ATHENS Former Bulldogs wide receiver Chris Conley worked to boost his stock in the upcoming NFL Draft by participating in Georgia Pro Day on Wednesday in Athens, Georgia.
Conley showcased his skill during position drills, running a variety of routes and catching passes from former Georgia quarterback Hutson Mason. The 6-foot, 2-inch wideout from Dallas, Georgia, said his focus at Pro Day was on consistency and backing up his combine performance.
I had to prove that I can continue to get better, he said. Some guys relax after the combine and drop weight or arent ready to perform in position drills. I want to show these guys that Im going to continue to work.
Conley opted out of the measurement portion of Pro Day, choosing instead to stand on his historic numbers from the NFL combine in February at Lucas Oil Stadium. He was one of five Georgia athletes to receive an invitation and set multiple combine records during his standout performance.
Conley ran the 40-yard dash in 4.35 seconds to begin his combine appearance. He then recorded a 45-inch vertical jump, the best ever for a wide receiver and one inch short of Donald Washingtons combine record. Conley set another record for wide receivers and tied the overall combine record with a broad jump of 11 feet, 7 inches.
He definitely earned himself some money, Mason said of his teammates performance. He improved his stock. If theres anyone the world should know about, its Chris Conley.
Prior to his showing in Indianapolis, Conley was largely thought to be a late-round draft pick or undrafted free agent. He was listed as the 37th wide receiver in his draft class. by nfldraftscout.com. He moved into the 21st spot after the combine and is now projected to go in the fourth or fifth round.
Since Georgias season ended, Conley and Mason have continued to practice and train together. So far they have worked out for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and have scheduled a session with the Dallas Cowboys for next week.
Representatives from all 32 NFL teams attended Georgia Pro Day, including Houston Texans head coach Bill OBrien. Conley said he spoke with OBrien prior to the event and spent time talking to various scouts after his drills.
During his four seasons with the Bulldogs, Conley had five games with 100 receiving yards and averaged five touchdowns per season.
In his senior year, he led the team with 657 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. Conley has also been the recipient of numerous awards and honors for his academic achievements and community involvement. He received the UGA Coaches Leadership Award in 2014.
After his position drills, Conley was calm and pleased with Georgias overall performance.
At the end of the day, its playing football, he said. This is our element, this is our game day.
Conley said he looks at football as his job and will continue working to show NFL teams that he can compete at a higher level.
This is our internship, he said. This is our work study. This is our job interview.
