TCU outside linebacker Tank Carder has scouts' eyes on him, including Cowboys

TCU outside linebacker Tank Carder said he will travel to Buffalo on April 1-2 will be at Valley Ranch on April 5 to meet with the Cowboys.

“I’m trying to get someone to like me,” said Carder, a three-year starter who had 228 tackles, nine sacks and four interceptions in his career. “You’ve just got to get one team to like me. You’ve just got to get one team to like you, and I’m trying to impress whoever I can. I’m working my tail off, as hard as I can.”

Carder was the school’s lone representative at the NFL Scouting Combine last month.

He didn't do much at TCU's Pro Day on Friday. He stood on his performance in Indianapolis, where he ran a 4.69, had 19 reps in the 225-pound bench press and had a vertical jump of 34 ½ inches. He did improve his vertical Friday, going 36 inches, and he participated in position drills.

"I feel good [about the combine performance]," Carder said. "I stood on all my times. I did improve my vertical today, so that's really the only thing I did."

The only question about Carder is his size. He is 6-2, and he weighed 232 pounds Friday. NFL Draft Scout projects him as a sixth-round draft pick.

Carder could be the Horned Frogs’ only draft pick. They had five players drafted in 2011, including Andy Dalton, three in 2010, including Jerry Hughes (first round) and Daryl Washington (second round), and five in 2009 after having no one drafted in 2008.

"I think Carder is going to surprise some people," said C.O. Brocato, the Tennessee Titans national director of college scouting. "Somebody might try him as a strong safety, because of the size factor, but he’s a good football player."

Receiver Jonathan Jones turned heads with his 40 ½-inch vertical jump Friday. Greg McCoy, who likely will get a shot in the NFL as a returner, ran a 4.46 and had a 38-inch vertical. Offensive guard Kyle Dooley had 30 reps in the 225-pound bench press.

-- Charean Williams

Comments

[Vix]

@Magnus Nelson - He's too slow to play safety.

[chad holmes]

That's my boy. He will ho high in the 2nd round. Sweeny Texas is where its at

[Larry N Stouffer]

To C mongo nelson: Why don't you get off Jerry Jones' back and the rest of our nerves! You're boring us.

[Leroy Smith]

He's great on 2 point conversions.

[c magnus nelson]

See, another golden opportunity for Jethro to show that he knows what he's doing. Let me tell you something. If the cowboys pick this Tank Carder and move him to strong safety it would be one of the best picks in 2012. Of course, in order to do this, you need a real GM someone who knows what the hell he's doing.