March 15 was a rainy day in So. Cal on which the Bruins held the UCLA Pro Day 2023. Through the mist and fog, UCLA’s 15 draft prospects put on a show for the 31 NFL teams that had representatives there. Let’s review what went well for the top UCLA 2023 NFL draft prospects.
UCLA Pro Day: Dorian Thompson Robinson
Dorian Thompson-Robinson had a solid pro day despite the weather conditions. DTR has shown significant strides of improvement over his last 2 years at UCLA and that continued at his pro day. He mentioned to reporters after that he’s been working with Jordan Palmer in Orange County alongside Will Levis, Hendon Hooker, Max Duggan, and Clayton Tune.
I noticed a bit more zip on the ball, cleaned up his mechanics, and looked a bit more polished. All of which bodes well for the former Bruin. There were a couple of underthrown balls to receivers, but they made adjustments to catch them. Overall a decent showing for a high upside prospect this year.
UCLA Pro Day: Zach Charbonnet
Zach Charbonnet didn’t see the field much until the three-cone and passing drills. I noticed there was an emphasis on him catching passes out of the backfield, something I believe he wanted to show off to the NFL scouts there. Charbonnet was asked after about his decision to not participate in any of the collegiate all-star bowl games to which he responded that it was a decision made between the coaches that he thought was best for him.
UCLA Pro Day: Jake Bobo
Jake Bobo had a pretty good pro day starting off with a 40-yard dash like the rest of the players. I personally clocked him at an unofficial 4.67, which would seem about right for him. The biggest concern for him coming into the draft is his speed, so if he can work on improving that aspect of his game it’ll improve his stock. He showed off his great catch radius on the throwing drills catching nearly every pass thrown his way. Even when DTR didn’t throw him a perfect ball, he was able to reach for it to make the catch.
UCLA Pro Day: Kazemir Allen
Kazemir Allen is entering the draft as a hybrid RB/WR which speaks to his versatility as a playmaker. If there’s one word to describe him it would be speed, as he was used in a lot of jet sweeps and deep shots down the field during his time as a Bruin. It looked like he tested well athletically, but he’ll need to become a more complete receiver if he wants to find success at the next level.
UCLA Pro Day: Michael Ezieke
Michael Ezieke participated in two different all-star games, those being the NFLPA and Hula Bowls. The biggest positive for him coming out of both games was his athleticism and catch radius. Those were also showcased at his pro day. He ran an unofficial 4.54 40 which is fast for someone of his size showcasing that athletic build. He also showcased his route running ability and catch radius despite the weather conditions and looked good doing so. If his name isn’t called in April, he’s already been drafted to the Memphis Showboats of the USFL.