KANSAN.COM / THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN / THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2011 / NEWS
NEWS / 9A
FOOTBALL
Football players show their NFL potential to scouts
Mike Gunnoe/KANSAN
Senior wide receiver Johnathan Wilson catches the ball during drills at the pro day for the NFL Wednesday. Wilson finished his college career at Kansas with 1,461 yards receiving and five touchdowns.
Ochocinco tries out for KC soccer team
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Chad Ochocinco will try to play a different kind of football during the NFL lockout.
Never short on publicity-grabbing ideas, the Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver is set for a four-day tryout with Sporting Kansas City of Major League Soccer starting Tuesday.
MLS
The club said Wednesday that after the tryout, it would determine whether to extend the trial period.
"We always searching for players who can help our team and bringing in new talent," Sporting Kansas City manager Peter Vermes said. "We know that Chad is an exceptional athlete and that he loves the sport of soccer, and he did play a lot when he was younger. We're excited to see how his skills will translate once he arrives next week and begins training with our team."
Ochocinco started playing soccer at age 4 but those to focus on football in high school.
"Due to the NFL lockout, I'm excited to be able to follow my childhood dream of playing for a Major League Soccer team," Ochocinco said.
BY KORY CARPENTER
kcarpenter@kansan.com
With six weeks remaining until the NFL draft, the Kansas football program held its annual pro day on Wednesday morning. It was an opportunity for graduating seniors to showcase their skills in front of potential NFL employers.
Among the nearly 20 athletes on hand for workouts were offensive lineman Brad Thorson, receiver Johnathan Wilson, and defensive back Chris Harris.
Thorson, a former transfer from the University of Wisconsin, finished his Kansas career with 24 consecutive starts on the offensive line. Thorson found playing time at every position across the line while at Kansas, and he thinks
Thorson
that versatility will attract an NFL team.
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"I've played in three different systems," he said of Wisconsin's power run system, Mark Mangino's spread offense, and Turner Gill's balanced attack. "I have a com-
fortability with the game, and versatility across the line. I think it will help with teams filling out a roster."
Thorson said scouts are looking for him to be a guard or center at the next level. With a business degree and a master's in economics, the NFL labor situation isn't lost on Thorson.
Wilson finished his Kansas career with 119 receptions and over 1,400 yards receiving. The Houston native was satisfied with
"I cross my fingers that my name's called, and I cross my fingers that they can come to an agreement so I can keep playing football and stay in my little fantasy world a little bit longer."
"I felt pretty good," he said.
"My routes and individual work was pretty good. My training paid off."
After signing
his workouts.
Wilson
with agent Mark Magazu, Wilson has been working out six days a week in Long Beach, Calif., in preparation for Wednesday's workout and the potential training camp this
spring.
Defensive back Chris Harris was a four-year starter for the Jayhawks, and that accomplishment is something he hopes NFL teams will take note of.
"I've got a lot of film," he said jokingly. "If they need film, I've got a lot of film. They shouldn't have a problem with that. That should be the last thing they need right now."
season. The weight gain was to show scouts he was strong enough to play safety and fast enough to play cornerback. Like Thorson, the emphasis on versatility
Harris weighs 195 pounds, and said he played at 188 pounds this
Harris
was something Harris noted multiple times after his workouts. In the 40-yard dash, he ran a 4.47 seconds.
"I actually ran slower than what I usually do," he said afterwards. "I wanted to run a 4.3 today. That was my goal, but I'll take 4.4."
Edited by Corey Thibodeaux
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