from draftdaddy (who else)
Augustana College wide receiver Tom Ellingworth catches the eye of N.F.L. scouts after running a 4.37 at Pro Day.
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Ellingworth sprints onto NFL scene
By Scott Thoma, West Central Tribune
Published Monday, March 10, 2008
When Minnesota Vikings speedster Adrian Peterson was timed at the NFL Combine by pro scouts last year, the stopwatch was stopped at 4.37 seconds for the 40-yard dash. That time was matched during a Pro Day recently in South Dakota by a small white receiver from Redwood Falls.
Tom Ellingworth, who had 211 catches for 2,398 yards in his career at Augustana College in Sioux Falls, immediately has his stock rise with his impressive sprint. Just 5-foot-10 and 186 pounds, Ellingworth feels his speed and quickness, as well as his ability to return punts and kickoffs, will help overcome his lack of size if he does get a chance to showcase his talents for an NFL team.
"I'm not so sure I'll get drafted," said Ellingworth, by telephone Saturday afternoon. "But I think I've created enough interest that I'll get invited to someone's rookie camp. At least that's what I'm hoping."
Ellingworth, also a sprinter and hurdler on the Augustana track team, was tested during a regional Pro Day in Sioux Falls on Feb. 29, along with several other Division II players with aspirations of some day playing in the NFL. A regional representative compiles all the players' data and sends the information to all 32 NFL teams. There are several Pro Days across the country for Division I or Division II prospects that weren't invited to the elite NFL Combine. Scouts from four NFL teams  Green Bay, Atlanta, Indianapolis and Washington  were also in attendance at the South Dakota Pro Day.
Tests include dashes of 10, 20 and 40 yards, three-cone drills, broad jump, vertical jump and 225-pound bench reps.
The Indianapolis Colts scout showed enough interest in Ellingworth that he requested he undergo additional skill testing upon completion of the Pro Day events.
"I stayed another half an hour or so," said Ellingworth. "My agent said that was uncommon for a player to be asked to do that. So I have that in my favor. I had to do some ball drills and ran about 30 routes."
Ellingworth was second in the nation among Division II players in receptions and receiving yards after five games this season before a stress fracture in his back hampered him the remainder of the season. Still, he finished with 65 catches for 750 yards and four touchdowns. That included a 13-catch, 190-yard performance in one game. He was named to the all-North Central Conference second team for the third straight year.
"When I was second in catches in yards, (pro) teams were asking my coach things about me," said Ellingworth. "But after I got hurt and was getting only two or three catches a game, no one was give me any attention anymore. They didn't realize I was playing hurt and I really only felt about 60 percent."
Ellingworth feels healthy again and he once again is generating interest. He redshirted his freshman season and he feels that is paying dividends now.
"I'm basically done with school," he said. "I have a double major in business and sports management. I only have one class a day now so I spend four or five hours a day working out."
Ellingworth is also eating healthy and has only three percent body fat.
"When I was young, I thought playing in the NFL would be a dream-come-true," he said. "I thought that really would be fun to do for a job. As I started getting older, I thought it was pretty far-fetched. But now I have a different mindset. I think I have a good chance to at least get a tryout from someone."
Just because you're small doesn't mean you can't have big dreams.
my comment: yet again, Colts are interested
Edited by: backrow 
