BOWLING GREEN, KY. — Western Kentucky University held its annual NFL Pro Day on Thursday, and for players like New Orleans native and defensive back Dionté Ruffin, it was a chance to show off their skills to scouts. 

Ruffin finished the 2020 season on the All-Conference USA Second Team, but his Pro Day served as more than just a showcase as he knows this moment was not an easy one to get to. 

“Hurricane Katrina hit and it washed us away, so we packed up as many things as we could fit it into one car with 6 people and we drove all the way to McDonough, Georgia,” said Ruffin. 

The youngest of four at the time he knew his world would be forever changed.

"I was the youngest at the time and we just tried to make it easy on my mom and dad," said Ruffin "We didn’t need them to come home and clean up so it made me mature faster being the younger brother."

Ruffin is now knocking on the doorstep of achieving a lifelong dream and was very satisfied with how he performed. 

"I wanted to show the scouts today that I can jump, I’m fast, and I’m able to turn my hips fluidly at the DB position," said Ruffin. "I feel like I showed them that today. I had a good 40, good pro agility drill, and a lot of the quick twitch movements were there in place." 

Ruffin is expected to be a day three selection, and he says he will enjoy the NFL draft the only way he knows how.

"Draft-wise, I’m going to be at the house just enjoying it, being happy. I have my family with me regardless of how it goes," said Ruffin.

The NFL Draft is scheduled for April 29-May 1.