BOWLING GREEN — Slimmed down and eager to open some eyes, former Bowling Green State University tight end Quintin Morris showed up ready to perform at the school's pro day Monday.

Morris, who has been projected as high as a Day 2 or Day 3 selection in April's NFL draft, went through drills in front of scouts at the university.

“I'm pretty pleased with my performance,” Morris said. “I thought it was pretty good. I think I hit pretty much all of my numbers how I wanted to. I think I impressed some of the scouts.”

Listed at 6-foot-2 and 251 pounds, Morris ran the 40-yard dash in a time of 4.58 seconds. That time would have been the second-fastest among tight ends at the NFL combine last year.

Morris said he believes he excelled at the running events.

“I really showed how I've gotten my body right,” Morris said. “I don't think they realized I was that good of a route runner and that explosive. I showed I have good ball skills and can be a good blocker, too.”

Morris, who originally came to BG as a wide receiver before switching to tight end, finished his college career with 125 catches for 1,529 yards — 24th most in program history.

The native of Richmond, Texas, had 20 catches for 248 yards last season. He also was the first BGSU tight end to be named to the All-Mid American Conference first team since Brett Landman in 1991.

Bowling Green coach Scot Loeffler said he has fielded numerous calls from NFL organizations in regards to Morris.

“He had a very good day today,” Loeffler said. “He looks quick. He looks in shape. He ran well, and he caught the ball well. He has great ball skills, and he showed it today. Someone's going to get a good player.”

Morris received an invitation to compete in the Senior Bowl in January. Morris caught three passes for 52 yards (17.3 per catch), the second-highest receiving total on his American team.

“After the Senior Bowl, I came back with a weight where I felt more comfortable, and I felt more explosive,” Morris said. “I showed I could really move around and that I have good ball skills. I thought I impressed the scouts. Now I'm looking forward to draft day and hearing my name called.”

Morris said he wanted to change his diet to perform at his highest level.

“I wanted to get in the best shape of my life,” he said. “I came in with the mindset of playing in the weight I was most comfortable in.”

The Falcons also had several other players participate in their NFL pro day.

Defensive back Antonyo Sotolongo, offensive lineman Jack Kramer, defensive lineman David Konowalski, running back Bryson Denley, and offensive lineman Tim Tanner-Blair also went through various drills for the NFL scouts.

“I felt comfortable being back at BG with some of the other guys,” Morris said. “All of the guys are out here trying to earn a job. We tried to top each other.”

Morris said he went into the workout trusting his training.

“I had some jitters at the beginning. But once you get out there, it's just remembering your technique and just playing football,” he said. “After you do the first drill, the nervousness just goes away. I relaxed and trusted my training.”

He also had a broad jump that measured 119 inches, and his vertical jump was 34 inches. Morris also completed 22 reps in the bench press, which would have been fourth among tight ends at last year's NFL combine.

Tony Pauline, the chief draft analyst for Pro Football Network, said he projected Morris to be a fifth- or sixth-round pick in the NFL draft heading into last season.

“He's a guy that might get drafted,” Pauline said. “He showed flashes at Bowling Green. He's athletic and catches the ball well.”

But Pauline said Morris may have hurt his draft stock with a poor week of practice at the Senior Bowl.

Morris had a highlight-reel catch in the Senior Bowl game, a 35-yard catch and run where he leaped over a defensive back in the open field.

“I thought there were some things I did good in the Senior Bowl,” Morris said. “But I also thought I struggled some in the practices. I got better over the week. Coming back to training, that showed up today.”

Pauline said Morris' performance on Monday should help.

“He is a move tight end and good pass catcher … that should help him,” Pauline said.

NFL draft website WalterFootball.com has Morris as the No. 6 tight end in the draft class. Twelve tight ends were selected in last year's draft.

Loeffler said running a 4.6 at tight end is a game changer.

“He has thinned down, which is great. He lost 10 pounds, and he's moving around cleaner,” Loeffler said. “He looked faster.”

Morris said the scouts told him they liked how he had slimmed down and that he had worked on his ball skills and explosion.

“The biggest thing is that they saw I've been putting in the work,” he said. “They know I have that trait to be willing to work and get better.”

Loeffler said Morris is a high character individual who comes from a good family.

“He always did things the right way. When he got moved over from wide receiver to tight end, he embraced it. That probably was the best decision he ever made,” Loeffler said. “He's also a good student.”

Morris led the country in receiving among tight ends during the first year he switched positions.

“We didn't really have a lot around him, so for him to be able to accomplish that was pretty remarkable,” Loeffler said. “He put up some huge numbers. We're very proud of him.”

Loeffler said most often NFL teams make need-based selections and that he told Morris to be patient.

“There have been a lot of people that have reached out about him. You just have to get the foot in the door and then as soon as you get your foot in the door, no one cares where you are drafted,” Loeffler said. “He just has to get that opportunity and take advantage of it.”

Morris said he plans on watching the NFL draft at his family's home.

“I'm anxious. I'm really looking forward to hearing my name called,” he said.

Morris said the program at BG helped him get in a position to play at the highest level.

“I learned a lot at receiver and then transitioning to tight end, I learned a lot of Football 101 here,” he said. “It helped me get to where I'm at now. I'm really grateful for the relationships I've been able to build on the field and on campus. BG is something I'll keep with me for the rest of my life.”

First Published March 23, 2021, 3:00 p.m.