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For the last two months, missing the NFL Combine hasn't been Hunter Dimick's chief motivation. It was much closer to home — besting his friend and former teammate Isaac Asiata.

The two were among a cadre of Utes training in EXOS in San Diego, Calif, sweating through daily demanding workouts. For most of that time, Asiata had the upper hand on Dimick in the bench press, pounding out 35 reps of 225 pounds at the NFL Combine last month, leading all players.

Dimick felt he could do better. On Thursday morning, during Utah's Pro Day, he did.

The Utah football weight room filled with the spirited whoops of teammates as Dimick pushed up his 34th rep, then his 35th, then 36th, then a 37th.

As his arms finally gave out after 38 reps — more than any player who went to Indianapolis — and one of the first people to embrace him was Asiata.

"Just to see him to rep it out like that, throw it around like it was nothing, that's huge," Asiata said. "I'm excited for him."

Dimick was one of the big success stories of Pro Day, missing out on a Combine invite but making up for it with big numbers, including a 40-time unofficially clocked in the 4.7-second range. He said he felt fluid in position drills in an effort to knock down criticisms that he's not athletic enough for the NFL.

But the biggest part Dimick and 22 other Utah prospects hoped to show on Thursday was their will to work: By improving numbers and exceeding expectations, the Utes who are serious NFL hopefuls wanted to demonstrate that they can't just make the league — they can stay there.

"I'm not trying to focus on not getting invited to the Combine," Dimick said. "I feel that I've always had a chip on my shoulder whether things are good or bad. I'm just trying to control what I can control and show what I can do."

Utah had eight players go to Indianapolis last month, and while some of them chose to stand on their Combine numbers, others did not. Asiata and Brian Allen were among those leaping in the weight room, trying to gain a few extra inches on jumps that weren't quite high enough at the Combine.

Joe Williams, who ran the second-fastest 40-yard-dash time of any running back in Indianapolis, made the unconventional choice to run again. Unofficial times clocked him close to his 4.41 time at the Combine, and maybe a little faster.

The reason?

"I'm competitive, and I hate not being fast," Williams said. "I didn't really get the numbers I wanted at the Combine, so I thought I'd come out here and light it up one more time."

That showed in position work for offensive lineman Garett Bolles and safety Marcus Williams, both of whom are projected to go in the draft's first three rounds, if not the very first night on April 27. While neither participated in weight room or field drills, both worked up a lather in positional drills that they believe could cement their status as top picks at their position.

With his work, Bolles said, he hoped to demonstrate that, while he may be in line to make millions on draft night, he's in the game to start a career.

"This is a business, you've got to do the same thing over and over and over again," he said. "Those are the guys who last 10 years. Jackie Slater, who I've been working with, played 20 years in the NFL. Joe Staley — those guys have been there and done it and been to Pro Bowls. When you change your life, you have to do the same thing over and over to make it better."

There are roughly two dozen Utah alums currently in the NFL, bolstering the program's credibility as a pipeline to the pros. While Utah had only one draft pick last year, running back Devontae Booker, this year the school is hoping for seven or eight.

Asiata said he has had long conversations with Utes who have made it in the NFL, including his cousin running back and former Ute Matt Asiata, about what it takes to stick in the league.

"To me, that's great, I want to get drafted and hear my name and all that," he said. "But to me, the most important part is staying, being there for a long time and getting that second contract."

There were those who maybe had a dimmer prospect of getting that first shot who helped themselves with Pro Day workouts, perhaps none more than safety Jason Thompson. A special teams captain who totaled eight tackles last year, he posted team-best measurements in the broad jump (11-foot-1) and vertical leap (39.5 inches) while posting a reported mid-4.4 40 time that would put him among the best overall athletes in the Combine.

Receiver Tim Patrick also had a strong day before cramps made him decide to stop during position drills. He jumped 37 inches on his vertical, had a 10-foot-8 broad jump and added 22 bench press reps (better than all but one Combine receiver). With reported 4.4 speed and totalling 711 yards on 45 receptions last year, the San Diego native felt he made a case for himself to get a look from the NFL.

Now is there a break for the NFL hopefuls? A brief one, at least, for Dimick.

"Tomorrow, I'm going fishing," he said. "After that, right back into the hard work starting Monday."

kgoon@sltrib.com

Twitter: @kylegoon