March 4, 2008

Chapel Hill, N.C. ----- North Carolina's professional football hopefuls worked out Tuesday morning for nearly 30 NFL scouts on Pro Timing Day. Players performed in the weight room and then headed to the Navy Practice Fields for the 40-yard dash, shuttle run and other football drills.

Participating in the activities were defensive end Hilee Taylor, defensive tackle Kyndraus Guy, place-kicker Connor Barth, defensive back Kendric Williams and deep snappers Michael Murphy and Ryan Baucom. Defensive lineman Kentwan Balmer and linebacker Durell Mapp worked out last month at the NFL Combine and elected to sit out today's drills.

Taylor, who finished second in the league in sacks, was a surprise omission from the combine. On the Navy field-turf field, he was clocked in the 4.5 range in the 40-yard dash and most scouts were impressed with his performance.

"I've been in Florida working out and we never really did the entire 40 yards at 100 percent," said Taylor. "We only did 80 percent, so I was ready to let loose today. This is something I've been working for all my life. Overall, I'm pretty happy with what I've done today."

Taylor said most scouts were skeptical of his speed, suspect that he did not have the type of lateral movement needed to excel in the NFL.

"I think the biggest thing (they questioned) was my hips and I had to show them my hip movement. A lot of people said all I had was straight-line speed, but I think I was able to show more than that."

Taylor was quick to praise North Carolina head coach Butch Davis and defensive line coach John Blake for their contacts in the league and for making him a better player as a senior.

"Coach Davis always uses Tiger Woods as an example and tells us to visualize making the play or doing our best," said Taylor. "I was able to visualize that today, running and going through the drills. When Coach Davis came in last year, he had us doing combine type drills, not just for this workout, but because those type of things help you in football. He's been a great help to me."

Rain, wind and threatening skies limited Barth to just off-field testing. Just as he was preparing to kick, a heavy sent scouts scurrying back to the Kenan Football Center and Barth looking forward to his next opportunity on April 1.

"I was disappointed I didn't get a chance to kick today because of the rain," said Connor. "All they did was get my height and weight and give me a bunch of personality tests. I'll have to come back on April 1 and kick again for the scouts."

The week has not been a total washout for Barth, who had a private work out for Seattle on Monday.

"There's only 32 kickers in the league so it's going to be tough," he said. "I'm going to give it two years and see where I am at that point."

Several current and former NFL Tar Heels were on hand to observe the workouts, including Baltimore center Jason Brown, Washington defensive end Tommy Davis and Miami cornerback Jacoby Watkins. Wide receiver Jesse Holley was also on hand, hoping to land with an NFL squad after being released last year by Cincinnati.