Tigers impress scouts at Mizzou Pro Day

T.J. Moe’s effectiveness as a wide receiver does not stem from his straight-line speed. His strengths are his quickness, hands – and strength. No one will ever mistake him for Usain Bolt.

But to be a NFL wide receiver, a player can’t be outright slow — and Moe’s 40 time of 4.74 at the NFL Scouting Combine in February was the slowest of any participant at the position.

Thursday evening inside Devine Pavilion, Moe made his straight-line number a little more respectable. In fact, a lot more respectable.

Moe clocked a 4.58 40 in his first run and a 4.62 in his second. NFL slot receiver contemporaries Wes Welker and Danny Amendola were clocked in the same time range.

Already a virtual lock for a Top 15-20 selection come April, defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson also took the opportunity to improve his forty time in front of a large NFL contingency.

Richardson, who ran a 5.00 and a 4.97 at the combine, said the fastest time he heard from scouts at Mizzou’s Pro Day was a 4.71. Needless to say, that’s rather quick for a man that weighs 300 pounds.

The fastest 40 of the day, however, belonged to running back Kendial Lawrence. Lawrence, who was not invited to the NFL Combine despite rushing for more than 1,000 yards in the SEC last season, clocked two 40 times in the 4.3-second range.

Lawrence said he heard one stopwatch got him at 4.3 flat, which would have been among the fastest of anyone at the NFL Combine.

Linebacker Zaviar Gooden, however, may have been the biggest star of the day despite not running the forty at all. Gooden decided to stand on his 4.47 time from the NFL Combine, which was the fastest of any linebacker.

He then bested his vertical jump, however, by 4 1/2 inches, raising it to 38.5 inches. Gooden also drew some “oohs” and “aahs” from spectators on hand when he nearly knocked over one of the coaches administering a drill with his brute strength.

The NFL Draft begins Thursday, April 25.