He didn't receive an invitation to showcase his skills for all the National Football League teams, but Jesse Lumsden apparently did pretty well for a few in a private workout. The McMaster University product, who set a Canadian universities single-season rushing record last year, worked out yesterday at a Toronto indoor sports facility for the scouts of four NFL teams.
He did a variety of speed, strength and general football drills and was happy with the results, but wouldn't disclose any information on how he did or which teams watched him under advisement from his handlers. The media was barred from watching the workout.
"I feel great. I'm real happy," Lumsden said. "It was an awesome day. I think it was a positive step and hopefully (the scouts of the teams) saw it as a positive step."
Lumsden's camp told NFL teams the 6-foot-2 1/2, 226-pound running back could run the 40-yard dash in a time of 4.45-4.50 seconds, which is solid for an athlete his size. Indianapolis Colts scout Cal Murphy, who attended the workout but refused to give exact details based on his team's policy, said Lumsden posted a 40-yard time in the range of what had been advertised.
"That was the question mark, (now) his stock will go up," one source said. "If he did that, he will probably create more interest."
Besides Indianapolis, it has been confirmed that Carolina , Seattle and St. Louis also were represented at the workout. The Seahawks want to fly Lumsden to Seattle for a private workout on April 7. Yesterday's workout was filmed and will be made available to all teams.
Lumsden was not granted an invitation to this year's NFL combine, in which the top-rated, draft-eligible players for each position are brought in to showcase their skills. Auburn's Ronnie Brown posted the top time for running backs with a mark of 4.44.
"I felt fast and hopefully I looked fast," Lumsden said. "My goal was to come in and do better than all the (U.S.-college based) running backs who have been testing on their pro days and I'm feeling confident about my workout."
Lumsden, who caught some passes from Hamilton Tiger-Cats quarterback Danny McManus as part of the workout, is one of the most highly acclaimed players to come out of Canada in years. He is projected to possibly be the first pick overall in the Canadian Football League draft in late April, pending what happens at the NFL draft and subsequent free-agent signing period. Lumsden did not attend the recent CFL combine because he was training in Arizona for yesterday's workout.
"I'm focused on the NFL right now, but I'll be very accommodating to the CFL," he said.
