Excited to work and get better every day’: Duke football’s NFL prospects demonstrate skills at 2025 Pro Day

Excited to work and get better every day’: Duke football’s NFL prospects demonstrate skills at 2025 Pro Day

 

Athletes, all hoping to have their names called in the NFL draft in April, had another opportunity to showcase their skills inside Pascal Field House.

Some of the players who helped Duke football surpass expectations in its first season under head coach Manny Diaz took part in the program’s Pro Day Monday. These prospects took part in a number of tests and position drills while friends, family, and a large number of NFL scouts watched. These featured, among other things, the wide jump, shuttle, and 40-yard dash.

Jordan Moore, the day’s top prospect and a graduate wide receiver, had a strong final game as a Blue Devil. The official Instagram account for Duke football posted that the Sykesville, Maryland native completed with a 36-inch vertical.
I believe I performed admirably,” Moore remarked. “I have to give my trainers and my teammates around me all the credit. Between them, I know I can perform at my best.

Moore had eight touchdowns and a career-high 861 receiving yards at the end of the 2024 campaign. He played quarterback his whole freshman season, but he still ranks 10th all-time in Blue Devil receiving yards.

Regarding what NFL teams would receive from him, Moore stated, “They’re getting a dog, one of the smartest players on the field.” “I possess every intangible. You won’t have to worry about anything off the field because I make plays. I have strong morals, I’m clean, and I look forward to working and improving every day.

Moore was one of the day’s main attractions, along with linebackers Alex Howard and Ozzie Nicholas, defensive tackle Kendy Charles, and wide receiver Eli Pancol.

Pancol had a highly unusual career in Durham. The native of Pendleton, Indiana, played football for Duke for six seasons overall, but he missed the entire 2023 campaign due to a leg injury.

His 188-yard, three-touchdown effort against Virginia Tech on November 23 of the 2024 season was the high point of his triumphant comeback.

According to Duke football’s Instagram post, Pancol’s unofficial 4.33-second 40-yard sprint was the highlight of his Pro Day, drawing applause from his fellow Blues. During his Pro Day, Charles put up a good show. For the majority of the 2024 season, , Florida graduate student was a formidable presence on Duke’s defensive line, recording 1.5 sacks in the Blue Devils’ victory over Virginia Tech on November 23. The audience applauded Charles’ broad jump.

Despite having 89 tackles and a team-high 15 tackles for loss at the end of the 2024 season, Howard occasionally faltered on his Pro Day due to errors in the wide jump and shuttle. In the latter, the Cincinnati native finished at 10 feet 2 inches.

In Duke’s victory over Florida State on October 18, Nicholas, who transferred from Princeton to play his last year of NCAA eligibility with the Blue Devils, recorded a team-high 100 tackles and a standout interception.

Nicholas declared, “I’m a guy that’s going to go out there and be the first one to rep a drill.” “A guy who truly cares about football and loves his game will be acquired by any team that signs me.”