By Dave Johnson
W&M Athletics

By now, it's no secret that William & Mary made history in the 2022 football season. Never before had the Tribe won 10 games in the regular season. Never before had it rushed for as many as 3,455 yards, or 265.8 per game.

So it should be no surprise that 23 teams from the National Football League had representatives in town for W&M's annual Pro Day Wednesday afternoon at Zable Stadium. If that's not a program record, it's in the top two or three.

Drawing all the attention were offensive tackle Colby Sorsdal, tight end Lachlan Pitts, wide receiver Cole Blackman and safety Tye Freeland. Each has finished their eligibility, and each is a college graduate.

"I tell you what, it's been great," W&M coach Mike London said Thursday afternoon. "Obviously for the participants today, but also for the program and our school. It shows we have the best of both world opportunities here.

"Colby is a graduate, and he's been engaged with 23-plus NFL scouts and position coaches. Some of our other guys also have opportunities. And our returning players can see a guy getting his degree and having a chance to compete at the highest level and being scouted by several NFL teams.

Pro Day activities include measurements (height, weight, etc.), strength and speed tests (bench press, 40-yard dash, vertical jump), position specific drills and interviews with team personnel. There's excitement and exhaustion all rolled into one day.

"Anything worth doing is exhausting, right?" said Sorsdal, a consensus All-American as a senior. "The drills are meant to tire you out, but I got through it and I thought I did really well. It's a dream come true having all these scouts come here — that's what it's all about.

"I've worked really hard for this, and right now, it's reality. It's crazy and exciting at the same time."

Sorsdal, whose 46 career starts are the second most ever by a Tribe offensive lineman, is generating plenty of buzz. He has been training at the Sports Academy in Frisco, Texas, under the tutelage of offensive line guru Duke Manyweather, who has referred to Sorsdal as "a draft sleeper."

Mayweather works with college and pro lineman alike. Two current NFL tackles Sorsdal was able to work with were Rashawn Slater of the Los Angeles Chargers and Terron Armstead of the Miami Dolphins.

Sorsdal played right tackle at William & Mary but is working to prove he is capable at any of the five positions (center included) on the line.

"I can play all five," said Sorsdal, who graduated last spring with a degree in kinesiology and health sciences. "I snapped today at Pro Day, so I'm putting that on my resume. That's what I'm working on down at Sports Academy is learning all five, getting comfortable at all five."

London said one of Sorsdal's biggest strengths is his football IQ.

"He's had three O-Line coaches here — Bob Solderitch, Gordon Sammis, and Mario Acitelli," London said. "He's been able to take that information and skillset to perform at a high level. His football acumen has been talked about as being really high."

Pitts is coming off an outstanding season in which he caught 28 passes and led the team with 543 yards and five touchdowns. At 6-foot-6 and 255 pounds, he has ideal size for NFL tight end. He also has big-play ability, which he showed by averaging 19.4 yards a catch.

Pitts received his B.B.A. in financial management in 2021 and his M.B.A. last fall.

"I thought I did well today," he said. "I caught all the balls. I don't know all of the times yet, but I think I was right around where I wanted to be. Obviously there were a lot of nerves before, but once I got into it, it was a surreal feeling."

Blackman had an eventful college career that was interrupted by a compound leg fracture prior to his 2017 season at the University of Virginia. He transferred to Illinois State for the 2019 season and then to William & Mary.

In 14 games with the Tribe, Blackman caught 38 passes for 620 yards with four touchdowns. He was the team's leading receiver in the fall season of 2021. He earned his undergraduate degree from Illinois State and his M.Ed. from William & Mary.

Freeland, who began his career at Howard, played 20 games (18 starts) over the last two seasons at William & Mary. He had 40 tackles and four forced fumbles. He intercepted two passes in the Tribe's playoff win over Gardner-Webb.

Freeland graduated from Howard in 2021 with a B.S. in Leisure Studies.

Wide receiver Caylin Newton, who caught a team-leading 37 passes last season and had 11 tackles on special teams, had his Pro Day Tuesday afternoon. But his was at Auburn, where he played two seasons before transferring to W&M.

Throwing him passes in front of the scouts was none other than his brother, Cam, a former NFL Most Valuable Player who is currently a free agent.

The NFL Draft will start on April 27 with the first round selections. The second and third rounds will be on the 28th and the fourth through seventh on the 29th. In the meantime, prospects will continue doing what they've been doing since their seasons ended.

"It doesn't really die down until you get that phone call on draft day," Sorsdal said.