On Thursday, midway through Stanford’s pro day, running back Christian McCaffrey soared near the sideline to snag an errant pass, a nifty bit of athleticism that drew applause.
Meanwhile, McCaffrey’s former college teammate, defensive end Solomon Thomas, worked out for NFL scouts and drew nary a cheer during the two-hour session.
Of course, this is the way it worked during their days on the Farm. McCaffrey, playing a glamour position, got the headlines. Thomas, playing with fellow grunts, excelled in relative anonymity.
In just over a month, however, Thomas will get top billing: He is viewed as the better NFL prospect and will hear his name called before McCaffrey during the first round of the NFL draft April 27.