Jimmie Ward impresses at Northern Illinois Pro Day, Ravens' Steve Spagnuolo in attendance

One intriguing safety option for this upcoming draft is Northern Illinois' Jimmie Ward, who has been shooting up draft boards.

Early into the offseason, Ward was seen as a third-to-fifth rounder. His stock has improved with most draft analysts, despite a stress fracture in his foot limiting him at the NFL combine last month.

A strong safety in college, Ward has the speed, range and versatility to play both safety positions at the next level, even though . With Northern Illinois hosting its pro day on Friday, the Ravens weren't just in attendance, they sent a rather important coach to check him out.

According to the Baltimore Sun's Aaron Wilson, defensive backs coach Steve Spagnuolo was on hand to see Ward participate in the various drills.

Ward had a solid Pro Day showing, recording a 4.45 40-yard dash, a 38-inch vertical and a broad jump of 101/2 feet, according to the Chicago Tribune. His stock should continue to rise as it has in recent months.

Here are a few video highlights of Ward in action:

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