TEMPE, Ariz. - In most cases, it’s relatively rare to see an NFL head coach make an appearance at a college pro day.

So, when three NFL head coaches, including one who just coached in the Super Bowl, showed up to Arizona State football’s annual pro day on Friday, March 27, ASU head coach Kenny Dillingham believed it was a testament to the players on the field.

“This group built this place,” Dillingham said, “and they built it into what you saw today.”

The result? A large turnout, complete with coaches, GMs and scouts, in attendance to watch 20 departing Sun Devils show off their skills and abilities in Tempe on Friday, starting at the Butterfield, Kent, Furst Student-Athlete Facility and ending at the Verde Dickey Dome.

Here are three winners from Friday’s showcase.

XAVION ALFORD

Based on their outputs in the 2025 season, ASU’s secondary pairing of Keith Abney II and Xavion Alford couldn’t have gone into Friday in more different situations.

After a solid 2024 campaign, Abney went back-to-back on impressive seasons in the fall, racking up 36 solo tackles and grabbing two picks. Thanks to his work, Abney received an invite to the NFL Combine and is currently projected as a second-round pick by Tankathon.

Meanwhile, Alford didn’t get the same chance to build on a strong season in 2024, only appearing in two games in 2025 due to injury and falling all the way out of many experts’ mock drafts.

Even with all those differences, Abney and Alford went step-for-step on Friday, proving that both are fully capable of making contributions to an NFL squad.

Alford, who elected to forgo his final year of NCAA eligibility to enter the draft, is confident that despite the injuries and setbacks, he can still make an impact on Sundays.

“I think if you put my day together, combined with what I can do on the field …” Alford said, “you know what type of player you’re getting when you pick me.”

Dillingham shares the same sentiment.

“He was counted out before, and he became All-Big 12 when he was counted out,” Dillingham said. “So, don’t count him out.”

The numbers back up their claims. Alford started the morning with 16 reps on the bench press, a number that would have tied for second among safeties at the combine, and a 37.5-inch vertical.

Then, an afternoon featuring a quick 40-yard dash and a strong showing in position drills totaled up to a great day for the Pearland, Texas native.

Alford thinks so, too.

“I feel like every category I was above-average,” Alford said. “I feel like I performed elite.”

JEFF SIMS

It’s not often that a 24-year-old quarterback prospect – especially one who didn’t start in half of his team’s games the year prior – shines at pro day.

Over the course of last season, though, Sun Devils fans came to realize that Jeff Sims isn’t the same struggling option QB that he appeared to be at Georgia Tech and Nebraska.

The veteran signal-caller measured in with a wingspan of 78 6/8 inches, well above average for quarterback prospects.

Then, after choosing to skip the bench press, Sims wowed scouts with a blazing 40-yard dash, unofficially timed as the fastest of the day.

Soon after, Sims showed off his throwing ability, completing an array of passes to all fields, both flat-footed and on the run.

More highlight moments came in the form of a couple of deep shots, where Sims showed off his accurate long ball, impressing Dillingham and a number of NFL representatives.

“You got to see him throw the ball however many yards as he did,” Dillingham said. “He was accurate over the middle.”

After the workout wrapped up, Sims left the facility to praise from various scouts, once again getting an endorsement from Dillingham.

“His last game he played as a Sun Devil was his best game in his career,” Dillingham said. “Go watch that film, see his talents, and then meet the person.”

THE FUTURE OF ASU FOOTBALL

If the average football fan looked in any direction in ASU’s inflatable practice field during the latter half of the day, the chances of them pointing out a familiar face would be very high.

Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel, Giants head coach John Harbaugh and Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski all made the trip to Tempe. Vrabel helped lead the position work for the offensive line and even ran a few demonstrative reps with offensive tackle Max Iheanachor.

With Iheanachor’s draft stock on a continuous rise, Vrabel’s added focus on the young lineman pleased Dillingham and his staff.

“It was cool to see him and Max work together,” Dillingham said. “It was fun to watch.”

The list of notable names in Tempe on Friday isn’t limited to head coaches, as several GMs and high-ranking executives also attended Friday’s workouts.

The most interesting interaction of the day came from Giants GM Joe Schoen. Alongside Harbaugh and former Sun Devil and current Giants running back Cam Skattebo, Schoen held a lengthy conversation with highly-touted ASU wideout Jordyn Tyson.

Currently, the Giants own the fifth overall pick in the upcoming NFL Draft on April 23, with Tyson — who did not participate in today’s workout due to a nagging injury sustained in the 2025 season — being a popular prediction for New York’s selection.

Even in the uncertainty of the draft process, Tyson is appreciative of the time with front-office personnel across the league.

“Everybody’s been very cool, everybody’s been very respectful,” Tyson said. “I feel like there isn’t one that sticks out.”

In full, the NFL representation across 31 teams on Friday means the pipeline from Tempe to the pros is only getting stronger.

Still, Dillingham knows the road to the NFL for future Sun Devils will take some paving along the way.

“If you want to get to where you want to go, you don’t have three months to prepare,” Dillingham said. “You’re preparing every single day with everything you do.”