Canadian receiver Jared Wayne showed out well at the University of Pittsburgh NFL Pro Day in front of all 32 NFL teams.
The 22-year-old Wayne recorded a 4.65 forty-yard time, 4.05 shuttle time, 6.75 three-come time, 10-foot, seven-inch broad jump and 41.5-inch vertical — the latter was better than any pass catcher invited to this year’s NFL Combine.
The Redblacks, Elks, Blue Bombers and Stampeders had scouts in attendance. Ottawa currently holds the first pick in the 2023 CFL Draft. Wayne jumped himself into being a possible NFL selection and that could affect how high he goes in the CFL talent grab.
The six-foot-three, 210-pound target caught 60 passes for 1,063 yards and five touchdowns over 12 games last season for Pitt. He was named second-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference after his senior year. Wayne dressed for 41 games over four seasons with the Panthers, notching 146 receptions for 2,308 yards and 13 touchdowns.
The native of Peterborough, Ont. finished high school at Clearwater Academy International in Florida after previously attending Trinity College School in Port Hope, Ont.
His dad Patrick Wayne played his collegiate football at Simon Fraser University and was selected in the second round, 12th overall during the 1987 CFL Draft by the Ottawa Rough Riders. The six-foot-three, 225-pound linebacker suited up in 123 games over nine seasons registering 118 tackles, 26 special teams tackles, 21 sacks and grabbed two interceptions.
The next-generation Wayne was listed as the No. 4-ranked prospect in the CFL class in the initial scouting bureau rankings this past fall.
