Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com APRIL 2019 51 IRISH IN THE PROS DRUE TRANQUILL, LINEBACKER Bench: 31 reps (1st) 40-Yard Dash: 4.57 seconds (tied 7th) Vertical Jump: 37.5 inches (tied 5th) Broad Jump: 122 inches (tied 9th) Three-Cone Drill: 6.94 seconds (6th) 20-Yard Shuttle: 4.14 seconds (tied 5th) pSPARQ Score: 137.2 (5th) Recap: An argument could be made that no player helped his draft stock more than Tranquill. Known as a smart and instinctive player with tremen- dous leadership ability, he was able to show he has athleticism that is compa- rable to the nation's best linebackers. Tranquill led all linebackers with 31 bench reps, showing the strength to handle the rigors of playing closer to the line. His 4.57 in the 40-yard dash and his explosive numbers were im- pressive. The most surprising aspect of his performance was his agility num- bers in the three-cone drill and 20-yard shuttle. During on-field drills, the former Irish captain backed up his numbers. Following up a strong Senior Bowl, in which he was named the top line- backer at the event, with a dominant performance at the combine is likely to give Tranquill's draft stock a signifi- cant boost. JERRY TILLERY, DEFENSIVE TACKLE Bench: 23 reps (14th) 40-Yard Dash: 4.93 seconds (2nd) Vertical Jump: 32 inches (tied 3rd) Broad Jump: 115 inches (tied 3rd) Three-Cone Drill: 7.45 seconds (1st) 20-Yard Shuttle: 4.33 seconds (1st) pSPARQ Score: 125.1 (1st) Recap: Tillery had the best testing performance of any interior defensive lineman, finishing in the top three in all five movement tests. That includes a position-best 4.33 in the 20-yard shuttle and a 7.45 in the three-cone drill. His 4.93 in the 40-yard dash ranked second among defensive tackles. His 23 reps on the bench ranked 14th, but Tillery played the final eight games of the 2018 season with a torn labrum, making his performance in the test better in context. During on-field drills, Tillery dis- played excellent movement ability. Athletes with his length and size rarely show the kind of suddenness and flex- ibility that he put on display. When his testing numbers and production are compared to first-round picks at his position the last five years, he stacks up extremely well. DEXTER WILLIAMS, RUNNING BACK Bench: 17 reps (18th) 40-Yard Dash: 4.57 seconds (tied 11th) Vertical Jump: 36 inches (tied 6th) Broad Jump: 130 inches (tied 1st) Three-Cone Drill: 7.00 seconds (3rd) 20-Yard Shuttle: 4.16 seconds (2nd) pSPARQ Score: 132.2 (4th) Recap: After starting off with a rela- tively disappointing 40-yard dash, Wil- liams went on to put together a strong all-around performance. He showed his explosiveness by posting a 130-inch broad jump, which tied for the best mark of all the running backs. He ranked second in the 20-yard shuttle, third in the three-cone drill and had the sixth-best vertical jump, which helped him finish with the fourth-best pSPARQ score at running back. Williams looked quick and explosive during on-field testing, but he strug- gled to catch the football, which will be a knock on his overall performance. NBA PLAYER UPDATES Through March 6 • Bonzie Colson (Played at Notre Dame from 2014-18), F, Milwaukee Bucks: Signed a two-year, two-way contract with the Bucks Jan. 15 … Has spent most of his time since with the Wisconsin Herd of the G League, but he did play in one game with Milwaukee Feb. 25 … In 38 G League games with the Herd (15) and Canton Charge (23), he has averaged 15.4 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per contest. • Pat Connaughton (2011-15), G, Milwaukee Bucks: Played in 43 contests for the 48-16, Eastern Conference-leading Bucks … Was averaging 5.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 0.5 blocks per game, while shooting 43.2 percent from the field and 27.7 percent from three-point range. • Jerian Grant (2011-15), G, Orlando Magic: Saw action in 51 games with one start for 30-36 Orlando … Was averaging 4.1 points, 2.8 assists and 1.7 rebounds per game, while shooting 40.7 percent from the floor and 34.1 percent from three-point range. NHL PLAYER UPDATES Through March 6 • Anders Bjork (Played at Notre Dame from 2014-17), F, Boston Bruins: Sidelined for the sea- son after undergoing surgery on his left shoulder in mid-January … Played in 20 games, and notched one goal and two assists prior to getting hurt … Stood minus-1. • Ian Cole (2007-10), D, Colorado Avalanche: Tallied 11 points in 56 games … Had 10 assists and one goal, and stood plus-4. • Erik Condra (2005-09), RW, Dallas Stars: Was recalled from the AHL Jan. 3 and saw action in six games … Notched one goal and stood minus-2 before being sent back down to the AHL Jan. 16. • Steven Fogarty (2012-16), C, New York Rang- ers: Saw action in 10 contests in late November and early December before being sent down to the AHL …. Didn't record any points and stood minus-1. • Vinnie Hinostroza (2013-15), C, Arizona Coy- otes: Has already set career highs for games played (56), goals (11), assists (19) and points (30) … Stood minus-7. • Stephen Johns (2010-14), D, Dallas Stars: Has not played this season due to a head injury … There was still no timetable for a return to the ice. • Anders Lee (2010-13), F, New York Islanders: Earned ice time in 66 contests and contributed 43 points … Had 23 goals and 20 assists, and stood plus-14. • Kyle Palmieri (2009-10) F, New Jersey Dev- ils: Played in 63 contests and tallied 48 points … Scored 26 goals, distributed 22 assists and stood minus-4. • Cal Petersen (2014-17), G, Los Angeles Kings: Saw action in 11 contests with 10 starts in Novem- ber and December, before being sent down to the AHL … Sported a 5-4 record, a 2.60 goals-against average and a .924 save percentage … Notched one shutout. • Bryan Rust (2010-14), F, Pittsburgh Penguins: Recorded 17 goals and 14 assists while seeing ac- tion in 62 contests … Stood plus-10. • Riley Sheahan (2009-12), F, Florida Panthers: Traded to the Panthers from the Penguins Feb. 1 … In 49 games for Pittsburgh, he had seven goals and two assists while posting a minus-7 … In his first 17 outings for Florida, he had one goal and five assists, and stood minus-3. ✦ Bonzie Colson joined the Milwaukee Bucks orga- nization in mid-January and made his regular- season NBA debut Feb. 25. PHOTO COURTESY MILWAUKEE BUCKS