DeKALB — On the same day NIU students resumed classes after a week-long spring break, representatives from 22 NFL teams converged upon DeKalb to watch the school’s latest class of draft prospects put their skills on display.
NIU hosted its annual Pro Day on Monday afternoon inside the Yordon and Chessick Practice Centers, where 17 Huskies worked out and met with NFL teams with just over a month until the 2025 NFL Draft.
“Pro Day was everything I expected it to be,” said senior defensive tackle Devonte O’Malley. “It was amazing. It was fun. I’m glad I got this opportunity.”
Upon arriving at the facility and completing the necessary paperwork, the participants gathered inside the Northwestern Sports Performance Center to have their measurements taken and perform the bench press and vertical jump. Senior defensive tackle Cade Haberman led all participants with 30 reps on the bench press, which would’ve been the best mark among defensive tackles at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine.
Haberman, who also ran a 5.08 40-yard dash, said his overall performance helps lay the groundwork for a potential jump to the next level.
“It just gives an opportunity,” Haberman said. “But right now, it’s just trying to get eyes on me. At places like this, they really just want to see if you can handle the league athletically, and that’s what my goal was – to come out here and show that I can handle professional football athletically.”
Once testing finished, participants moved into the Chessick Practice Center to take part in the broad jump, 40-yard dash and three-cone shuttle. Senior safety Nate Valcarcel and wide receiver Kacper Rutkiewicz, a 2023 NIU graduate, recorded the fastest times of the bunch, finishing at 4.51 and 4.52, respectively. Meanwhile, senior defensive back Jashon Prophete logged the fastest three-cone shuttle time of 4.13 seconds.
While Pro Day is an important step for prospects in the pre-draft process, it also marks the final act of their tenure as NIU student-athletes. One of the many veterans that spent their entire playing career in DeKalb, senior linebacker Jaden Dolphin reflected on his time wearing an NIU uniform.
“It’s almost hard to find the words,” Dolphin said. “A lot of highs and lows have been spent here. A lot of relationships have been built here – people I’ll remember and cherish forever. A lot of great memories I’ll never forget.”
With Pro Day now in the rear view mirror, the players look ahead to the next stages of the draft preparation process. For many, those stages are the upcoming local pro days hosted by the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers in April.
Whether those opportunities lead to having their name called on draft day, being signed as an undrafted free agent or receiving a rookie minicamp invite, each player has an identical goal: a chance to prove they can make an impact at the sport’s highest level.
“I just want an opportunity to show that I can play football,” Haberman said. “I think I can play football with the best of them.”
