Tunsil puts up big bench press numbers at Ole Miss pro day

Mar 28, 2016 - 8:23 PM OXFORD, Miss. (AP) Ole Miss left tackle Laremy Tunsil is known as a big man who can move. He is an elite pass blocker whose quick feet made him a three-year starter and an anchor on the Rebels' offensive line.

Turns out his upper-body strength isn't bad either.

The 6-foot-5, 310-pound Tunsil did 34 repetitions of 225 pounds on the bench press on Monday at Ole Miss pro day, matching the most by anyone at last month's NFL combine.

Tunsil is considered one of the players who could go No. 1 overall to the Tennessee Titans. His performance in the weight room on Monday certainly helped.

Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze said talking about Tunsil with NFL scouts is a stress-free task.

''That's the easiest discussion I can have,'' Freeze said. ''I don't care who you have on your team, I don't see how you can bypass Laremy Tunsil.''

Tunsil briefly spoke with NFL Network on Monday, but otherwise didn't do interviews following his workouts.

It was a big day for the Ole Miss football program, which was able to showcase much of the talent that helped the program make the leap into the upper tier of the Southeastern Conference. The Rebels finished last year with a 10-3 record, including a Sugar Bowl victory over Oklahoma State.

Sixteen players worked out for NFL execs on Monday, but the focus was on Tunsil, receiver Laquon Treadwell and defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche.

All three have a chance to be first-round picks in April's NFL draft.

''It's just another day we can emphasize to America and to all the people who follow college football that our program is taking another step in our journey,'' Freeze said.

Treadwell wasn't expected to run an elite 40-yard dash time considering strength - and not speed - was his best asset for the Rebels. But his unofficial times of 4.65 and 4.63 seconds in the 40 were still slightly disappointing.

The 6-foot-2, 221-pound Treadwell led the Southeastern Conference with 1,153 yards receiving last season. He played in all 13 games one year after breaking his leg in a 2014 game against Auburn.

''I don't need to run a 4.2 to win on a deep ball,'' Treadwell said. ''I just play hard. I don't really go into games thinking I've got to run superfast to beat you. I work on techniques and try to beat you at different points when attacking the ball.''

The 6-3, 294-pound Nkemdiche did some position drills for scouts on Monday.

But his physical skills aren't often the focus for NFL scouts. Instead, he said he gets lots of questions about off-the-field issues, including an incident in December when he was charged with possession of marijuana after falling out of a hotel room window in Atlanta.

He said one bad moment won't define him and that's been his message for NFL teams.

''I've been honest,'' Nkemdiche said. ''I've been straightforward and made it clear that's not who I am. That's not anything they have to worry about because that's not my character. That's not my personality. I'm a positive person and I'm going to be an asset for the team and the community where I end up.''

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