Drake London puts his skills on display at personal Pro Day

Drake London chose not to run the 40-yard dash at his individual pro day Friday morning, but he still made it all about numbers. Those being one likely first-round pick running 11 routes and finishing with two words.

London was his strong, typical self in running several specific routes, catching passes in a workout designed by Jordan Palmer and T.J. Houshmandzadeh. Afterward, his strongest answer came with two words to the topic that comes up most often about London in this draft process: his quantifiable speed.

“Watch film,” London said.

The 6-foot-4 wide receiver caught 160 passes for 2,153 yards and 15 touchdowns in a three-year USC career that was cut short by the 2020 Covid season and a fractured ankle this past fall that limited him to just eight games.

“Pretty much at the end of the day, watch film,” London repeated. “[I] don’t really have to blow by guys to catch a ball.”

London said prospects typically have six to eight weeks to train for the 40 and the other timed and measured combine events. That wasn’t a luxury he was afforded due to the ankle injury suffered in October. He said he was able to start jogging on a treadmill about a week before the combine.

London ran a variety of routes on Friday, including a few that had him going up high in the endzone to showcase one of his biggest strengths as a receiver. He did not participate in any drills at the NFL Combine in early March. He didn’t participate in USC’s Pro Day on March 23. And he moved his previously scheduled Pro Day back from April 5 to April 15. Even without those showings, London is consistently mentioned as a pick in the top half of the first round. He’s often the first receiver off the board in mock drafts this spring. But London said it was important for him to get on the field in front of NFL scouts and decision-makers.

“Have to show these GMs, coaches, everybody in person that I can move the way that I do and I think I did that today,” London said. “Just showcasing to these coaches that I am who I say I am.”

London’s Long Road Back

London’s injury last season was arguably the most memorable event of the season, for all the wrong reasons. After scoring a touchdown against Arizona, London rolled into the endzone and stayed down while grabbing his ankle. The Coliseum crowd went silent and eventually watched that season’s long bright spot carted off the field.

“Painful as hell,” London said recalling the event. “But it’s football. One hundred percent injury rate. You’ve got to be ready for it whenever.”

London said he progressed ahead of schedule during his rehab. And with the time allowed to focus on that, plus working with Houshmandzadeh, he’s ready for the next level.

“My body feels better,” London said. “I feel stronger, faster. And I think I just matured in the game. At the end of the day, this is like my second year really playing wide receiver, really playing football. So I feel better by the day.”

London was on pace to set USC single-season records for receptions and receiving yards before the injury. He finished with 88 receptions for 1,084 yards and seven touchdowns. USC quarterbacks forced him the ball repeatedly last season. London was asked how he’d respond to questions about his production coming because of his usage rate and volume of throws sent his way.

“Everybody knew where the ball was going,” London said. “I had triple coverage, double coverage all game and they still didn’t stop me. So whatever they say about that, I [couldn’t] care less. The volume of catches was staying the same even if it was triple coverage or not.”

Preparing for the Draft

London will be one of the players in attendance at this year’s NFL Draft, held in Las Vegas.

There were 12 NFL teams represented at his pro day on Friday, including Detroit Lions’ senior personnel executive John Dorsey. Scouts representing the Cardinals, Chargers, Commanders, Jets, 49ers and others were also there.

London said he’s looking forward to taking in that moment when he hears his name called.

“I’ve been dreaming about this ever since I was a little kid,” London said. “When they tell you to write what you want to be when you’re older, it wasn’t a superhero. It wasn’t a garbage man or a fireman or anything like that. It was NFL or NBA. I wanted to be in the league. So, the dream is happening and I just can’t wait for it.”