TicketsPrior to Wednesday's NFL Pro Day workouts in the Sheakley Athletics Center Bubble, here's how a few draft-related websites described Bearcats' safety Darrick Forrest:
• "A sufficient athlete"
• "Projected 40 time = 4.6"
• "Lacks long speed"
Uhh, it's time for some major updates.
With representatives from 29 NFL teams in attendance, Forrest's unofficial Pro Day results matched the numbers posted earlier on Wednesday by LSU wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase – a likely Top 10 pick – as each of them ran a 4.38 40-yard dash and broad jumped 11 feet. Chase's 41-inch vertical jump only topped Forrest by two inches.
"I was just trying to show that I'm a good athlete," said Forrest. "My film sometimes didn't show that, but I'm a freak athlete."
Forrest was a three-year starter at Cincinnati and arguably the most consistent player on the AAC's most dominant defense, posting Pro Football Focus grades of 73.3, 73.4, and 76.1 in his final three seasons. The Columbus native led the team in tackles as a junior, earned all-league honors in his final two years, and finished his UC career with six interceptions.
"I'm a guy that's going to be consistent," said Forrest. "I'm a guy that's a great tackler. And I have ball skills."
Darrick was also a team captain as a senior and thinks that will help his NFL draft status as much as his impressive Pro Day workout.
"A lot of different NFL coaches love that because it's a quality trait and a characteristic," he said. "A lot of teams see that I'm a guy that's going to be a leader and a lot of teams need that. Especially coming off of a Covid year because you can't really do too much. There's limited preseason so if you can bring in guys that are leaders, I think that will help the locker room.
"I'll make an impact on the field, but I'll also make a huge impact off the field."
Forrest's chances of sticking with an NFL team could depend of his ability to contribute right away on special teams. It's a challenge that Darrick welcomes.
"I actually love special teams," he said. "So I'm going to use that to my advantage and show teams that I can be a resource to them on special teams and hopefully that will help me get a roster spot."
He helped himself on Wednesday knowing that a fast 40-yard dash could have a huge impact on his NFL future.
"Before my 40, I got a little nervous," said Forrest. "It's all about that mental toughness and pulling yourself through."
Did Wednesday's 4.38 40-time ensure that he'll be drafted?
"I believe that it did," he said. "I believe that a team is going to take a chance on me in one of the lower rounds."
The team that selects Forrest will be getting a player that fully capitalized on his four years at UC.
"One, I've graduated so I feel like Cincinnati has prepared me to be a man and prepared me to be successful off the field," said Forrest. "I would say another thing is that they prepared me to be a guy that is going to have high character. I'm going to go out there and be my best. I have good characteristics and I feel like Cincinnati has prepared me to be the best that I can be – especially moving forward and going towards the league."
I'd love to hear from you at Dan.Hoard@Bengals.nfl.net
If you're on Twitter, you can follow my tweets at http://twitter.com/Dan_Hoard
BUY 2021 SEASON TICKETS NOW!
Season tickets for the 2021 University of Cincinnati football campaign are on sale now and represent the best value for Bearcats fans to see the defending American Athletic Conference Champions in action this fall.
Season ticket packages start at just $99, with limited seats available in the Coach's Corner and a majority of our best-value seats in the Varsity View and Bearcats Lair sections starting at $150. Bearcats fans are encouraged to visit season ticket central online to view available seats and review all price levels.
FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
For all the latest information on Cincinnati football, please visit GoBEARCATS.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow Cincinnati football (@GoBearcatsFB) and Coach Fickell (@CoachFick) on Twitter. You can also find the Bearcats on Instagram and Facebook.
• "A sufficient athlete"
• "Projected 40 time = 4.6"
• "Lacks long speed"
Uhh, it's time for some major updates.
With representatives from 29 NFL teams in attendance, Forrest's unofficial Pro Day results matched the numbers posted earlier on Wednesday by LSU wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase – a likely Top 10 pick – as each of them ran a 4.38 40-yard dash and broad jumped 11 feet. Chase's 41-inch vertical jump only topped Forrest by two inches.
"I was just trying to show that I'm a good athlete," said Forrest. "My film sometimes didn't show that, but I'm a freak athlete."
Forrest was a three-year starter at Cincinnati and arguably the most consistent player on the AAC's most dominant defense, posting Pro Football Focus grades of 73.3, 73.4, and 76.1 in his final three seasons. The Columbus native led the team in tackles as a junior, earned all-league honors in his final two years, and finished his UC career with six interceptions.
"I'm a guy that's going to be consistent," said Forrest. "I'm a guy that's a great tackler. And I have ball skills."
Darrick was also a team captain as a senior and thinks that will help his NFL draft status as much as his impressive Pro Day workout.
"A lot of different NFL coaches love that because it's a quality trait and a characteristic," he said. "A lot of teams see that I'm a guy that's going to be a leader and a lot of teams need that. Especially coming off of a Covid year because you can't really do too much. There's limited preseason so if you can bring in guys that are leaders, I think that will help the locker room.
"I'll make an impact on the field, but I'll also make a huge impact off the field."
Forrest's chances of sticking with an NFL team could depend of his ability to contribute right away on special teams. It's a challenge that Darrick welcomes.
"I actually love special teams," he said. "So I'm going to use that to my advantage and show teams that I can be a resource to them on special teams and hopefully that will help me get a roster spot."
He helped himself on Wednesday knowing that a fast 40-yard dash could have a huge impact on his NFL future.
"Before my 40, I got a little nervous," said Forrest. "It's all about that mental toughness and pulling yourself through."
Did Wednesday's 4.38 40-time ensure that he'll be drafted?
"I believe that it did," he said. "I believe that a team is going to take a chance on me in one of the lower rounds."
The team that selects Forrest will be getting a player that fully capitalized on his four years at UC.
"One, I've graduated so I feel like Cincinnati has prepared me to be a man and prepared me to be successful off the field," said Forrest. "I would say another thing is that they prepared me to be a guy that is going to have high character. I'm going to go out there and be my best. I have good characteristics and I feel like Cincinnati has prepared me to be the best that I can be – especially moving forward and going towards the league."
I'd love to hear from you at Dan.Hoard@Bengals.nfl.net
If you're on Twitter, you can follow my tweets at http://twitter.com/Dan_Hoard
BUY 2021 SEASON TICKETS NOW!
Season tickets for the 2021 University of Cincinnati football campaign are on sale now and represent the best value for Bearcats fans to see the defending American Athletic Conference Champions in action this fall.
Season ticket packages start at just $99, with limited seats available in the Coach's Corner and a majority of our best-value seats in the Varsity View and Bearcats Lair sections starting at $150. Bearcats fans are encouraged to visit season ticket central online to view available seats and review all price levels.
FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
For all the latest information on Cincinnati football, please visit GoBEARCATS.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow Cincinnati football (@GoBearcatsFB) and Coach Fickell (@CoachFick) on Twitter. You can also find the Bearcats on Instagram and Facebook.