ARKANSAS PRO DAY: Performing like a pro

FAYETTEVILLE — Darren McFadden rarely looked rattled during an Arkansas playing career that included back-to-back runner-up finishes in the Heisman Trophy race.

But even McFadden has endured some uneasy moments in what has become an increasingly long "off-season" between his last game as a Razorback and next month's NFL Draft.

"At times, it can get nerveracking because you're under a close microscope," McFadden said. "They're critiquing everything you do, every little footstep you take."

In McFadden's case, most of the questions have involved his behavior off the field rather than his performance on it. From his acquisition of a sport utility vehicle to paternity tests to an incident at a Little Rock nightclub, McFadden has drawn enough attention to warrant questions about his character.

At least one person, ESPN NFL insider Chris Mortensen, offered McFadden an endorsement Tuesday following Arkansas' pro day at Walker Pavilion.

McFadden was one of 19 former Razorbacks who went through a variety of tests and drills similar to those conducted at last month's NFL Scouting Combine in front of a bevy of NFL scouts, coaches and executives, as well asmore than 50 media members.

"Everyone talks about Darren's character," Mortensen said. "You know, he's got great football character and I really believe he has very good personal, off-the-field character.

"What he did today was for his teammates. That was totally selfless, and it was typical of Darren. By working out today, a lot of teams showed up, and when they showed up, his teammates got exposure.

"Darren didn't have to do anything today. Just the fact that he got the word out that he was going to work out today, some of these teams showed up."

Those who came saw Mc-Fadden participate in most of the drills, something he didn't do at the combine. All McFadden did at the combine was run the 40-yard dash, in a blistering 4.33 seconds.

McFadden didn't run the 40 on Tuesday "because there wasn't any use," and while no official results from the other drills were released, McFadden passed the eye test with flying colors. He said he was pleased with his performance, except for managing a relatively average 13 repetitions in the 225-pound bench-press test.

"I don't feel good about it," said McFadden, who hoped to do between 15 and 20 reps. "Me, personally, I feel I could have done better."

McFadden has been working out in Fayetteville with a group of NFL hopefuls, including teammate Felix Jones, Peyton Hillis and Marcus Monk.

"I feel like if you take off a day, you're losing a day," McFadden said. "You can get better every day."

Speculation mounts eachday as the April 26-27 draft approaches, and rumors about which team might select Mc-Fadden seem to change from hour to hour sometimes. Mc-Fadden said he's tried to ignore the rumors for the most part, but he has been surprised by the questions concerning his character.

"People want to question my character, but people that know me know I'm a great kid," he said. "I put myself in bad situations a couple of times, and that's something that doesn't really concern me now that much, but it is a great motivator. It drives me to work harder."

McFadden said he anticipates going through individual workouts for a handful of teams between now and the draft, and if questions about his off-field problems arise, he'll meet them head-on.

"I'm very open about the situation," McFadden said. "It's not something I'm trying to run from or anything."

Mortensen said he expects McFadden to be picked anywhere from fourth to eighth, either by a team owning that pick or by one moving up through a trade, and regardless of his socalled character issues.

"Teams that are going to have an excuse not to take Darren, they've got their excuse built in and they're not going to takehim," Mortensen said. "Teams that want him are going to take him."

Mortensen also touted Jones, who is expected to be among the first running backs taken, especially since Oregon standout Jonathan Stewart recently underwent toe surgery. Mortensen said he initially wondered if Jones might be better off returning for another season at Arkansas, but that teams have been raving about him.

"I'm not even sure it mattered what he did at the combine or out here, because the more they watched film on him, they just said, 'Well, he might be a middle first-rounder,' " Mortensen said. "He might go between 15 and 22, but he's definitely going in the first round."

Jones ran a 4.44-second 40-yard dash at the combine and chose not to run Tuesday. He participated in some of the drills and said he believed he helped his cause.

"I had fun today, like I always do," Jones said. "Great I could come back to Razorback town and perform in front of these scouts and coaches and everything."

It will be even better, Jones and McFadden said, when all the speculation is behind them.

"I'm ready to get back on the field and start playing ball again," McFadden said.