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Ex-Gator Fowler sports gold watch at NFL combine, rises up draft boards

 
Dante Fowler, sporting a gold watch and cheetah cleats, runs the third-fastest time at the combine among D-linemen.
Dante Fowler, sporting a gold watch and cheetah cleats, runs the third-fastest time at the combine among D-linemen.
Published Feb. 23, 2015

Former Gator and Lakewood High standout Dante Fowler made a statement at the NFL combine on Sunday with his 40-yard dash time … and his ability to accessorize.

The 6-foot-3, 261-pound defensive end ran an impressive 4.60 seconds. And he did it wearing an eye-catching gold watch and just-as-catchy cheetah cleats.

The NFL Network's Rich Eisen pointed out that he had never seen a player wear a watch in his 11 years of covering the combine, to which co-host Mike Mayock responded, "He's gonna time himself."

Fowler, who bypassed his senior year at Florida, later told the network that it was his lucky workout gold watch.

The buzz at the combine has Fowler rapidly moving up mock draft boards, with Pete Prisco of cbssports.com writing why Fowler could end up going No. 3 overall to the Jaguars.

Clemson's Vic Beasley had the fastest time among defensive linemen at 4.53; Fowler tied for third.

Florida State's Mario Edwards also had a strong day.

He ran a 4.84 in the 40, finishing 13th out of 55 defensive linemen. The 6-3, 279-pounder's time bettered that of his former FSU teammate and possible No. 1 overall pick, quarterback Jameis Winston, who ran a 4.97 on Saturday.

Edwards' 32 reps at 225 pounds in the bench press tied for fifth.

The defensive backs work out today, the final day of the combine.

VIKINGS AND A.P.: The Vikings want Adrian Peterson to return, despite recent reports that have said the running back has asked for a trade to the Cowboys. Vikings general manager Rick Spielman and coach Mike Zimmer said at the combine that they haven't spoken to Peterson because they currently can't. Once he's reinstated from his suspension, they said they will. Zimmer said last month that if Peterson is dead set against playing for the Vikings, the team would work something out. Peterson has fueled the trade rumors by saying he was "uneasy" about returning to the Vikings this season, primarily because of how things were handled with his suspension and trip to the commissioner's exempt list.