Mickens Works Out at Pro Day

Thursday was a big day for many of the senior football players.  If they plan on playing in the NFL this was the day to catch the eye of several NFL scouts.  Pro day at UC attracted over 28 different NFL teams and one of the bigger stories of the day was Mike Mickens.  A knee injury at the end of the season sent him home from the Senior Bowl early and then kept him from working out at the scouting combine.  He finally started running a few weeks ago and participated in every event Thursday afternoon.

Several scout commented that Mike looked good.

Big Day For Mickens

Pro day for at least one Bearcat will be a very important day.  Mike Mickens started his senior year with plenty of pre-season recognition, but ended it on crutches.  An knee injury at the end of the year sent him home early from the Senior Bowl and kept him for working out at the NFL combine.  Mike told us at the combine he was feeling good but was going to let the knee rest until Pro Day instead of working out at the combine.   Speculation among the media in Indianapolis was the Mickens stock was dropping because he didn't work out.  That stock could be on the rise with a good performance Thursday.

NFL Combine: Mike Mickens

Mike Mickens was at the top of every ones list back in September, including the Playboy All American team.  Following an injury at the end of the end of the season his "stock", according to some experts, is dropping.  He left the senior bowl last month because of his knee and according to Mickens he will not participate in drills at the combine this week.  At his press conference he discussed his knee, the competition with his team mates and who was on his high school team.

We talked to Mike about his decision to sit out the workouts and got his thoughts on the overwhelming concern that his stock is dropping.  He is confident he can make it rise when the time comes.

Mickens will have the benefit of meeting with NFL teams this week and plans to go through everything that he can.  His chance to reverse the tide of pessimism will take place at pro day on UC's campus March 19.

NFL Combine: Mickens Will Not Work Out

All three UC players have made their trip through the media room.  Brandon Underwood was first, followed closely by DeAngelo Smith and Mike Mickens.   The big story out of the three is that Mickens will not workout for the scouts on the turf at Lucas Oil Field.   The plan is to set his sties on pro day at UC in the middle of March.  We talked with him about his "stock going down" and he said he's not worried about it.  He feels that he can prove himself worthy when he works out at UC for the scouts.  

Bearcat Sports Page.com will have video interviews with all three as well as footage form their press conferences.

Bearcat Day in Hamilton County

As part of their meeting this morning the Hamilton County Commission recognized the UC football team for their accomplishments this season. Commission President Todd Portune gave Brian Kelly a bowl of oranges and a proclamation declaring it UC Bearcat Football Team day all across the county.

The way these student athletes conduct themselves away from the field is a tremendous accomplishment regardless of what bowl game they play in. The entire tri-state area should be proud of these fine young men that represent them each time they put on a jersey with "Cincinnati" across the front. Most of the players, including Coach Kelly are not from the Cincinnati area. However, they have all become Cincinnatians and play for the pride of the city as well as the University.

In Novermber the team received a similar recognition from Cincinnati Mayor, Mark Mallory, and city council.