive tackle Lucas Vincent, a fringe candidate to be selected in the late rounds of the draft, impressed scouts during his workouts on Thursday. Vincent was not invited to the combine last month, meaning his Pro Day was his first chance to impress scouts up close.

Former Tigers offensive tackle Mitch Morse, listed as a guard on a number of draft prospect lists, reportedly also worked out as a center on Thursday. CBS Sports projected Morse to be a fourth round selection at guard.

Other Pro Day news & notes:

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(Franklin is a former Missouri quarterback, and Carta-Samuels is formerly of Vanderbilt.)

https://twitter.com/DavidCMorrison/status/578619533855850496

Full list of participants: punter Christian Brinser, defensive lineman David Butler, linebacker Markus Golden, wideout Jimmie Hunt, offensive lineman Mitch Morse, tailback Marcus Murphy, wideout Gavin Otte, defensive end/linebacker Shane Ray, linebacker Darvin Ruise, wideout Bud Sasser, defensive back Duron Singleton, defensive lineman Lucas Vincent, defensive back Braylon Webb and wideout Darius White.

Ethan Levine

A former newspaper reporter who has roamed the southeastern United States for years covering football and eating way too many barbecue ribs, if there is such a thing.

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