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cavalier sports APRIL 2019 7 BUILD YOUR WEALTH WITH A FULL FIDUCIARY Stuart F. Pierson, Jr. Owner & Founder, MS Tax Piedmont Capital Asset Management LLC Contact Me Today To Learn More! 800-369-7210 Toll Free 434-987-3316 Charlottesville, VA s p i e r s o n @ p i e d m o n t c a p i t a l . n e t • M Y P I E D M O N T C A P I TA L . C O M Piedmont Capital Asset Management LLC A Registered Investment Advisor behind the scenes The Cavaliers And The NFL Draft T he NFL Draft was less than three weeks away when representatives from all 32 NFL teams came to Charlottesville for UVA's annual Pro Timing Day March 28. Among the former Wahoo players hop- ing to catch the eye of pro scouts were of- fensive tackle Marcus Applefield, tight end Evan Butts, punter Lester Coleman, tailback Jordan Ellis, offensive guard Jake Fieler, cornerback Tim Harris, linebacker Chris Peace, long snapper Joe Spaziani, safety Juan Thornhill and wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus. Thornhill, in particular, was on the scouts' radar after making a huge splash at the NFL Combine in late February and early March at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The Altavista, Va., native officially clocked a 4.42 in the 40-yard dash, which tied for ninth among all defensive backs (and ranked fifth among safeties), and posted 21 reps on the bench press, which ranked second among secondary players this year. However, he posted historic numbers in two other tests. He led all 2019 defensive backs with a broad jump of 141 inches, which tied for second since 2000 among such players, and posted a vertical leap of 44 inches, which tied for fifth in that span. "I don't think anyone out- side of our program knew the kind of amazing athlete that he is," UVA head coach Bronco Mendenhall told The Daily Progress. They do now. "I wouldn't be shocked at all if he goes late in the first round," ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper noted during a teleconference previewing the 2019 NFL Draft. "At the latest, he's an early second-round pick. "He's a very underrated player. I love how he competes. He's a good cover guy, has good strength and is a phenomenal athlete." Kiper ranked Thornhill No. 3 among draft-eligible safeties. Harris also turned some heads at the Vir- ginia's pro day. The cornerback reportedly posted a 4.4 40-yard dash, a 39-inch vertical jump and a 139-inch broad jump. Harris is projected to be a late third- day draft pick, somewhere between rounds four and six. Meanwhile, TheDraft- Network.com named Zac- cheaus to their February NFL Draft All-Sleeper Team, and CBSSports.com called the Virginia wideout one of the biggest combine snubs, saying: "Zaccheaus projects perfectly to a slot/gadget po- sition in the pros." Zaccheaus pulled down 93 receptions for 1,073 yards in 2019. Virginia's career recep- tion leader could be picked as early as the fourth round. NFL.com ranks Ellis as the 35th-best running back in the draft. He is a projected fourth- to sixth-round pick. CBSSports.com has Coleman rated as the No. 2 punter in the draft and projects him as a late sixth- to seventh-round selection. The 2019 NFL Draft will be held April 25-27 in Nashville, Tenn. — Greg Waters Thornhill posted historic num- bers in two tests at the NFL Com- bine, leading all defensive backs with a broad jump of 141 inches (tied for second in that position group since 2000) and a vertical leap of 44 inches (tied for fifth). PHOTO COURTESY NFL.COM