By Ernie Gonzalez (@superego1012):
After being hit by a drunk driver one week before his NFL Pro Day, San Jose State linebacker Frank Ginda didn’t disappoint.
Ginda, the only junior in the field of eight participants Friday, performed the vertical leap and long jump inside SJSU’s Koret Athletic Training Center before making the walk with 30 scouts representing 24 teams to CEFCU Stadium for the remainder of the exercises.
On the night of March 16, Ginda and his girlfriend were stopped at an intersection in downtown San Jose and were “T-boned” by a driver under the influence. Both were okay, but Ginda suffered multiple lacerations to his face and pain in his shoulder.
It only motivated him more, however.
It doesn’t matter what pain I’m in, Ginda said. “I’m still going to come out here, compete, and show that I’m reliable.”
Thought not 100 percent, Ginda was able to pump 29 repetitions on the bench press, nine more than the runner up, cornerback Jermaine Kelly Jr.
“The whole time on my mind was my parents … my main goal is to help out my family,” Ginda said. “I feel like … after how I performed, it’s going to help me.”
The 6-foot, 235-pound linebacker performed in all six drills, which included a 4.72 40-yard dash and peaking his vertical at 33”. Last season’s nations-leading tackler also led his former teammates with a 4.31 shuttle run and a 6.97 3-cone drill.
Kelly Jr. also put some pen to paper and raised some eyebrows with a solid 20 repetitions on the bench.
The 6-foot, 196-pound speedster also impressed on the 40, clicking a 4.47, the best time of the day. He also topped the rest of the field with a 11.88 60-shuttle, a 34” vertical and a 10’ 5” long jump.
“I feel like I performed well,” Kelly Jr. said. “A lot of scouts told me I really made a name for myself. I really trained hard … and I’m happy I got to showcase it today.”
Both Ginda and Kelly are projected to be day three picks in next month’s NFL Draft.
P Michaell Carrizosa, CB Andre Chachere, OL Chris Gonzalez, OL Jeremiah Kolone, DB Maurice McKnight and LB William Ossai also participated in the Pro Day.
SJSU’s busy weekend concludes tomorrow with the annual spring game at 1:15 p.m.