Trevor Knight, the Texas A&M product, paced the NFL Combine this year as the fastest quarterback to participate in the 40 yard dash. His time? 4.54 seconds.
On Thursday afternoon at Stephen F. Austin's Pro Day in Lufkin, Texas, quarterback Zach Conque, four inches taller and 13 pounds heavier, unofficially clocked 4.55:
Knight also led quarterbacks in Indianapolis with leaps in the vertical jump (35.5 inches) and broad jump (125.0 inches). Conque's 36.5 and 123.0 would've placed him first and tied for second. In the three cone drill, designed to measure agility and quickness, Conque's 6.84 seconds would've been beaten only by Tennessee's Joshua Dobbs. Even Conque's 20 yard shuttle, completed in 4.28 seconds, would have been scored in the top five among quarterback participants.
Conque did not field an invitation to Indianapolis this year - but after Stephen F. Austin's Pro Day on Thursday, it's safe to say that he put on a show from home. With an audience of scouts from the Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Rams, Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texas, and Green Bay Packers, any doubt about the elite athleticism of the 6-foot-5, 232 pound signal caller from Little Rock, Arkansas, was quickly put to bed.
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks quarterback Zach Conque (2) throws during the game against the TCU Horned Frogs at Amon G. Carter Stadium.
Along with teammates David Dane (who has recovered from an injury suffered at the end of his senior season in 2015), Justice Liggins, Price Miller, Anthony Pullins, De'Quann Ruffin, George Stone, and Germod Williams, Conque took part in a number of drills that scouts use to supplement their evaluation of NFL prospects each spring. SFA's starting quarterback of the past three seasons also threw scripted passes and caught others to show off his versatility as both a quarterbacking prospect and tight end. His afternoon was a resounding success.
"His stock moved up at every position today," one attending coach told The Sawmill. "He did everything really well. He threw the ball well, ran well, caught the ball well. That's the dynamic of him is that he's really versatile."
Conque's journey to the ranks of professional football has been a roller coaster and has included both moments of success, like guiding his team to an NCAA playoff appearance in his first season, and disappointment, centered largely on injuries both to him and his supporting cast. Zach finished his college career fourth all-time in SFA history with 6,867 passing yards and third in total touchdowns with 81.
Ultimately, if teams determine that he would be a better fit as a tight end, Zach has expressed willingness to change his position at the next level. But quarterback guru Brad Frazier (who operates the Old School Quarterbacks Academy in Frisco, Texas and has been working with Zach since December) believes Conque has the tools to succeed as a professional signal caller too.
"He's a great leader, has great football IQ, and is real passionate about the quarterback position," he said. "That's what would make him successful at the next level. As well as that he can make all the throws."
Improved footwork coupled with the elite arm strength and athleticism demonstrated on Thursday seem to have entrenched his status as an NFL prospect - which position exactly will likely be determined down the road.
Also notably from Thursday's Pro Day, Liggins, who racked up over 1000 yards receiving during his SFA career, managed to hit 39 inches in his vertical jump and run a 4.50 in the 40
yard dash. Anthony Pullins turned some heads, too, with his 33 reps in
the 225 pound bench press.
They won't play again in purple and white, but these Lumberjacks may not be done just yet with their football careers. For Conque, and others, if that turns out to be the case, they'll have no shortage of fans watching from Nacogdoches.
