2024 NFL Pro Day with TD Ayo-Durojaiye

TD Ayo-Durojaiye has just completed his pro day for the 2024 NFL Draft. The former Villanova running back takes us through his journey on pro day, as well as sharing insights on the steps to take as an athlete who wants to pursue the same thing.

“The most exciting and enjoyable part of my day was probably when we got to the position work,” he said. “The ability to go out there and catch passes as a receiver and a running back. I think the scouts were surprised at how naturally that came to me. I’ve been working on that a lot for the past four years, and you know, that went really well. I think that was the one thing that stood out to most of the scouts.”

When it comes to pro day, the little things can make all the difference for an athlete. Looking for areas to improve, he shared what that looked like.

“I just want to improve my overall game and continue to get better at running routes from the receiver position,” he shared. “It’s one thing to run a select few routes. I didn’t run every single route, but I want to be able to be split out as a receiver and run every single route that a coach can call for me. I want to understand coverages and grasp the game from that position. It’s something I want to continue to work on in the future.”

He shared valuable advice for athletes preparing for the future pro days.

“As for the pro, I mean somebody who would go through this process just like me, I would just tell him to be patient with yourself, especially when you’re training. You want to see results fast. We all think we can run, jump, and do certain things to a certain capability, but you know, the laser and the training always humble you. Being around people who may be better than you and higher ranking is something that’s going to push you and humble you as well. That was something that I really enjoyed—being around a bunch of potential first-rounders and guys who know they’re going to get drafted. Being somebody from a smaller school and knowing that I’m just as good as them, and just as capable as they are, but just trusting the process and trusting yourself. You’re going to have bad days, but try not to let them stack on top of each other.” 

He shared what having an agent has done for him throughout this process.

“I would say another piece of advice is to make sure you have a good agent,” he shared. “Having Daniel was definitely helpful, being close and having someone who checks in a lot. For 

somebody looking for an agent, you want to be with someone who cares about you as a person first. This football thing is a big risk, a big investment, a huge step, and it may not work out. So, you want to be with a management group and people who care about you as a person and will set you up for things outside of football as well.”

He went through the process of finding an agent that is right for an athlete preparing for pro day.

“You want an agent who may support you in some way financially through the process or set something up so you can get through training and have the necessary resources you need throughout training and throughout the entire process,” he said. “I think Daniel has done a really good job of that. I was weighing my options between 4-5 agents, and I just thought that from a personality perspective, knowledge of the space as an agent, knowledge of my position, and where I stand, those are things that are important in an agent. Somebody knowledgeable of the position that you play and how it’s relevant to you in the context of the NFL, and that particular draft.”

He concluded by expressing how much a support system matters during the draft experience. 

“The agent helps take all the heavy lifting off your shoulders,” he stated. “It allows you to be a player, knowing that he works for you, but even with Daniel, I feel like we’re working together. I want this to happen not just for myself, but for EAMG and everybody at that agency as well, especially the people who believed in me. I love having an agent who is willing to work just as hard as I am, who gives blood, sweat, and tears and his life to this. I love this more than I love breathing, and with an agent as good as Daniel, and a good agent, it will allow you to get through this process, especially the ups and downs and navigating the space.”