NFL wannabes prepare for combine

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) -  With the combine days away at Lucas Oil Stadium, NFL wannabes are already hard at work.

St. Vincent Sports Performance had its 10th pre-combine training program on Tuesday. The program is eight weeks long and focuses on getting elite athletes ready for the next level.

Jason Werner, 2004 Mr. Indiana Football, played at Roncalli High School and Purdue University. The linebacker has no invite to the combine, but that hasn't changed his determination.

"We're all working for that goal, hopefully making an NFL team with the draft coming up and we all have our pro-days, some with the combine and we have to be at the best of our game. So we're working on all those skills and just getting our bodies right," said Werner, who added the back problems that extended his career in West Lafayette to six years are behind him.

Darren Evans, 2006 Mr. Football, carried the ball at Warren Central and Virginia Tech. He says the pre-combine program has the right focus for him, and that’s improving his speed.

"Those scouts want to see how explosive you are because at the next level, everybody there is really fast and they're really explosive. So, that's what we're working on,” Evans said.

Evans, who's close to getting his degree, left Tech after his junior year and will be at the combine. The draft will happen despite the labor uncertainty.

"Us not playing football next year is going to be really hard for it to happen. I'm just going to control what I can control, work as hard as I can and if and when I get drafted, I bust my butt out there too, “ said Evans.

St. Vincent's Sports Performance will hold its first ever pro day on Thursday for those guys who don't get the official invite to work out for all scouts. The NFL combine kicks off at Lucas Oil Stadium on the very same day.