SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) - Nose guard Louis Nix III wanted to make sure NFL scouts got a good look at his slimmed down physique at Notre Dame’s pro day Thursday, even taking off his T-shirt to run the 40.
“I hope they liked my thighs and my footwork and my hips,” he said. “Because I’ve been working on them and trying to get them flexible and be able to move around.”
The 6-3 Nix said his weight is down to 331, nearly 20 pounds under his playing weight and 40 pounds below what he weighed when he arrived on campus. He said it’s the lightest he’s been since 11th grade. He also said the torn meniscus in his left knee that ended his collegiate career with two regular-season games left is healed.
“It’s feeling great. It doesn’t feel like I got hurt,” he said. “I’m running around good.”
Nix, defensive lineman Stephon Tuitt and offensive tackle Zack Martin, who have all been mentioned as possible high drafts picks, were among the 16 former Notre Dame players to take part in the workouts. Tuitt didn’t take part because his left foot is in a walking boot after undergoing surgery to repair a break discovered during his physical at the NFL combine. Tuitt said the injury was a surprise.
“I had trained for six weeks before that and I felt as healthy as I could be,” he said.
Tuitt was able to work out for scouts in Atlanta before undergoing surgery in February.
“I feel really good about it. It was a good performance,” he said.
The 6-6 Tuitt said he weighs 299, his lowest weight in recent memory. That’s 13 pounds lighter than he was listed for the Pinstripe Bowl in December. Tuitt said he was able to drop the weight after leaving school.
“I was able to transform my body when I had one-on-one time with professionals,” he said.
Martin said he was pleased with the numbers he put up at the combine, but worked out Thursday so scouts could see him in position drills away from the crowded field at the combine.
“There’s three of us and there were a handful of line coaches here who were able to tell us exactly what they wanted to see,” he said. “So it gives them an up-close look.”
Tight end Troy Nicklas, who left school a year early to enter the draft, was measured at pro day but didn’t take part in the events. Among the others working out were quarterback Tommy Rees, linebackers Carlo Calabrese and Dan Fox, running back George Atkinson III, cornerback Bennett Jackson and guard Chris Watt. Scouts from all 32 NFL teams attended the pro day, as did Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin, Jacksonville coach Gus Bradley and three general managers. Tomlin stood as a decoy during one of the defensive line drills.
“I just wanted to look in his eyes and show him I’m ready. I can be on your team if you want me to,” Nix said.
Nix said he’s ready for whatever on draft day, saying he’s stopped paying attention to mock drafts.
“At first I did, when they said, ’Hey, he could be a top 10.’ I felt good about myself,” he said. “But after I went down to the 20s, 30s, the second round, I stopped looking.”
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