The Flight of the Owls: KSU’s NFL Audition
If you thought the Kennesaw State turnaround ended with a trophy, think again. The "Magic of Mack" isn't just about winning games; it’s about getting paid. Last Thursday, the campus of KSU looked more like an NFL satellite office as seventeen NFL teams and two CFL teams descended upon Kennesaw for the program's first Pro Day under head coach Jerry Mack.
Fifteen former Owls stepped onto the turf to prove that their 10-3 championship season wasn't a fluke—and by the time the clipboards were tucked away, several Owls had posted numbers that didn't just compete with the NFL Combine elite; they beat them.
The "Stock Up" Report: Caleb Offord is a Blur
If there was a "winner" of the day, it was DB Caleb Offord. Offord turned the KSU facilities into his personal playground, putting up a 6.88-second 3-cone drill. To put that in perspective, that would have been the fastest time for any cornerback at this year’s NFL Combine in Indianapolis.
The Offord File (Combine Comparison):
3-Cone Drill: 6.88s (1st among Combine CBs)
Shuttle Drill: 4.33s (5th among Combine CBs)
Broad Jump: 10’6” (T-10th among Combine CBs)
40-Yard Dash: 4.50s (T-16th among Combine CBs)
Breaking the Calculators (Again)
Offord wasn’t the only one making scouts do a double-take. Several Owls showed that Kennesaw’s strength and conditioning program is essentially a factory for high-octane athletes.
Player. Drill Mark Combine Rank Equivalent
Coleman Shuttle Drill 4.25s #1 among all RBs
Bennett (RB)
James Shuttle Drill 4.32s T-2nd among all Safeties
Ziglor (DB)
Rod Bench Press. 27 reps. T-3rd among EdgeRushers
Daniels (DL)
Adam Bench Press 23 reps 5th among all DTs
Watkins (DL)
Coleman Bennett also posted a 10-foot, 4-inch broad jump, which would have tied for third-best among running backs at the Combine. Apparently, Kennesaw isn't just a "Group of Five" program; it’s a "Group of Fast" program.
The Path to Pittsburgh
With the 2026 NFL Draft set to kick off in Pittsburgh from April 23-25, these fifteen Owls have officially entered the "waiting room."
Coach Mack has spent his first year proving Kennesaw belongs in the FBS conversation. Now, as scouts head back to their war rooms with pockets full of KSU data, it’s clear the Owls are ready to belong on Sundays, too.
The trophy case might be crowded, but there’s always room for a few draft hats. 🦉🏈
Sanchez Sideline Question: Which of these "Combine-beating" stats surprised you the most, and which Owl do you think hears their name called first in Pittsburgh?
