When former Colorado cornerback Terrence Wheatley was asked Wednesday during pro timing day if he was surprised his former rival for fastest man on the CU football team wasn't invited to the National Football League's scouting combine last month, Wheatley let it be known he wasn't the only one.

Running back Hugh Charles was snubbed and he did his best to make sure everyone knew it with a strong performance in front of approximately 20 scouts in the Dal Ward Center weightroom and the practice bubble.

"I was surprised and there were actually a few scouts today who looked at me like I was crazy when I told them, 'No, he wasn't invited,'" Wheatley said.

Not many NFL running backs stand 5-foot-8 and weigh 190 pounds like Charles, but there have been some success stories over the years and Charles aims to be one of them. He can catch the ball out of the backfield and return kicks. He wowed scouts Wednesday with strength and speed numbers that have kept him at or near the top of CU's charts over the past three years.

He bench pressed 225 pounds 25 times, more than any other player most of whom are much bigger men. He also ran a 4.43-second 40-yard dash.

"I think I had a pretty decent day and definitely turned some heads," Charles said. "That was my goal coming out here."

Only 300 of the most likely potential draft picks receive invitations to the scouting combine while everyone else is left to prove themselves on campus when scouts pay a visit on respective pro days. Fifteen former players worked out at CU on Wednesday, including former Fairview High School and Boise State quarterback Taylor Tharp who was the only non-Buff.

Former players such as punterMark Mariscal, running back Mell Holliday and quarterback/receiver/defensive back Bernard Jackson continue to keep alive their dreams of playing pro football. Buffs who played last season made up the majority of talent being sized up.

Charles was the clear standout among the group who hadn't been invited to the combine. The three players who did receive invitations to Indianapolis also participated in different drills and tests.

Cornerback Terrence Wheatley had one of the best days of any cornerback last month at the combine, but he chose to try to improve his vertical leap Wednesday. He did just that, jumping 38.5 inches, matching the highest jump posted by a cornerback last month. He also went through drills specific to his position.

Wheatley has bulked up in the past three months and now weighs 188 pounds. During his career at CU he suffered a major wrist injury that led to a steel plate and eight screw being inserted to stabilize the joint. He said some teams have raised concerns about it, but most know he has fully recovered. Back-to-back All-Big 12 seasons have proven that much.

"It would affect me more if I had just hurt it and no one had seen me play with it," he said. "But I've played for two years and played pretty well."

Linebacker Jordon Dizon and tackle Tyler Polumbus also went through many of the same drills and tests they were given last month. Both managed to improve in some areas.

Dizon said he is being looked at by teams who play a 4-3 scheme as a weakside linebacker who run plays down from the backside. He said the past three months have been a whirlwind and he's ready for a break. Since the season ended he has played in two all-star games and participated in the combine.

"I need a break," he said. "It's been a crazy, hectic three months."

The NFL draft will be April 26-27 and players who aren't picked become free agents.