BATON ROUGE, La. –- In his mind, Glenn Dorsey didn't need an answer to the speculation surrounding his health heading into April's NFL Draft.
The defensive tackle likely put an end to those medical conerns while at the same time solidifying his status as a top five pick at Louisiana State University's annual pro workout day on Wednesday.
Dorsey provided dozens of NFL scouts and coaches with his first official pre-draft workout at the school's indoor practice facility. The slim-looking Dorsey, who measured 6-1½ and 297 pounds, did not attend the Senior Bowl or participate in workouts at the NFL Scouting Combine.
"I think I did pretty well; I came out and just worked hard to try to silence all the rumors," said Dorsey, referring to speculation about a leg injury he suffered in his junior season at LSU. "It's just a matter of coming out and doing what you do best. Everybody is going to say what they want to say. As long as you're taking care of your responsibilities it doesn't matter."
Dorsey participated in all of the testing and drills, including an intense and lengthy series of individual position-specific drills at the end of the session. He posted times of 5.13 and 5.15 in the 40, did 27 reps in the bench press and had a vertical leap of 25½ inches.
"I feel great," said Dorsey, who noted that the medical questions were not an issue with the teams, and that he had not been alerted to any medical problems following the thorough medical testing at the combine. "I feel like I came out and did well today, I gave it my all. They wanted to see what I had."
His decision not to work out at the combine started a series of rumors and wide-spread speculation about his health, including the possibility of lingering effects from previous injuries -– a fractured tibia and sprained MCL -– that could affect his draft status. Dorsey took time off prior to the combine following the death of his grandmother, and felt his pro day workout would be a more accurate picture after he was given time to prepare.
"I saw Glenn Dorsey do what I expected him to do," said NFL Network draft anaylyst Mike Mayock. "The most important thing for him was to just to show everybody that medically he's OK. He was explosive and quick."
Atlanta, St. Louis and Miami hold the top three picks in the draft. All 32 teams committed to Wednesday's event, and all three of the top teams were in attendance. In addition to scouts and position coaches, Kansas City head coach Herm Edwards, Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin and Vikings general manager Rick Spielman, as well as defensive coordinator Jim Haslett and Saints executive vice president and general manager Mickey Loomis were on hand.
Dorsey said he met with Dolphins defensive line coach Kacy Rodgers last night.
"I guarantee that St. Louis sitting there at No. 2 was real interested, and I know Atlanta at No. 3 has to be very interested," said Mayock, who after watching Dorsey's workout, elevated him above USC's Sedrick Ellis as his No. 1 defensive tackle prospect. "He's a top-five type of player that reminds me of Warren Sapp when he was coming out."
While Dorsey was the big draw of the workouts, his presence brought the attention of coaches and scouts on several of his teammates.
In his first mock draft, Pat Kirwan has the Falcons taking Glenn Dorsey with the third overall pick.
3. Atlanta Falcons: Dorsey brings the three-technique tackle the team desperately needs. It's a quarterback-driven league and a favorable late, private workout for the
Falcons could change this pick in (Matt) Ryan's favor.
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Wide receiver Early Doucet was able to display his health after injuries prematurely ended his season and derailed his pre-draft workouts. Doucet missed four games and saw minimal action in another last season with a groin problem, and also suffered a slight hamstring injury during a practice at the Senior Bowl. Since he was not able to work out at the combine, his workout on Wednesday –- with times of 4.59 and 4.60 in the 40 and had a vertical jump of 34.5 inches -– was his biggest chance to impress pro scouts.
He's hoping his game film, interviews and pro day performance is enough to get first-round attention.
"I just wanted to come out and show everybody I was healthy again, and I did that today," said Doucet. "You always want to do better, but that doesn't make a good football player. The 40 time is only one aspect of it."
Linebacker Luke Sanders posted impressive workout numbers across the board, with a 4.76 time in the 40, a 4.41 in the shuttle run, a 35½-inch vertical leap and 31 reps in the bench press. Linebacker Ali Highsmith, who ran a 5.0 40 at the combine, was able to lower his time to the high 4.7 range. Safety Craig Stelz, who had a shoulder injury and last appeared in the national championship game, ran a 4.63 in the 40 and had a vertical jump of 35 inches.
For the players who have lower rankings with the scouts, it might have been enough to prompt another look.
"I think the guy who really helped himself was Craig Steltz," said Mayock. "We haven't seen him since the national championship game. He jumped 35 inches, ran in the low 4.6's, he looked good in the positional drills. That puts him in the mix as a mid-round safety, which is where he belongs. He's a good football player."
A total of 19 players participated in the workouts, 16 of whom played for LSU last season.
