Dozen Ex-Bears Set to Perform at Missouri State Pro Day March 12

Eleven former Missouri State players took the field at Robert W. Plaster Stadium in Springfield on Thursday, putting their NFL futures on the line in front of scouts less than two months before the draft. The workout gave a group of ex-Bears a final formal opportunity to elevate their stock before rosters are set and contracts are signed.

Quarterback Jacob Clark and running back Shomari Lawrence headlined the event as the two most recognizable names on the participant list, joined by Dash Luke and others. The pair were the offensive engine behind Missouri State's second consecutive winning season, and both carry measurable credentials that translate to legitimate professional interest.

Clark finished his Bear career as the program's all-time leader in multiple categories, including single-season and career passing yards, passing touchdowns, and completion percentage. At 6-foot-4 with the arm talent to throw with pinpoint accuracy and enough mobility to extend plays, he fits the physical profile NFL evaluators look for in a developmental quarterback. His combination of size and precision gives him a realistic path to either being selected in the three-day draft or landing an undrafted free agent deal once the selections conclude.

Lawrence arrived in Springfield as a transfer from Florida International University, played a single season in the maroon and white, and made it count. He became the first Missouri State running back to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a season since 2010, adding seven rushing touchdowns and 19 receptions out of the backfield. One season was enough to establish him as one of the more productive backs in recent program history.

Missouri State's athletics department had previewed the Pro Day in a team release published March 8, identifying more than a half-dozen players expected to run through a battery of tests for the assembled scouts. Lawrence and Clark enter those evaluations as the highest-profile prospects, but the remaining participants have a genuine chance to separate themselves on a day when every rep and every number matters.