Pitt Players Look to Improve Draft Stock at Pro Day

The Pitt Panthers held their annual Pro Day on Wednesday and a few Panthers may have solidified their position of being drafted. Representatives from all 32 NFL teams were in attendance to see 12 Pitt players and 2 local college players make their case to be drafted or signed as a rookie free agent.

Wide receiver Konata Mumpfield and offensive lineman Branson Taylor are consistently considered the two Panthers who will hear their names called during the NFL Draft in April. However three players increased their chances of being added to NFL rosters.

 Kicker Ben Sauls, safety Donovan McMillon and linebacker Brandon George have also been mentioned as potential draft picks. All three players increased their draft stock today with impressive showings.

Ben Sauls, Kicker

Sauls has been mentioned frequently as a potential late round pick as it’s difficult to find a kicker as consistent as he has been. In 2024, Sauls hit on 87.5% of his kicks, going 21-24 on field goals. He also hit 44 of 44 extra points to finish the season with 107 points.

 At Pro Day, Sauls missed his first kick then reeled off 10 straight. The highlight of Sauls’ kicks was a 58 yarder that cleared with plenty of room to spare. Having a kicker who has the leg and accuracy of Sauls, especially one who hit most of those field goals at Accrisure Stadium, would be a huge win for any NFL franchise.

“It’s huge,” Sauls said to the media after his Pro Day concluded regarding being able to kick successfully at Accricure Stadium. “I’ve gotten a lot of props from a lot of different teams in the NFL. Like, you know you’ve had a great career but you also did in Heinz or Accrisure whatever you want to call it.”

(pic Instagram)

Donovan McMillon, Safety

McMillon, a southwestern Pennsylvania native, started his college career at Florida. But after two seasons he transferred home to Pitt. In those two years McMillon amassed 220 tackles, 109 of which were solo tackles. While he does not have the turnover statistics typically associated with most safeties, McMillon was very good in making plays when Pitt needed them defensively.

He was also the first Pitt player to record back-to-back 100 tackle seasons since Scott McKillop did it back in 2007-2008. McMillon tested well at the Pro Day, coming in at 6-feet-1 1/5-inches and 203 pounds. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.47 seconds and put up 225-pounds 21 times in the bench press. 

McMillon feels he answered questions about his speed with his 40 time and also feels it is an asset playing as safety in coach Pat Narduzzi’s defense. “With Coach Narduzzi’s defense there’s nothing better for a safety,” McMillon said when speaking to the media today. “You’re going to have lots of tackles, you’re going to be able to show what you have to do to possibly get drafted.”

(pic- Pittsburgh Post Gazette)

Brandon George, Linebacker

George has received the least amount of draft attention heading into Pro Day. That may change after today’s showing at Pro Day. Standing at 6-foot-3-inches and a chiseled 246 pounds, George put on a performance for the scouts and assembled media to let NFL franchises know he’s worth the pick.

George’s vertical jump of 42.5 was tops among the participants and his unofficial 40-Yard Dash time of 4.63 seconds would have put him in the middle of the pack for linebackers at the NFL Combine.

 Where George shined was in the bench press where he put up 225 pounds 28 times, again leading all participants. The 28 reps also would have beaten all linebackers at the combine. George was pleased with his performance at Pro Day.

“I feel like I did well overall,” he said to the media after his events were done. “I feel like I showed my athleticism. I feel like I showed that even though I’m 246 pounds I could still move well for being that weight.”

Heading into Pitt’s Pro Day, the Panthers were more than likely looking at only 1 or 2 players being drafted at the NFL Draft April 24-26. While the Panthers will not have someone drafted on day 1 of the draft, they could get as many as 5 players taken overall.  

(pic from Audacy)

T.J. Chapman is a writer for Sportsvival