Florida State pass rusher Tank Carradine didn't disappoint NFL scouts during today's Pro Day in Cincinnati.
In a display of significant progress since undergoing surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in December, a source said Carradine ran the 40-yard dash between 4.75 and 4.85 seconds with a 10-yard split of 1.63 seconds. Prior to his injury, Carradine had run the 40-yard dash in the 4.6 range.
It's been 135 days since Carradine underwent knee surgery.
The Seminoles' standout defensive end-outside linebacker weighed in at 273 pounds.
Although originally scheduled to attend, the Super Bowl champion Ravens weren't among the 11 NFL teams that attended the workout. The workout was attended by the San Francisco 49ers, Atlanta Falcons, New England Patriots, Kansas City Chiefs, New Orleans Saints, Detroit Lions, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Minnesota Vikings, Denver Broncos and the Indianapolis Colts, according to a source.
Carradine is regarded as a potential first-round draft pick, and his draft status hinges heavily on the condition of his surgically repaired knee.
Carradine has been working out in Houston with the same physical therapist who oversaw Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson's remarkable recovery from a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
Carradine has visited several teams, including the Ravens, Philadelphia Eagles, Atlanta Falcons and New England Patriots. He also met with the Ravens at the NFL scouting combine.
Projected as candidate to convert to outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense after playing defensive end for the Seminoles, the 6-foot-4, 276-pounder is excited about the Ravens' interest in him and the possibility of perhaps joining a front seven that already includes Pro Bowl outside linebackers Terrell Suggs and Elvis Dumervil.
"I would feel great about it," Carradine told The Baltimore Sun. "I would fit right in with those guys because they're impact players. I can be that guy who has ability and can learn from those guys and bring a lot to the table.
"I like the 3-4 a lot because I'm able to do more, show more. I'm able to stand up. I can see more. I can recognize pass and run better when you stand up. I'm able to be in space, drop in coverage and play inside receivers. I feel real good about the 3-4. I've played in a 4-3, but I can play in a 3-4. I can play either scheme really good."
Carradine was unable to work out at the combine.
He bench pressed 225 pounds 32 times at the Seminoles' Pro Day where he didn't run or do positional drills.
"I can run full speed," Carradine said. "In Indy, I was just starting to run. Now, I'm full-speed. I'm not cutting all the way. I'm still in the process of ACL healing. I'm not cutting all the way. I'm making slight cuts, but I'm taking it up another notch and trying to get back all the way as fast as I can. I'm not rushing, but April 20 is very important. I don't want to do so much where I have a setback, but I want teams to be able to evaluate how I do."
Including the Ravens, Carradine had 17 formal interviews at the combine. That included the Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions, Carolina Panthers, Minnesota Vikings, Green Bay Packers, Miami Dolphins, Seattle Seahawks, New Orleans Saints, Atlanta Falcons, Kansas City Chiefs, St. Louis Rams, Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Giants, Washington Redskins and Oakland Raiders.
In 11 games last season, Carradine recorded 11 sacks and 80 tackles. He had 16 sacks as a sophomore at Butler County Junior College in Kansas and 16 1/2 sacks in two seasons after transferring to Florida State.
Carradine has the right role models, saying he tries to pattern his game after the Chicago Bears' Julius Peppers and the Cowboys' DeMarcus Ware.
"They're going to get a hard worker, a guy who runs to the ball and is effective against the run and effective against the pass," Carradine said. "I'm always inthe backfield, always chasing the quarterback and making plays on the other side of the ball. I bring a lot to the table. Teams will be very excited and say, 'This is a guy who will be in our system for a long time because he knows how to get things done.'"
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