Cyclones Impress Scouts At Pro Day

AMES, Iowa – There was a different vibe and buzz around Iowa State Pro Day today.

Over 30 credentialed media members, including a full crew from the NFL Network, were on hand to watch 12 former Cyclones perform various drills in front of 34 scouts representing 30 NFL Teams.

It was the last chance for Hakeem Butler, Matthew Eaton, Willie Harvey, Kyle Kempt, David Montgomery, Reggan Northrup, D'Andre Payne, Brian Peavy, De'Monte Ruth, Sam Seonbuchner, Kamilo Tongamoa and Mike Warren to display their talents to the scouts.

It was obvious much of the attention was focused on Butler and Montgomery.

The duo both performed well at the NFL Scouting Combine in early March and considered top-three round draft picks.

Butler, a Second-Team All-American after recording one of the finest seasons by a wide receiver in Cyclone history in 2018, blew the scouts away at the Combine when he ran a 4.48 in the 40-yard dash. Butler opted to skip the 40 today, but instead concentrated on his routes and ball-catching skills.

"I would say I was more comfortable today, just because I know Kyle (Kempt)," Butler said. "I didn't know any of those quarterbacks at the Combine. They were just telling us to do a lot of things that you haven't practiced much. You're out there with new people."

Butler has remained confident with the NFL Draft a month away.

"I heard a lot of different things about my speed before the Combine," Butler added. "People were saying I was slow and not explosive, things like that. Stuff that just came from left field about me. But, after the Combine, I ran what I wanted to run. I showed a lot of people some stuff, but people are always going to doubt. I feel like I have something different inside of me, and I've shown that a lot on Saturdays."

Montgomery possesses what many NFL teams crave out of a running back: toughness, durability, vision and the ability to avoid tackles. The two-time All-American who rushed for over 1,000-yards in back-to-back seasons unofficially ran a 4.57 40-yard dash and was excited to be back in Ames to prove his worth.

"I definitely feel good," Montgomery said. "I've been getting a lot of treatment and taking care of the body. I'm definitely as healthy as I've been, and I feel great. It's a surreal, unreal feeling to be able to have the opportunity to say that I could possibly get drafted. I'm not really worried about that day. If on that day that call happens or if it doesn't, I'm going to take every day one step at a time and continue to give all my glory to God. So I'm good."

Click here to view a photo gallery from today's event.

Players Mentioned

Hakeem Butler

Matthew Eaton

Willie Harvey

Kyle Kempt

David Montgomery

Reggan Northrup

D'Andre Payne

Brian Peavy

De'Monte Ruth

Sam Seonbuchner

Kamilo Tongamoa

Mike Warren

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