Walt McFadden and Antonio Coleman came to Auburn’s Pro Day with two different sources for personal redemption.

Coleman, a man without a set position, had a rough showing at the National Combine in late February because of a “busted-up” quadriceps muscle and was hoping for a much more favorable second impression.

McFadden, despite some NFL family connections and a big-name agent, didn’t even get an invitation to the combine, so Tuesday was his first-and-only time to showcase his abilities in front of 38 professional scouts at the Auburn Athletic Complex.

Both got exactly what they wanted.

“Some things just happen for a reason,” McFadden said. “I believe this day just happened for me just to come out and show my skills.”

McFadden and Coleman were two of 13 former Auburn players who participated at the annual Auburn Pro Day. Though the majority will likely go undrafted, McFadden and Coleman are both projected to go in the later rounds, where the difference between fourth- and seventh-round selection can be as big as a guaranteed paycheck versus a make-or-break summer tryout.

“I’m just looking for an opportunity,” Coleman said. “Whatever opportunity presents itself — first, fourth, seventh. All I need is an opportunity. I know I’m a hard worker and I know I’ll make the team.”

Coleman, who is projected anywhere from a third- to fifth-round selection, played through injuries throughout his time at Auburn and his post-Auburn career has been no different. The sore quadriceps muscle that basically ruined his combine was still prevalent during Tuesday’s drills, where he ran a 4.72-second, 40-yard dash, jumped 33.5 inches high and leaped 9 feet, 8 inches.

Those marks were all well below the top national numbers at both linebacker and defensive end, just like his 18 bench press repetitions at the combine, but Coleman said he was pleased with the effort.

“I just came out here and tried to come and give the coaches what they want,” Coleman said. “Show them that I can play D-end and outside linebacker.”

Coleman said he wanted to show the scouts that he is “one of the best D-ends out there,” but he’s still open to playing outside linebacker for 3-4 defense-based teams, which are on the rise.

“Whatever the case may be,” he said, “I just want to play football.”

The only number that concerned McFadden on Tuesday was revealed before he even broke a sweat.

McFadden, listed at 5-foot-10, 170 pounds throughout his Auburn career, weighed in at 181 pounds and grew an inch, up to 5-foot-11.

“As long as I weighed over 180 pounds and showed I have a little strength to myself, I’m going to be OK,” he said.

McFadden, who finished his Auburn career on a strong note with two interceptions and a touchdown in the Tigers’ Outback Bowl victory over Northwestern, certainly didn’t disappoint in arguably the most important drill for cornerbacks, the 40-yard dash.

McFadden beat out former Tigers Montez Billings and Brad Lester, coming in first among the 13 participants with times of 4.39 and 4.40 seconds, both of which would have been the best among corners at the National Combine.

“You can go to the combine and still not get drafted, so that was just a big thing for me,” McFadden said. “I feel like I was just an underdog and, hey, it’s just a matter of time for me to overcome it.”

Most scouting Web sites project McFadden to be either a seventh-round selection, or go entirely undrafted. McFadden, though, said he had heard he can go anywhere from the third to fifth rounds, and should have a better idea when he works out with the Chicago Bears next month.

His agent, the notorious Drew Rosenhaus, who infamously represented Terrell Owens during his time with the Dallas Cowboys, and the fact that his brother, Bryant, has had a stellar NFL career shouldn’t hurt his stock on draft day, either.

“Just having a chance to play in the NFL, that’s a dream come true for me,” McFadden said. “Whatever team says they like Walter McFadden, and Walter McFadden is going to be able to try to help them get some wins.”

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