NFL teams are always mining the later rounds of the draft for under-the-radar gems with tons of potential. Valdosta State cornerback Stephen Denmark has the tools to be one of those players in this year’s class.

Denmark recently spoke exclusively with Draft Wire about his impressive pro day workout, his transition from wide receiver, and why he’ll make an impact at the next level.

JM: You had a huge pro day. You showcased 4.4 speed, and you also put up a 43.5-inch vertical. Those are great numbers for a defensive back that measures in at 6-foot-3, 220 pounds.

SD: It went pretty great. I tried not to think too much about it. I just went out there and performed. It’s football. I’ve been doing this my entire life.

JM: Did you chat with any teams afterwards?

SD: I had some chats afterwards, yeah. I actually did some position drills with a couple of coaches. The Falcons, 49ers and Titans were there. There were a few more. I had a lot of scouts present.

JM: Going more in-depth, what about private visits and workouts?

SD: I had top-30 visits with the Browns and Steelers. I worked out privately for the Saints, Titans, & Cardinals. I’ve had some discussions with the Dolphins, Redskins, Eagles and Colts. I might still make a top 30 visit to Indianapolis.

JM: You’ve only been playing defensive back for a year. Are you still learning the position?

SD: It’s been a pretty smooth transition. It was challenging at first, but I just have to keep working at it. I have to continue to perfect my craft.

JM: You’re a converted receiver and you ran track, as well. Did those help get you acclimated with playing cornerback?

SD: The receiver aspect helped me a lot. When I line up, I have a pretty good idea of what the receiver is doing based off my history as a wide receiver. Track helps with the speed of course. I’m running backwards now instead of forwards. I’ve always been a runner. It’s natural. Backpedaling was a bit of a transition but that background definitely sped up my learning process.

JM: You played your college ball at Valdosta State. What was your experience like playing D-II?

SD: It’s not what people think it is. There’s a lot of good players at the D-II level. I had D-I offers coming out of high school. I went D-II because I felt it was better for me at the time. Most people look at it like a bad thing but I took it as an opportunity I can really focus on, especially going through a position change. I don’t think the gap is as large as some people think. Football is still football. I was still playing against some excellent athletes.

JM: Tell me more about the level of competition.

SD: NFL teams haven’t brought that up in my discussions with them. I’m sure they have their questions, but football is football. There’s competition at every level. You just have to go out there and play your game.

JM: Why should a team use one of their draft picks on Stephen Denmark?

SD: A team should use one of their draft picks on me because they’re getting an excellent athlete. I can’t wait to come in and work hard. I’m gonna put my head down and get to work. I have great ball skills and my best football is still in front of me. I’m gonna be a great team player.