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FRISCO, Texas — Isaac Rex's official pro day got started at 5:45 a.m. local time as he headed to the Dallas Cowboys' training facility in Frisco, Texas.
Former BYU teammate and one-time Weber State cornerback Kamden Garrett got started a bit later, but both BYU alums posted strong numbers during the inaugural Big 12 pro day.
Rex ran a 4.8 40-yard dash and added 24 reps on the bench press, per BYUtv's Spencer Linton, and Garrett added a 4.47 40 with a 31.5-inch vertical leap to highlight the Cougars' Thursday in north Texas.
All times and measurements are unofficial.
"I feel like I could've done a little better," Rex told BYUtv after his Thursday morning session, which included quarterbacks, wide receivers and tight ends from around the league, "but that's just life. Now it's time to work on football stuff, and perform to help out a team that needs me."
Rex has been training in Miami following appearances in the Hula Bowl and East-West Shrine Bowl, and told BYUtv that he plans to return to his native California and Utah for more pre-draft training as he the process shifts to individual workouts and interviews with the 32 teams in the NFL.
Unofficial times have Isaac Rex in the 4.8 - 4.85 range here. We'll report official times as soon as they become available. https://t.co/6ulZBgduo1
— Spencer Linton (@Spencer_Linton) March 28, 2024
Former BYU running backs Aidan Robbins and Deion Smith clocked 40 times of 4.60 and 4.58, respectively, as unofficially recorded by BYU and posted on the Cougars' account on X, formerly Twitter. Robbins added a 9-foot, 9-inch broad jump; and Smith had a 10-foot, 5-inch broad jump.
But Garrett stole the show in the third of three Thursday sessions that featured defensive backs, fellow BYU cornerback and Las Vegas-area native Eddie Heckard said.
"He ran a great 40 time," said Heckard, who is in Frisco for pro day while recovering from a minor foot surgery. "I think that'll get him somewhere good."
Former West Virginia cornerback Beanie Bishop Jr. ran the fastest 40 time of the day at 4.39 seconds, but Garrett was impressed by his own 40, as well.
"I think my drills and change-of-direction was also good," said Garrett, who has been in Utah finishing his degree in time to walk at April's graduation. "But today was fun; it was a good experience and I'm glad to be here. It's an opportunity that I'm grateful for."
Heckard has been training in Denver at a facility located close to the Denver Broncos' training facility, and said his agent has been putting together interviews and private workouts with teams after he went from FCS All-American at Weber State to posting 47 takes, five interceptions and six passes defended in his lone season at BYU en route to a 5-7 first campaign in the Big 12.
"Based off the season I had, I feel like I did what they asked," Heckard told ESPN radio in Utah County. "There's always more you can do, but based off what I heard transitioning from Weber to BYU, I heard I needed to do it at the Power Five level, and I feel like I did that — plus more — than what I did at Weber. But I understand it now; I've got my own journey for a reason, and I can't complain."
Friday will include interviews and classroom sessions for the 137 prospects invited to Frisco, with no on-field workouts. Specialists will work out Saturday morning at The Star, followed by offensive linemen, defensive linemen and llinebackers. That will include BYU center Paul Maile, defensive tackle Atunaisa Mahe, linebacker Max Tooley and punter Ryan Rehkow.
The NFL Network will broadcast Thursday and Friday night, with Saturday's events being featured as part of the network's "Path to the Draft" weekly coverage.
