‘A Great Experience’: Tonka Hemingway Reflects on His 2025 Pro Day

In a recent live feed, I’m reporting on Tonka Hemingway’s performance at South Carolina’s Pro Day following a solid showing at the NFL Combine. With all 32 NFL teams in attendance, Hemingway, alongside other prospects, participated in a series of drills and tests.

Reflecting on the day, Hemingway expressed gratitude for the rare opportunity, sharing his feelings: “I feel good. I was telling everybody, I’m just taking it all in. This only happens one time, I’m just taking it all in. It’s a fun experience. Knowing me I’m not really a talking person but this whole process is nothing but talking really from the head up so it’s just a great experience.”

Hemingway clocked a 5.01-second 40-yard dash at Pro Day, the only test he participated in. His speed did not go unnoticed, although the 40-yard dash was the only measurable test he took part in.

When asked about the significance of performing at home, Hemingway emphasized the comfort and familiarity of South Carolina: “I’ve been here for 5 years. This is where I’m more comfortable. It’s like when you go home it just feels like it’s right.”

At the NFL Combine, Hemingway impressed with a 32-inch vertical leap, a 9’4” broad jump, and a 4.48-second 20-yard shuttle. After the draft, he received a 5.94 grade, ranking 28th among defensive tackles.

The path to Pro Day wasn’t easy, as Hemingway recalled: “All the prep started when you went to train so that’s back in like January, February. All that work to come out here for a total of 30 minutes every exercise but it all pays off in the end.”

Although the NFL interview process mirrors the college recruitment experience, Hemingway, known for his reserved nature, had to adapt. Reflecting on the shift, he said, “It’s like starting the process all over. You’re trying to come to college and really just talking up yourself really being honest, really being yourself.”

For now, Tonka Hemingway is on his way to the next step in his career, with the weight of these interviews and performances behind him, and the bright future of the NFL ahead.