GSOT said:
http://draftdaddy.com/blog/blog.cfm
Jesse Wendt ran a 4.28 40 and bench pressed 225lbs for 33 reps at his Pro Day, I have never heard of the kid but at 6-3, 230lbs he will surely garner some attention. I have never seen him play or heard anything about him, can anyone help me out with some info? the major knock on him is he is 26 years old.
Just as sick as that...RunningBack Ryan Englebert a junior measured in at 5'11 225lbs and ran a 4.30 hand held 40 yard dash and bench pressed 225lbs for 38 reps.
Jesse Wendt, a Chetek High School alum and member of the UW-Stout football team last fall, will have his opportunity to become the next Marques Colston during the 2007 NFL Draft on Saturday and Sunday, April 28-29.
"I always mention his name in an interview," says Wendt. "He is a big, tall, fast receiver, and he came from a small school. I really hope to be the player he has become."
Since playing in the inaugural Texas vs. The Nation game, Wendt has been busy getting ready for the opportunity to show off his talent during his Pro Day, which was scheduled for Monday, March 19. At his Pro Day, scouts from NFL teams were on hand at UW-Stout to witness Wendt in action as they tested him in a variety of athletic trials, including bench pressing, agility tests, ball drills and route running, foot work, and the 40-yard dash-something Wendt is quite accomplished at. Wendt recently ran a 4.2840 second 40-yard dash. As a reference, wikipedia.org cites the fastest time officially recorded by the NFL as 4.29 seconds in 1989 by Deion Sanders.
Obviously, Wendt's speed and strength will be huge assets for him as he begins the final stretch into the NFL Draft weekend. The speed and size that Wendt has surprises many, although it just makes the expectations for him even higher.
"The speed has been hard to live up to," said Wendt. "But things are looking really good. I'm really working to bring my speed times down. I've been watching what I eat, and working out as much as I can. I'm in the best shape I've ever been in. I'll know more on my Pro Day with how my numbers are. With the draft, everything is about numbers. The bigger, stronger, faster, and better you are, the better chance that you will get teams to consider you."
As part of his routine, Wendt also works out with his roommate, Ryan Englebert, also a senior at UW-Stout with a chance to make the NFL, which allows the two players to really push one another to become better.
Coming from UW-Stout, a small Division III school-and one essentially unknown to those outside of Wisconsin-pushes Wendt even harder to prove himself against schools who get much more publicity for their players. Wendt hopes, and knows, that a scout will look at him as a player and who he is and recognized he is just as good as the others. Another thing Wendt must work around is his age, which at 26 makes him a little older, and a maybe a little wiser, than many of the 22, 23, or 24-year-olds he will have to compete against.
"Mentally I use it as an advantage," says Wendt. "There are many younger than I am and I feel that I should be better then them. It is a natural thing-you have to have the mind set and confidence and be the best you can."
While Wendt has decided not to take classes this semester and focus on his physical preparations, he also explained that it isn't just your numbers that will get you a football contract. To get ready for the draft, a player must also prove he is healthy, both physically and mentally-and pass the physicals and tests to prove it. Many teams also set up a number of personal interviews where a player's character is evaluated.
"These days, personality is a big thing in the NFL. They really look at your character and who you are in the interviews, and even more so after your Pro-Day."
Depending on how his Pro Day numbers look, Wendt can be contacted at anytime between now and the draft to set up a personal work out or interview with a team, who will fly him out to their facilities. While this can be unnerving, Wendt says he takes it in stride.
"I just do what I can control. It is nerve-wracking, but this is a great opportunity for me and I'm still trying to let it all sink in. I get butterflies just talking about it."
Wendt doesn't have any idea yet of where he will go in the draft, or even if he'll get drafted at all, but the prospects look good that he will have the change to prove himself, with some projections giving Wendt a possible mid- to late-round draft. Wendt does note, that while he doesn't know which team for certain has been looking at drafting him, he has been in consistent contact with scouts from many NFL teams, including the Miami Dolphins, the New York Jets, the Washington Redskins, the Chicago Bears, the Minnesota Vikings, and of course, the Green Bay Packers-Wendt's true first choice. If there is anywhere Wendt would like to go to play, it would be Lambeau Field. It is a dream that could become a reality.
"I've always been a Packer fan," said Wendt. "To be able to play and practice with them, would be an honor, especially since Brett Favre decided to come back this year. To catch a pass from him would be quite an accomplishment."
With Draft Weekend, there is nothing guaranteed, and while Wendt has high hopes, he is quick to remember that nothing will be certain until his phone rings that day with an offer. With 224 spots to be drafted, but with over 2300 eligible players this year, the change is once in a lifetime.
"I can do my best to impress the scouts with my size, strength, and my God-given ability," said Wendt. "But every team only gets so many minutes during the draft and only so many can get picked, so it's totally up to the team."
Wendt is also quick to say that as much as he would like to be playing in the NFL, he's doing the work just as much for his friends and family as he is for himself.
Like Wendt, his family is just as excited about his opportunity. And like Wendt, the process now is simply a waiting game until draft day, which Wendt admits he definitely plans on watching. He doesn't know exactly what he plans on doing, but whether it be with friends or family, wherever he is he'll have his phone near him waiting for the call.
"I've always thought positively about things," says Wendt. "I'm going to get my chance to prove myself, whether I'm drafted or added as a free agent. It's up to me to prove myself and prove that I belong with a team. It's a special feeling."
Wendt is still remembered around Chetek as the star running back he was in high school. Graduating in 1999, he racked up an incredible 419 rushing yards in one game during his senior year. Only time will tell if he will be able to put up numbers like that as a professional in the National Football League.
