Ohio State football’s Shaun Wade and Justin Fields answered skeptics with a prove-it pro day

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The NFL may not want Shaun Wade as a perimeter cornerback, but the Ohio State alum reminded everyone Wednesday why he carried a potential first-round expectation entering last season.

He was one of two former Buckeyes out to prove himself at a mini pro day at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center on Wednesday. Justin Fields returned for his second scripted throwing session under scrutiny for those teams who sent their contingents to Alabama when that pro day conflicted with OSU’s on March 30.

Ongoing recovery turf from a toe injury prevented Wade from participating in March. His turn came Wednesday, where he helped his NFL Draft case with solid times and measurements.

Wade ran the 40-yard dash in 4.43 seconds. That would have ranked among the top 20 times at the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, and eighth among defensive backs.

Wade also posted a 37.5-inch vertical jump, which would have ranked in the top 15 among DBs at that combine, and a 10-foot, 3-inch broad jump.

That 40-yard dash time is particularly impressive considering Wade’s injury presumably affected his training schedule as well. The remaining question is how NFL teams now view Wade positionally after he underwhelmed in the transition from slot corner to the outside. They may consider him a safety or nickel back, which has value in the NFL but may push him down draft boards.

Ohio State released some video clips of Fields throwing downfield strikes to the same former teammates that he did in his original workout.

The most notable images from Wednesday, though, were the coaches in attendance. San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan, whose team has the No. 3 pick, talking with Fields. Chicago Bears coach Matt Nagy looking on from the background. Contingents from the New England Patriots, thought to be considering a trade up into the top 10 for a quarterback, and Fields’ hometown Atlanta Falcons (No. 4) were also in attendance.

Those coaches and front-office personnel saw the same thing Wednesday that some of their competitors saw two weeks earlier. Fields paired arm strength with precision, moving around the pocket and occasionally escaping it to hit deep routes in stride.

He did the same back on March 30, while also running a 4.44-second 40-yard dash. As good as that nearly identical time was for Wade, it is nearly unheard of for quarterbacks.

The 49ers have been rumored to prefer Alabama’s Mac Jones at No. 3, and even traded up to ensure they could take him. The Falcons, potentially in need of an eventual successor to Matt Ryan, have been linked to North Dakota State’s Trey Lance.

Fields did not need to prove to anyone he was a first-round quarterback. The only uncertainty is which team believes it cannot pass on him on April 29. He could not have done much more at either of his pro days to help their decision.

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