Former teammate Foley Fatukasi, drafted by the Jets in 2018, told Peart the pre-draft process wouldn't be easy, and he needed to treat every part of it like he would only get that one shot. Little did either know how true that would be in this year of th e coronavirus. Peart followed up his Senior Bowl performance in Mobile, Ala., on Jan. 25 with a strong showing in the NFL Combine in Indianapolis at the end of February. At 6 feet 7 and 318 pounds, Peart ran the 40-yard dash in 5.06 seconds, made a verti cal leap of 30 inches, a broad jump of 113 inches. Then they measured his arms - 36 5/8 inches, longer than any other tackle. That set the scouts and analysts abuzz."I knew I had long arms," Peart says, with a belly laugh, "but when they came up a nd said I had the longest, I was like, 'Oh. … Really?' I couldn't help but laugh and smile. I thought I'd be middle of the pack, but to have the longest? That's pretty good." Then the process was swept into this uncharted territory. There was not to be a Pro Day at UConn, no visits or workouts for individual teams, few chances to work out at conventional facilities. Instead, Peart has spent the last month lifting weights in his basement, marking off his quiet street to run sprints and "gassers," uphil l, to the wonderment of neighbors out walking their dogs. Distance runs, up to 3 miles, not his favorite thing, are keeping him in shape, and he has had virtual interviews with numerous teams assessing his football IQ and upbeat disposition. - Hartford C ourant
(DS#8 OT) rSr/2020  OT Matt Peart, Connecticut
News Source: Hartford Courant
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