Scouts not enthusiastic about Dorian Thompson-Robinson switching job
Dorian Thompson-Robinson had a secret plan to raise his draft inventory.
“I don’t think anybody else knows this,” he mentioned with a sly smile.
At UCLA’s professional day, Thompson-Robinson needed to carry out drills that might showcase his potential to play positions aside from quarterback.
“Just try and show a different look and add value to myself,” he mentioned.
The response from the NFL scouts who visited Spaulding Field on Wednesday: Don’t trouble.
“They want to see me as a quarterback,” Thompson-Robinson mentioned.
Thompson-Robinson was inspired by the event.
A five-year starter at UCLA, Thompson-Robinson is taken into account a fringe NFL prospect. He could possibly be a late-round choice within the draft subsequent month. Or he couldn’t be picked in any respect.
The uncertainty didn’t look like weighing on the 23-year-old Thompson-Robinson as he addressed a small group of reporters after throwing passes to different draft-eligible Bruins, equivalent to Zach Charbonnet, Jake Bobo, Kazmeir Allen and Michael Ezeike.
“You can’t really control things outside your control,” Thompson-Robinson mentioned.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson throws to a slicing receiver throughout UCLA professional day.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
And he thinks he has managed what he may.
After UCLA’s nine-win season, Thompson-Robinson moved to Orange County to work out underneath quarterback coach Jordan Palmer, together with fellow prospects Will Levis (Kentucky), Hendon Hooker (Tennessee), Max Duggan (Texas Christian) and Clayton Tune (Houston).
Thompson-Robinson additionally educated with pace efficiency coach Les Spellman.
The preparation resulted in a constructive exhibiting final month on the NFL mix, at which Thompson-Robinson registered the quickest throw by any quarterback at 62 mph. (Possible No. 1 general choose Anthony Richardson was second-fastest at 60 mph.)
“Palmer kept telling us that of all the guys he’s training, he has the best zip on the ball,” mentioned Sam Mirza, one among Thompson-Robinson’s brokers at Equity Sports.
Thompson-Robinson even measured at 6 foot 2, an inch taller than he was listed by UCLA.
“You measure him in the morning, he’s an inch taller,” Mirza joked.
Still, Thompson-Robinson is conscious he stays a goal of criticism.
“Very aware,” he mentioned with amusing.
He is aware of there may be skepticism about his consistency and whether or not he could make “gimme” performs.
“If you check over the last two years and really watch the tape, you’ll see there’s a different player than the assumption that’s put out there before I even step on the field,” Thompson-Robinson mentioned. “I know I wasn’t the best player in my first few years here, and really even in [the COVID-shortened 2020 season]. But I guarantee you that there’s not many players’ films out there that can compete with ours the last two years here.”
To his level: His completion proportion of .696 ranked sixth within the nation final season and established a college file.
UCLA quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (1) works out for skilled scouts on the college’s professional day forward of the NFL draft.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
Thompson-Robinson was a divisive determine for almost all of his faculty profession. The method he managed to vary the fan base’s notion of him is one thing his brokers hope may be helpful on the subsequent degree.
“I think any time you have a man who has faced a sense of adversity and grown from it and won over fans, that’s a trait not many have,” mentioned Derek Hawkridge, who represents Thompson-Robinson with Mirza.
Thompson-Robinson mentioned he met with a “handful” of groups on the mix in Indianapolis.
“When I walked into one meeting, I got a basketball thrown at me and I had to make free throws,” he mentioned.
Thompson-Robinson laughed.
“I missed all but one,” he mentioned. “So they definitely knew not to put me on the basketball team.”
Asked what he would possibly do if he isn’t drafted, Thompson-Robinson replied, “I have no thoughts at all.”
He smiled.
“I actually do,” he mentioned. “I have business plans and all that stuff. I’ve made plenty of connections at UCLA.”
Thompson-Robinson mentioned his mom obtained his diploma within the mail a couple of month in the past.
“But I’m not worried about that stuff,” he mentioned. “I know football’s going to work out.”
If Thompson-Robinson doesn’t land with an NFL group as a drafted participant or an undrafted free agent, would he take a detour to a different league to chase his dream?
“That’s more of a question for about two months from now,” he mentioned. “I was out here in front of [a] million NFL scouts and not CFL and XFL scouts. So right now, my mindset’s on the NFL until I hear otherwise.”
Thompson-Robinson was nonetheless smiling. He was calm. He spoke like somebody with a UCLA diploma in hand, which spoke effectively of him and coach Chip Kelly’s program. He has a promising future. The solely query is whether or not that future consists of the NFL.