His inventory was hovering, his future stardom seemingly assured, when final October a defender rolled over Drake London’s proper ankle as he fell into the tip zone. Hastily, the whole lot was in doubt.
However practically six months later, with the NFL draft looming, only some of these questions linger, the most pertinent of which the receiver got down to reply Friday.
A sideline of scouts, coaches and executives from 12 NFL groups watched intently from the apply discipline at USC as London ran routes, caught passes and showcased footwork Friday. Many readily available represented groups with picks within the high half of the primary spherical, the place many have pegged the USC receiver to be chosen.
Most of these groups most likely would’ve most popular to see extra, however London selected to not run a 40-yard sprint or participate in every other pace testing, avoiding the danger that comes with operating this late within the course of.
“You understand, everyone has six, eight weeks, a pair months to actually practice for that, whether or not it’s broad bounce, vertical, all of that,” London mentioned. “I used to be simply attempting to get again operating on the finish of the day. The tape is on the market. You’ve seen it.”
What nobody had seen till Friday was London reduce on that surgically repaired proper ankle. He was nonetheless recovering throughout the NFL Scouting Mix in February. He missed USC’s Professional Day final month and needed to delay his personal by 10 days due to a light hamstring pressure.
However London was entrance and middle Friday. Cones for footwork drills had been arrange immediately in entrance of the sideline, and London had no bother deftly slicing between them, chopping his ft violently, pushing off his ankle with out downside. The footwork drills lasted simply a couple of minutes, however nonetheless appeared sufficient to place any remaining doubters comfy.
“I used to be simply attempting to finish the exercise,” London mentioned, “attempting to showcase that I’m again to the place I used to be at, if not even higher.”
Many questioned whether or not that will be potential in late October, when he lay crumpled on the Coliseum turf with tears in his eyes. Within the following weeks, he may barely stroll, not to mention reduce on a dime. He hobbled for some time on crutches and wore a boot after surgical procedure. It wasn’t till per week earlier than the Mix that London lastly may jog on a treadmill.
Prognosticators have picked aside his profile within the meantime. Most of their questions have centered on London’s pace and skill to separate from NFL defensive backs.
London shrugged away these solutions Friday. So did T.J. Houshmandzadeh, the previous Professional Bowl receiver who has been coaching London in current months. Had he run a 40-yard sprint Friday, Houshmandzadeh mentioned he believes London would have landed someplace between a excessive 4.4 and a 4.53.
“You don’t see guys together with his dimension transfer the way in which that he strikes,” Houshmandzadeh mentioned. “He strikes like just a little man, however he’s a giant man. That’s uncommon.”
It’s that distinctive skillset that would ship London hovering into the highest 10, even perhaps as the highest receiver drafted. Assuaging issues about his ankle ought to assist that standing.
He’ll get the possibility to reply these different questions in due time however together with his ankle healed and his Professional Day now behind him, there’s little question what comes subsequent.
“I imply, I’ve been dreaming about this ever since I used to be just a little child,” London mentioned. “Once they let you know one thing to jot down, what do you need to be whenever you’re older? It wasn’t a superhero, it wasn’t a rubbish man or a fireman or something like that. It was NFL or NBA. I needed to be within the league.
“So the dream is occurring and I simply can’t watch for it.”
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