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Jerrion Ealy continuing to learn about football as he goes through the draft process

11by:Jake Thompson•03/24/22•

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Jerrion Ealy
Jerrion Ealy (Photo by Bruce Newman)

Emotions are going to be high in the Ealy household come NFL Draft weekend next month.

For Jerrion Ealy, he expects to be taken in the first round. It is hard to knock the mentality that every player feels they are the best at their craft.

But, the first round does not seem to be in the cards for Ealy. A late selection on day two or somewhere on day three looks to be where Ealy is tracking and it is what he is hearing. With that reality sinking in, there will be some “anger” from Ealy throughout those three days.

“It’ll be a little bit of anger, little bit of happiness and a little bit more anger,” Ealy said. “Because I personally believe I am a day one guy and I should be going day one, but it’s not in my hands. I’m going to be happy with whichever team I end up with but I’m going to be angry that there were (running)backs taken before me.”

Ealy announced minutes after the Sugar Bowl’s conclusion that he was leaving college early and heading to the NFL. He has spent the last couple months training at House of Athlete in Weston, Fla. with fellow teammates Snoop Conner and Sam Williams.

Having Conner and Williams there with Ealy has helped him through the pre-draft process but it is Conner that has helped the most as they both go through this process together.

“It’s been great. I’ve always been comfortable,” Ealy said. “Having two of my best guy friends around me while I’m training and going through this process. Also having someone that’s in the same room as me is great to have. Me and Snoop always study together. He’ll teach me things that I didn’t know and I would do the same. It was great having him there. I’ve had him for the last three years, so it’s always been great having him and he’s good resource to have.”

During Ole Miss’ Pro Day on Wednesday, Ealy put down another 40-yard dash in the books with a 4.43 seconds as his best unofficial time. He also did the 20-yard shuttle with a time of 4.37 and the three-cone drill in 7.10.

He also worked with Matt Corral during the throwing portion and had some drops that he noted afterwards he would like to have had back.

With several NFL head coaches in attendance including Pittsburgh’s Mike Tomlin and Dallas’ Mike McCarthy, Ealy admitted he may have had some butterflies at times.

“I just didn’t focus,” Ealy said. “Wasn’t focused. Little bit of nerves, which you rarely hear me say that, but I was a little bit nervous. Had a bit of butterflies. Because, you know, I wanted to catch it too perfect instead of just making the catch.”

The feedback Ealy has gotten so far is that teams would like to use him as a third down back and help create numbers for the opposing defense. So far no meetings have been scheduled with teams but with over a month to go before the NFL Draft takes place in Las Vegas, there is plenty of time to set some up.

NFL Draft watch party plans are not set yet for Ealy, who said he’d much rather just watch in solitude, answer the phone when he gets the call and then move on. However he chooses to spend that final weekend in April, emotions and motivation will be high.

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