Kyle Kempt shakes Hakeem Butler’s hand after a stout Pro Day in Ames. (Photo credit: Connor Ferguson, Cyclone Fanatic)
Iowa State held its annual Pro Day event on Tuesday at the Bergstrom Football Complex in Ames. No official results have been released from the event as of this writing, but we will update this post if they become available.
The media got a chance to catch up with David Montgomery, Hakeem Butler, Brian Peavy and Kyle Kempt about what they’re hearing from teams, their plans moving forward towards the draft and more.
Hakeem Butler
On how he felt on Tuesday compared to at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis…
“I would say I was more comfortable just because I know Kyle. I didn’t know any of those quarterbacks at the combine. They were telling us to do a lot of things that you haven’t practiced much. You’re just out there with new people. The whole experience I would say is what the combine’s for.”
On what he’s proven to people through the draft process…
“I heard a lot of different things about my speed before the combine. People saying that I was slow and not explosive, things like that. Stuff that just came from left field for me. 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. You can’t prove everybody wrong.”
On how many teams he has talked to…
“I’ve talked to a lot of teams. We’ve got some (workouts) scheduled. Some here, some there. For the most part, I’ve just been trying to enjoy (the process). I haven’t seen my teammates in a long time and it’s just good to see them again.”
On Iowa State cornerback Brian Peavy…
“He’s the best cornerback in the draft. I’ve got nothing else to say about that.”
David Montgomery
On how many teams he’s talked to during the process…
“I’ve lost count. I don’t know.”
On the idea of being drafted…
“It’s like a surreal unreal feeling being able to have the opportunity to say that I could possibly get drafted but nobody ever really knows. I’m not really worried about that day or if that call happens or if it doesn’t. I’m just going to take every day one step at a time and continue to give all my glory to God so I’m good.”
On what scouts wanted to see from him during Pro Day…
“I’m not sure. I just wanted to go out there and do my best. Be David Montgomery and have fun. Do what I do.”
On his plans for the draft…
“I don’t know where I’m going to be for the draft.”
On being back with Hakeem Butler…
“Being able to see ‘The Freak’ again is like, ‘Oh man, I’m standing in the same room as him again.’ You get a little bit scared. You get timid. Just being able to work out with him again is definitely an honor. Just see how hard he works and the kind of attitude he has is contagious. I’m grateful to be around him.”
Brian Peavy
On what he’s heard from teams…
“It’s been good feedback. I hear a lot about my film and making plays on the field. I’m a high character guy and a great leader.”
On how he’s selling himself to teams…
“I’m a student of the game. I’m always willing to learn. I know I’m entering the professional level and I know I have a lot of room for improvement. I’m just ready to get better every day.”
On people who question his height…
“Turn on the game film. My effort and how I play, I compete with the best. The guys that I held, that’s going to be in the NFL came from college, so they’ll be better players.”
Kyle Kempt
On if he’s heard from many teams…
“A couple so far. I met with a couple teams down in Fort Worth but I talked to five or six teams up here alone. Hopefully, I’ll hear from more over the course of the next month. The whole thing was for me, I haven’t done much since I got hurt, so for a lot of these teams they needed to come out here and see me throw and come out and see if my knee is healthy. The next step probably will be to go out and visit teams.”
On what kind of feedback he’s gotten from teams…
“I think good feedback. I really like where I’m at. Being under the radar is kind of the way it is and that’s just the way the season went. At this point, the NFL, you just need to get in the door. Whether you’re drafted or undrafted, once you’re in the door, you’ll get an opportunity to make a team.”
On getting individual interviews with teams…
“I think that’s the most important part. That’s half my game right there, the leadership and the mental part. I’m always going to make good decisions making throws on the field, but what I bring in the locker, what I do in the classroom and bring off the field, that’s always a huge part of me.”
