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NFL combine could boost six prospects
By Steve Muench
The combine has been over for a couple of days now and talent evaluators have had a chance to put prospect performances in perspective, especially those whose workouts could help raise their draft stock.
Here's a look at six players who, in my eyes, gave themselves a boost with their showings in Indianapolis.
Miami WR Leonard Hankerson
Hankerson didn't catch the ball as well as expected at the combine, but it won't hurt him as much it would other receivers. He has massive hands (10½ inches) and has shown teams both on film and during Senior Bowl week that he has above-average ball skills.
His top-end speed and ability to stretch the field were question marks heading into Indianapolis, and Hankerson did all he could to quiet those concerns, running the 40-yard dash in 4.43 seconds. That's well below the 4.55 average for receivers over the previous three combines. It's unlikely Hankerson will crack the first round, but he should move into the second, especially if he has a strong pro-day workout.
Arizona DE/OLB Brooks Reed
Reed weighed in at 263 pounds and measured 6-foot-2, which is just about the three-year average for defensive ends. But he is arguably a better fit at outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme, and teams looking for help at that position will be sure to break down his performance in space.
While Reed isn't the most fluid athlete, he proved that he can make the transition by showing good body control and footwork during position-specific drills. Add the nonstop motor he shows on film to his versatility, and he should move into the second-round conversation.
Illinois ILB/OLB Martez Wilson
Wilson lined up on the inside at Illinois, and he has the size to play there in the NFL. However, we watched his film during East-West Shrine week and after seeing good burst from him we felt his best fit was on the outside, and his combine performance backed that up.
Wilson ran the fastest 40-yard dash (4.49 seconds) of all the linebackers in Indianapolis, and at Illinois he rushed the passer off the edge at times. He could play outside in a 3-4 scheme and also has the long arms (34.5 inches) and upper-body strength (23 bench-press reps at 225 pounds) to reroute tight ends on the strong side in a 4-3 alignment. His versatility and potential should move him at least into the third round and possibly to the fringe of the second.
Connecticut OLB Scott Lutrus
Lutrus would grade out higher if he didn't have durability concerns, but his performance at the combine will make him hard to pass up in the fifth-round area if no other red flags are raised. The 6-foot-2, 240-pounder ran the 40 in an above-average 4.68 seconds, and he looked more fluid, explosive and comfortable in space than we've seen on film.
Ohio State OLB Brian Rolle
Rolle is undersized at 5-9 and 229 pounds, and he gets engulfed by offensive linemen at times, and based on his film we didn't believe he had the speed or fluidity to transition to safety. However, that could change after he ran 4.56 at the combine. He is a bit stiff in the hips, but his versatility and excellent special-teams contributions in college could make him an intriguing fifth-rounder despite his limitations.
Auburn RB Mario Fannin
Fannin carried the ball just 61 times in 2010, and he is a better athlete than football player. He doesn't show great patience or vision on film, he runs high and, most importantly, puts the ball on the ground at times.
Still, it's tough to find 231-pound backs who can run the 40 in 4.38 seconds like Fannin did in Indianapolis. He has also shown he can contribute as a receiver out of the backfield, and his speed could turn him from a rookie free agent to a late-round pick.
By Steve Muench
The combine has been over for a couple of days now and talent evaluators have had a chance to put prospect performances in perspective, especially those whose workouts could help raise their draft stock.
Here's a look at six players who, in my eyes, gave themselves a boost with their showings in Indianapolis.
Miami WR Leonard Hankerson
Hankerson didn't catch the ball as well as expected at the combine, but it won't hurt him as much it would other receivers. He has massive hands (10½ inches) and has shown teams both on film and during Senior Bowl week that he has above-average ball skills.
His top-end speed and ability to stretch the field were question marks heading into Indianapolis, and Hankerson did all he could to quiet those concerns, running the 40-yard dash in 4.43 seconds. That's well below the 4.55 average for receivers over the previous three combines. It's unlikely Hankerson will crack the first round, but he should move into the second, especially if he has a strong pro-day workout.
Arizona DE/OLB Brooks Reed
Reed weighed in at 263 pounds and measured 6-foot-2, which is just about the three-year average for defensive ends. But he is arguably a better fit at outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme, and teams looking for help at that position will be sure to break down his performance in space.
While Reed isn't the most fluid athlete, he proved that he can make the transition by showing good body control and footwork during position-specific drills. Add the nonstop motor he shows on film to his versatility, and he should move into the second-round conversation.
Illinois ILB/OLB Martez Wilson
Wilson lined up on the inside at Illinois, and he has the size to play there in the NFL. However, we watched his film during East-West Shrine week and after seeing good burst from him we felt his best fit was on the outside, and his combine performance backed that up.
Wilson ran the fastest 40-yard dash (4.49 seconds) of all the linebackers in Indianapolis, and at Illinois he rushed the passer off the edge at times. He could play outside in a 3-4 scheme and also has the long arms (34.5 inches) and upper-body strength (23 bench-press reps at 225 pounds) to reroute tight ends on the strong side in a 4-3 alignment. His versatility and potential should move him at least into the third round and possibly to the fringe of the second.
Connecticut OLB Scott Lutrus
Lutrus would grade out higher if he didn't have durability concerns, but his performance at the combine will make him hard to pass up in the fifth-round area if no other red flags are raised. The 6-foot-2, 240-pounder ran the 40 in an above-average 4.68 seconds, and he looked more fluid, explosive and comfortable in space than we've seen on film.
Ohio State OLB Brian Rolle
Rolle is undersized at 5-9 and 229 pounds, and he gets engulfed by offensive linemen at times, and based on his film we didn't believe he had the speed or fluidity to transition to safety. However, that could change after he ran 4.56 at the combine. He is a bit stiff in the hips, but his versatility and excellent special-teams contributions in college could make him an intriguing fifth-rounder despite his limitations.
Auburn RB Mario Fannin
Fannin carried the ball just 61 times in 2010, and he is a better athlete than football player. He doesn't show great patience or vision on film, he runs high and, most importantly, puts the ball on the ground at times.
Still, it's tough to find 231-pound backs who can run the 40 in 4.38 seconds like Fannin did in Indianapolis. He has also shown he can contribute as a receiver out of the backfield, and his speed could turn him from a rookie free agent to a late-round pick.