VALDOSTA — With their NFL dreams just above their heads, four Valdosta State football players exploded off the ground leaping toward the ceiling of the VSU locker room as their fingertips brushed plastic tabs marking both a height and a possible professional future.

Tim Thompson, Richard Collier, Calvin English and Michael Green performed a test of vertical leaps and other physical skills before NFL scouts during a Pro Day at VSU Thursday.

Scouts from the NFL’s New York Giants, Tennessee Titans and Oakland Raiders came to Valdosta after attending Florida State’s Pro Day to evaluate the four Blazers’ standouts.

With agents in tow, the players were measured, scrutinized and evaluated based on their size, strength speed and agility for a shot at professional stardom and money.

A week after eight scouts traveled to VSU to see Collier and Thompson, and a week before the two will travel to another pro day at the University of Georgia, both helped their causes.

While Thompson had the highest vertical of the day for a 34 1/2 inch leap, English also impressed with a jump of 331/2.

The 6-foot-7, 325 pound Collier leaped to a height of 30 1/2.

Having been told about the event Tuesday, English arrived in Valdosta at 1 a.m. Thursday and caught some of the agents and scouts by surprise, testing well in several events.

“I know they’re pleased,” English said. “A lot of them sounded pleased.

“I’m happy I came out here and performed what I performed. I basically had a good day.”

The scouts exclaimed “nice jump” after English leaped to a broad jump of 9-foot-1 inches before his second jump went 9-foot-3 inches.

The scouts were also pleased with the sight of Collier’s giant frame soaring 9-foot-1 inches through the room.

Collier’s broad jump was an improvement on last week’s 8-foot-8 jump.

“I did better than last week,” Collier said. “I’m just trying to improve every week.”

According to scouts’ feedback, Collier seems to be right on track to where he should be heading into next week’s trials at UGA.