Clemson Pro Day: Ray-Ray McCloud flashes versatility, NFL scouts get look at Ryan Carter

It may have lacked the fanfare of last year's event but Clemson held its annual football pro day Thursday for 18 former Tigers.

Players, scouts, and agents filled Clemson's Poe Indoor Facility as each athlete participated in a number of drills for NFL scouts. Although five former Clemson players made an appearance at this year's NFL Scouting Combine, Thursday provided much-needed exposure for the remaining 13 athletes who either weren't invited or are looking to get back into the league.

A few notes from pro day include:

- Ray-Ray McCloud said he was disappointed with his 40-yard dash time at the NFL Combine and set out to improve it Thursday. He didn't have the specific times but I unofficially clocked him at both a 4.40 and a 4.51; he told reporters that scouts had him in the high 4.3s and the low 4.4s. Either way, it's an improvement over the 4.53 he ran in Indianapolis.

- Ryan Carter was inexplicably shunned from the NFL Combine, despite the fact that he was arguably Clemson's best cornerback in 2017. He looked noticeably bigger Thursday, probably to prove to scouts that he can hold his own at the line of scrimmage. He put up an impressive 16 reps of 225 pounds and didn't look any slower than he did during the season.

- Several players who weren't on last season's team participated in drills Thursday, including Jay Guillermo, Jadar Johnson, Adrian Baker, Tyshon Dye, and Korrin Wiggins. Guillermo was particularly impressive, putting up 36 reps on the bench press.

- Deon Cain did not run the 40-yard dash nor the shuttle drills and passed on the bench press, as well. It's not surprising after he ran a 4.41 in Indianapolis — he had nowhere to go but down. He did have a lengthy conversation with a scout from the Arizona Cardinals and ran routes with McCloud. He's another player from Clemson's 2017 team that's clearly been putting in time at the gym; he looks ready to take on the physical punishment of the NFL.

- Dorian O'Daniel ran both linebacker and defensive back drills and drew attention from essentially every scout in the building. He tested as one of the most athletic linebackers at the NFL Combine but his size and perceived lack of aggression at the point of attack has some scouts wondering what position he's meant to play in the NFL.

- Drew Costa, one of my favorite stories from this season, spent a lot of time kicking for a scout from the New York Jets. The scout also looked at Christian Groomes. The Jets probably won't draft either player, but for Costa, going from mid-season walk-on to working out for an NFL scout has to be a cool feeling. Good for him.

- Jadar Johnson spoke at length on his journey away from football over the past seven months. It's a story worth reading (yes, this is a shameless plug but I'm not wrong).

More: 'I'm happy:' Clemson's Jadar Johnson back after leaving football to work on mental health

- Several current Clemson players were in attendance, some of whom will attract nearly every scout in the league next year. Christian Wilkins, Austin Bryant, Clelin Ferrell, and Dexter Lawrence could very well be first-round picks next year and got an early look at what to expect during their impending pro day.

- Another bit on Ray-Ray McCloud, he told reporters NFL teams are looking at him exclusively as a wide receiver. However, he did participate in defensive back drills and returned punts for a large crowd

- Notable results: Tyrone Crowder, 32 bench press reps; Marcus Edmond, 4.49 40-yard dash; Ray-Ray McCloud, 34.5" vertical jump