Pro Day Risers: The Bell Tolls In Storrs; Deuces Up In Pitt & Much Love At Wake, Plus More Workout Winners
All Access Football special guest contributor Anthony Russo recaps some of the pro day standouts popping onto the NFL radar.
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PRO DAYS: FINAL PUSH TOWARDS DESTINATION PITTSBURGH
Pro day season is winding down and the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh is just 22 days away! In today’s edition of the All Access Football Newsletter, special guest contributor Anthony Russo is back with another addition of ‘Pro Day Risers.’
Below are six standouts from the pro day trails this past week, including a potential top-50 wide receiver, a surprise top 100 candidate and one quarterback that has the scouting community buzzing! Keep reading for more…
*Thirsty for more NFL Draft content? Be sure to check out Anthony Russo on Substack.
UConn WR Skyler Bell (5115/192)
UConn route running technician Skyler Bell put on quite a show at the NFL Combine last month, so it wasn’t clear what he’d do at his pro day. He proceeded to lay down elite times of 4.11 in the short shuttle and 6.65 in the three-cone drill. It’s no longer a secret that Bell is a top-tier athlete and when combined with his uber production, it’s hard to envision him escaping the second day of the draft.
MORE ON BELL VIA BOSTON SPORTS JOURNAL
It was an arousing overall workout for Bell, who stated a strong case amongst the NFL decision-makers that he is worthy of a top pick next month. The 5-foot-11, 192-pound wideout is considered a bit undersized but brings extreme speed, registering a 4.40 forty-yard at the combine. He proceeded to lay down some impressive marks at his pro day timing 4.11 in the short shuttle and 6.65 in the three-cone, a testament to his sudden burst and change of direction capability.
A precision route runner, Bell becoming the first player in UConn history to record 12 receiving touchdowns in a single season, surpassing the previous record of 11 set by Carl Bond in 1998. He admitted to having an in-season text exchange with former Patriots wideout Stefon Diggs, a player he said that he resembles from a playing style. His quick feet, shiftiness and top-end speed were on full display throughout the day.
For Bell, he has impressed every step of the way throughout the draft performance. With solid showings at the East-West Shrine Bowl, NFL Combine and pro day, he has now positioned himself to be a potential Day 2 selection come April “It’s football, at the end of the day,” Bell said post-workout. “I come out here, I did my shuttles, and after that, I’m just running routes, man. It is what I have been doing for a while now, so I am just trying to put my skills on display, stay smooth, look fast and catch everything.” — Original Article Here Courtesy of Ric Serritella
Texas Tech SAF Cole Wisniewski (6033/214)
A quiet favorite in the scouting community, the North Dakota State transfer had a solid day at the Texas Tech pro day. Wisniewski checked every box physically coming in at 6-foot-3 and 219 pounds, with 34.5” arms. He then proceeded to record a 36.5” vertical jump and 10-2’ broad jump. A true strong safety who isn’t afraid to drop deep due to his deceptive range, don’t be shocked to see Wisniewski wind up being a ‘surprise’ top 100 selection.
Pittsburgh WR Deuce Spann (6030/201)
With little fanfare entering his pro day, Pittsburgh wideout Deuce Spann provided NFL scouts some extra homework, as they were forced to circle back to the film to make sure they didn’t skip over a diamond in the rough. At 6-foot-3 and 201 pounds, Spann timed 4.36 in the forty-yard dash and added an impressive 38” vertical jump. The sixth year senior doesn’t have much production and will likely land as an undrafted free agent but he absolutely showed there’s at least some tools to work with. Spann could very well see the field as a kick returner in the pros.
Alabama QB Ty Simpson (6011/211)
The single most talked about player in the NFL Draft raft in recent weeks, Simpson had a strong pro day, regardless of your thoughts on him as a prospect. He looked smooth and confident, showing off some nice touch passes and ball placement. Time will tell how the league actually views Simpson and whether or not he’s a first round pick. It’s hard to place too much stock in pro days for quarterbacks but there’s no doubt Simpson is ready to compete.
Houston CB Latrell McCutchin Sr (6017/191)
Very quietly, McCutchin has put together a strong draft season. After an excellent week at the American Bowl, he proceeded to test very well in Indy and then delivered at his pro day workout once again. Despite not testing at the workout, McCutchin received rave reviews for his positional drill work. Several teams have shown interest in him as a potential depth-piece in the secondary. McCutchin also boasts immense special teams value with his combination of length, athleticism and competitiveness.
Wake Forest DT Jayden Loving (6021/308)
One of the top pro day performances from this past week included Jayden Loving of Wake Forest. Slightly undersized, he stated a strong case for himself, posting 33 bench press reps of 225 pounds, clocking 4.82 in the forty-yard dash, along with a 35” vertical jump and 9-3 broad jump. A fifth-year senior who needs to work on pad level and his penetration into the backfield more consistently, Loving clearly owns some athletic tools that could make him a late Day 3 selection.
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