By By KEVIN TRAVIS, Sports Editor
GREENVILLE — Barking out a signal before taking a couple steps back, Brad Roach fired the football to his receiver with deft precision.
He did it time and time again during Wednesday’s Pro Day at East Carolina University. The All-American quarterback at Catawba College and a former star at Williamston High School hoped to impress the NFL scouts in attendance and improve his stock for the upcoming NFL Draft.
Roach went through various drills for the scouts, including the board jump (nine feet), vertical jump (30 inches) and 40-yard dash (4.77 seconds) .
He then had a workout with the receivers. The 6-6, 248-pound quarterback had to deal with some steady wind at times.
Two of Roach’s biggest supporters were nearby during the passing drills. Roach’s father, Keith Roach, a Washington resident and former Martin County sheriff, and his former high school coach at Williamston, Harold Robinson, who is ECU’s Director of High School Relations, watched like proud fathers.
Roach, who participated in the Division II Cactus Bowl All-Star game, said throwing to receivers he’s not used to has its good points and bad points.
Roach, who completed 224 of 376 (59.6 percent) passes for 3,322 yards and 32 touchdown passes his senior year, will go to another Pro Day at Catawba College on March 25.
The former co-captain of the Indians, who guided his team to an 11-2 record and a playoff victory, completed 608 of 1,099 passes (55.3 percent) for 7,874 yards and 62 touchdown passes in his career. He also ran for 138 yards and six scores.
Roach set a handful of records during his career at Catawba. He holds the school record for passing yards in a season (3,322 in 2007), touchdown passes in a season (32 in 2007), touchdown passes in a game (five against Albany State in 2007), completions in a season (224 in 2007), efficiency rating in a season (153.4 in 2007) and passing attempts in a season (384 in 2005).
Roach believes that NFL scouts will factor those numbers in with his overall performance on the field.
Roach will head to Charlotte to continue training before the NFL Draft, which will be held April 26-27.
Roach is excited and anxious for the upcoming draft.