‘THE CHANGE IS MAD’: Louis Rees-Zammit admits being ‘disappointed’ with trial in front of NFL scouts at IPP Pro Day… despite running a time that would have put former Wales star in top-30 fastest players of the NFL Combine | HO
Louis Rees-Zammit said he was ‘disappointed’ with his showing in front of NFL scouts as the former Wales rugby star looks to crack the world of American football.
In January, the 23-year-old shocked rugby when he announced he was leaving the sport after winning 32 caps for Wales to enter the NFL International Pathways Players Program (IPPP).
A 10-week crash-course, the IPPP is designed to bring international prospects up to speed with the skills required to make it in the NFL – or at the very least have a shot at being drafted.
On Wednesday, the former Wales winger clocked a time of 4.44seconds in his 40-yard sprint at the IPPP Pro Day at the University of South Florida.
According to Associated Press senior NFL reporter Rob Maaddi, Rees-Zammit was not impressed with his performance.
Former Wales star Louis Rees-Zammit quit rugby to enter the NFL International Pathways Players Program in January
The former Wales winger ran a 40-yard dash in 4.44 seconds at the IPP Pro Day on Wednesday
Rees-Zammit said he was ‘disappointed’ with his showing in front of NFL scouts
Rees-Zammitt’s time would have put him in the 30 fastest draft prospects at the NFL Combine this year
However, to put the Welshman’s time into context, since 2013 only 11 players have run a sub-4.30 second 40-yard-dash at the NFL Combine.
Earlier this month, Texas star wide receiver Xavier Worthy set a new NFL Combine record for the distance by stopping the clock at 4.21seconds.
Rees-Zammitt’s time would have put him in the 30 fastest draft prospects at the NFL Combine this year.
The Welshman once set a top speed of 24.2mph during a game, faster than the 23.24mph produced by Miami Dolphins superstar Tyreek Hill on a 27-yard kickoff return while playing for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2016.
Nicknamed ‘Cheetah’, the Dolphins star is renowned for his explosive acceleration and devastating speed and is one of the most electrifying wideouts in the NFL.
The 40-yard dash is one of a series of drills – along with bench press and vertical jump – that scouts at NFL Pro Days and at the NFL Combine use to evaluate each player’s strength, speed and ball skills.
Rees-Zammitt was joined at the IPP Pro Day but 15 fellow IPP hopefuls, including former Northampton centre Harry Mallinder.
Xavier Worthy set a new 40-yard dash record at the NFL Combine earlier this month, by running in 4.21seconds in Indianapolis
Rees-Zammit has a top speed faster than Tyreek Hill – one of the fastest NFL wide receivers
Gaelic football goalkeepers Rory Beggan, Charlie Smyth and Mark Jackson, as well as Scottish sprinter Praise Olatoke were also given the chance to impress scouts from all 32 NFL teams.
While Rees-Zammit was not thrilled with his 40-yard performance, IPP strength and conditioning coach Kevin Heiberger has been impressed with the former Gloucester player so far.
‘From a speed dynamic standpoint, Louis does things that are extremely difficult that he makes look natural,’ he said.
Since the IPP was first established in 2017, only 37 players have signed with NFL teams through it and Rees-Zammitt admitted the learning curve had been steep.
‘The amount we’ve learnt – on and off the field – has been unbelievable […] the change is mad,’ he told Mail Sport.
The former Wales star, however, isn’t contemplating failure.
‘That’s not even in my mind… if I had any doubt in my head I wouldn’t do this,’ he said.
‘You have to believe in yourself and you have to have full confidence in your ability.’
