S Nick Cross
NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 29: Nick Cross #3 of the Maryland Terrapins sacks Connor Blumrick #4 of the Virginia Tech Hokies forcing a fumble during the fourth quarter of the New Era Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium on December 29, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)
If the Patriots are going to lean into the whole ‘positionless secondary’ thing, then Cross would make a lot of sense and is expected to go towards the end of Day 2. He played a variety of roles for Maryland, lining up at both free safety and in the box for the Terrapins, as well as taking snaps at linebacker and slot corner. The coaching staff trusted him with a range of assignments from stopping the run to rushing the quarterback to covering large zones on the back end.
Cross is a willing, physical tackler in the run game, and has good ball skills in coverage. On top of that, he’s an excellent athlete. Cross had the best 40 (4.34 seconds) of all safeties at the Combine, and finished top five in both the vertical (37″) and broad (10’10”) jumps.
TE Chigoziem Okonkwo
Sep 4, 2021; College Park, Maryland, USA; Maryland Terrapins tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo (9) catches a pass and runs for a touchdown during the first quarter against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium. Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports
Okonkwo was one of the players profiled in yesterday’s tight end positional preview. At 6-foot-2, 238 pounds he projects as more of a move tight end who is a threat with the ball in his hands. He ran the fastest 40 (4.52 seconds) and had the second-highest vertical (35.5″) of all the tight ends at the combine.
With Jakob Johnson now in Las Vegas, is now the time for the Patriots to add that H-back role to their offense? If so, Okonkwo could be a candidate for the role on Day 3 of the draft.
Other workouts
May 31, 2021; East Hartford, Connecticut, USA; Maryland attack Jared Bernhardt (1) moves the ball against Virginia during the first half in the 2021 NCAA D1 Men’s Lacrosse Championship at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field. Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
The Terrapins had five other players take part in the workout, all projected UDFAs. They are running back Tayon Fleet-Davis, defensive linemen Sam Okuayinonu and Lawtez Rogers, defensive back Jordan Mosley, and kicker Joseph Petrino.
Sometimes at Power Five Pro Days, prospects from smaller schools will join the workouts to gain exposure. That was the case on Thursday, with Division-II Ferris State quarterback Jared Bernhardt on the field as well. While Bernhardt isn’t expected to be drafted and may not even end up in an NFL training camp, his background is one that would likely attract the Patriots’ attention.
Before joining Ferris State as the Bulldogs’ quarterback for their undefeated national championship season, Bernhardt had spent five years at Maryland – playing lacrosse. He didn’t just play either, he was dominant. Maryland has traditionally been a lacrosse powerhouse, but he re-wrote the record books setting new schools records in just about every major career and single-season statistical category. In 2021 he was a finalist for the Tewaaraton Award, which is given to the best player in the nation each season.
On top of all of that, Bernhardt also comes from a football family. His dad Jim was a long-time football coach, and worked for former Patriots assistant Bill O’Brien both at Penn State and with the Houston Texans.
Bernhardt worked out as a quarterback, receiver, and defensive back at the Pro Day. He told reporters after the workout he’s open to playing any position on the field. His best way onto a roster would be through versatility, especially if he shows he can contribute on special teams.
