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His final huff and his final puff behind him Wednesday, Vanderbilt safety/linebacker De'Rickey Wright walked purposefully toward the door at the Commodores' practice facility.
Scouts from 21 NFL teams had just finished watching him and 15 other players with pro football aspirations run and jump and lift weights and run some more during one of the most important days of their athletic lives — pro day.
But impressing scouts was second on Wright's priority list this day. He had to get home to the first — his 4-month-old daughter.
"Today's the first day I'm going to watch her all by myself," Wright said proudly, but with a hint of trepidation.
Pro day for Wright, you see, was nothing to be nervous about compared those plans.
"I wouldn't say I was that nervous," Wright said of performing during pro day. "I had a kid. If y'all had kids, you know it can be pretty nerve-wracking."
The football part of his life, he said, is old hat.
"I've been doing this since I was 4 years old. Really, 3. So just another day to come out and perform and put your best forward."
Wright did not receive an invite to the NFL combine in February, which left a "chip on his shoulder."
But not going to Indianapolis in February was just as well because Wright had surgery to repair a major pectoral tendon tear after the Commodores' 35-27 victory against Georgia Tech in the Birmingham Bowl, and he couldn't train until about a week and a half ago.
The 6-foot-4, 229-pounder, who spent parts of his childhood in Gadsden, Alabama, without a permanent home, is projected to be at best a late-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, which begins April 24 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Wright had 48 tackles and one interception in 13 games for the Commodores this past season. He compiled 179 tackles, six interceptions, 14 pass breakups and forced three fumbles in 48 career games spanning five seasons with Vanderbilt, which he chose over schools such as Alabama, Ole Miss and Texas A&M, all three of which he once committed to.
Those numbers mattered less Wednesday, though, when he recorded a 34-inch vertical jump and a 10-foot, 6-inch broad jump to go with a 4.62 40-yard dashamd a 4.37 shuttle.
"Some of the numbers I put up weren't the numbers I know I can put up, so that was kind of disappointing," Wright said. "But it's chill . . . Whatever team picks me is getting all the best of me."
Wright accidentally fell in love with the idea of playing football when he tagged along with his mother to his cousin's practice.
He's in love with the idea of playing professionally.
He's also realistic. Understands the odds of making it to the NFL are long and the odds of sticking are longer.
So what are his plans should football not work out?
Try football.
Vanderbilt assistant coach Melvin Rice planted that seed in Wright's head.
"He wants to get me into coaching," Wright said. "Sports in general is what I've known, what I've been interested in. So if we can't play it, why not try to affect it in another way, in coaching."
Paul Skrbina is a sports enterprise reporter covering the Predators, Titans, Nashville SC, local colleges and local sports for The Tennessean. Reach him at [email protected] and on the X platform (formerly known as Twitter) @paulskrbina. Follow his work here.
SPRING AHEAD: Why Vanderbilt football is holding a spring game in 2025 despite transfer portal concerns
LEA SAYS: Why Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea decided he didn't want to be defensive coordinator again in 2025
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Pro day not most stressful for Vanderbilt football's De'Rickey Wright
Continue reading...
Scouts from 21 NFL teams had just finished watching him and 15 other players with pro football aspirations run and jump and lift weights and run some more during one of the most important days of their athletic lives — pro day.
But impressing scouts was second on Wright's priority list this day. He had to get home to the first — his 4-month-old daughter.
"Today's the first day I'm going to watch her all by myself," Wright said proudly, but with a hint of trepidation.
Pro day for Wright, you see, was nothing to be nervous about compared those plans.
"I wouldn't say I was that nervous," Wright said of performing during pro day. "I had a kid. If y'all had kids, you know it can be pretty nerve-wracking."
The football part of his life, he said, is old hat.
"I've been doing this since I was 4 years old. Really, 3. So just another day to come out and perform and put your best forward."
'Whatever team picks me is getting all the best of me'
Wright did not receive an invite to the NFL combine in February, which left a "chip on his shoulder."
But not going to Indianapolis in February was just as well because Wright had surgery to repair a major pectoral tendon tear after the Commodores' 35-27 victory against Georgia Tech in the Birmingham Bowl, and he couldn't train until about a week and a half ago.
The 6-foot-4, 229-pounder, who spent parts of his childhood in Gadsden, Alabama, without a permanent home, is projected to be at best a late-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, which begins April 24 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Wright had 48 tackles and one interception in 13 games for the Commodores this past season. He compiled 179 tackles, six interceptions, 14 pass breakups and forced three fumbles in 48 career games spanning five seasons with Vanderbilt, which he chose over schools such as Alabama, Ole Miss and Texas A&M, all three of which he once committed to.
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Those numbers mattered less Wednesday, though, when he recorded a 34-inch vertical jump and a 10-foot, 6-inch broad jump to go with a 4.62 40-yard dashamd a 4.37 shuttle.
"Some of the numbers I put up weren't the numbers I know I can put up, so that was kind of disappointing," Wright said. "But it's chill . . . Whatever team picks me is getting all the best of me."
'If we can't play it . . . '
Wright accidentally fell in love with the idea of playing football when he tagged along with his mother to his cousin's practice.
He's in love with the idea of playing professionally.
He's also realistic. Understands the odds of making it to the NFL are long and the odds of sticking are longer.
So what are his plans should football not work out?
Try football.
Vanderbilt assistant coach Melvin Rice planted that seed in Wright's head.
"He wants to get me into coaching," Wright said. "Sports in general is what I've known, what I've been interested in. So if we can't play it, why not try to affect it in another way, in coaching."
Paul Skrbina is a sports enterprise reporter covering the Predators, Titans, Nashville SC, local colleges and local sports for The Tennessean. Reach him at [email protected] and on the X platform (formerly known as Twitter) @paulskrbina. Follow his work here.
SPRING AHEAD: Why Vanderbilt football is holding a spring game in 2025 despite transfer portal concerns
LEA SAYS: Why Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea decided he didn't want to be defensive coordinator again in 2025
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Pro day not most stressful for Vanderbilt football's De'Rickey Wright
Continue reading...
