CORAL GABLES, Fla. -- Offensive tackle Ereck Flowers was perhaps the centerpiece player at Miami's pro day on Wednesday, and his position drills drew a big crowd.
NFL Media analyst Mike Mayock joined, among others, Oakland Raiders line coach Tom Cable, Indianapolis Colts line coach Joe Gilbert and San Diego Chargers line coach Joe D'Alessandris as interested observers.
Mayock called Flowers (6-foot-6 1/4, 329 pounds) "a really gifted player" but also "incredibly raw."
Flowers was a part-time starter at right tackle as a true freshman in 2012 before moving to the left side in 2013 and becoming a full-time starter. Some analysts see him as a better fit on the right side; that group includes Mayock, who sees Flowers as a potential "Pro Bowl right tackle."
"He's going to go in the first round," Mayock said.
Flowers looks to be the only UM "lock" in the first round. Wide receiver Phillip Dorsett, linebacker Denzel Perryman and running back Duke Johnson are potential second-rounders, and tight end Clive Walford could go in the second or third round.
» Speaking of Perryman, he tweaked his hamstring during his first 40-yard dash and sat out the rest of the day. He said he has upcoming visits with the Miami Dolphins, Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers. Perryman measured 5-11 and 239 pounds Wednesday, and he is fond of saying that while he might be short, he is not small.
» Perryman spent part of the day Wednesday talking with former NFL star linebacker Jonathan Vilma. Like Perryman, Vilma is an alum of Coral Gables High and UM, and also was criticized by some for his lack of size. Vilma was listed at 6-1 during his playing days and said his weight usually was in the mid-230s. He said he is a Perryman fan: "He is a tremendous tackler. And there's a violence when he plays." As for Perryman's perceived lack of height, Vilma shrugged it off and praised his instincts. Vilma said football instincts are "undervalued because it's not a measurable." Vilma also said he shrugged off his own supposed lack of height, saying his mantra when he played was, "I may be small but I play big."
» Representatives from all 32 NFL teams were in attendance, and there were at least three head coaches: New Orleans' Sean Payton, Miami's Joe Philbin and Pittsburgh's Mike Tomlin. Saints defensive coordinator Rob Ryan also was in attendance. Payton spent about 10 minutes talking with University of Miami coach Al Golden during the event, and Pittsburgh offensive coordinator Todd Haley spent some time chatting with Miami wide receiver Phillip Dorsett.
Mike Huguenin can be reached at mike.huguenin@nfl.com. You also can follow him on Twitter @MikeHuguenin.
