NFL Network's coverage of the 2011 Scouting Combine begins Thursday and lasts through Tuesday, March 1. Over 300 players, and many more NFL team representatives, will convene at Indianapolis' Lucas Oil Stadium for the premier event of the pre-draft process.
We've got you covered with this comprehensive preview of the six-day affair, and will update all notable Combine developments beginning with the weigh-in on the
Rotoworld news page.
Spotlight on the StarsLSU CB
Patrick PetersonThe Thorpe Award winner as college football's top defensive back, Peterson is
aiming for a 4.2 forty time while
draft analysts debate whether his best NFL position is
corner or safety. Peterson was timed at 4.37 last spring, also putting on record a 39-inch vertical and 11-foot-1 broad jump.
Georgia WR
A.J. GreenI sent Green to Cleveland with the sixth pick in
my latest mock draft, but he's emerging as a sleeper to go No. 1 overall with
momentum building for a
Steve Smith trade. In addition to his forty time and vertical, keep an eye on Green's hand size and arm length at the weigh-in.
Auburn DT
Nick FairleyLike
Ndamukong Suh last year, Fairley heads to Indy favored to be drafted first. Suh enjoyed a
terrific Combine, but "fell" to No. 2. Fairley isn't as clean a prospect as Suh was, so he may need even better workouts to avoid being passed by Green,
Da'Quan Bowers, or
Cam Newton.
Alabama WR
Julio JonesJones is currently seen as a
surefire top-14 pick who may begin receiving consideration at No. 10 from Washington. But what if the Panthers trade Smith and use the top pick on Green? With only two wideouts certain to be drafted in the top 20, Jones could benefit greatly from such a scenario.
UCLA LB
Akeem AyersIn 28 college starts, Ayers racked up 29.5 tackles for loss, 14 sacks, and six interceptions despite playing out of position at strong-side linebacker in UCLA's 4-3 defense. He's seen as a 3-4 rush linebacker prospect for the pros, and could be among the Combine's leaders in the
10-yard split.
SleepersIndiana WR
Tandon DossESPN's Mel Kiper and Todd McShay have both mentioned Doss as a likely Combine riser, with Kiper going so far as to suggest Doss could be drafted
late in the first round. An
impressive athlete at 6'3/200, Doss led the Big Ten in all-purpose yardage last season as a third-year junior.
Hawaii RB
Alex GreenDiscussed over on
Pancake Blocks, Green boasts the second best career yards-per-carry average in the 2011 NFL draft. Hawaii's
first 1,000-yard rusher since June Jones installed the run-and-shoot offense in 1999, Green is a physical runner with plus size (6'0/219) and great hands.
Nevada TE
Virgil GreenA
jacked-up 6'3/248, Green has shot to No. 5 among draft-eligible tight ends in NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock's
latest rankings. Expected to "
come real close" to the 2006 Combine numbers posted by
Vernon Davis, Green averaged 14.71 yards per reception as a senior.
Lehigh G/T
Will RackleyMcShay has jumped on the Rackley bandwagon started by Mayock months ago, and the FCS first-team All-American is now widely seen as a future starter by the draftnik community. Rackley started 40 straight games as Lehigh's left tackle. At 6'3/307, he projects as an NFL guard.
USC TE
Jordan CameronEssentially a poor man's version of
Jimmy Graham last year, Cameron played basketball at Brigham Young and Southern Cal before taking up football full time for the Trojans. Another basketball player-turned-footballer at the Combine will be
Julius Thomas from Portland State.
Workout WondersPitt WR
Jonathan BaldwinBaldwin is targeting a forty time in the 4.3s, 41-inch vertical leap, and 20-plus repetitions of 225 pounds on the bench press. Interviews may be the biggest obstacle for
the college malcontent Baldwin, but he's likely to put a dent in stop watches. At a listed 6-foot-5 and 230 pounds.
Nevada DE
Dontay MochDepending on which scout you ask, Moch was timed anywhere from
4.19 to 4.28 at Nevada's Junior Day last year. Size is going to be an issue for the 6'1/227-pound pass rusher, but speed and production isn't. Moch paced the Wolfpack in sacks (8.5) and tackles for loss (22) in 2010.
Virginia Tech RB
Ryan WilliamsAt a rocked-up 5'10/202 (listed), Williams
recently ran a 4.41 forty with a 1.54 ten-yard split, the latter time indicating a player's short-area speed. Still just 20 years old, Williams lost his starting job as a sophomore after a monster freshman year, so he'll be on the spot in Indianapolis.
NFL Network's coverage of the 2011 Scouting Combine begins Thursday and lasts through Tuesday, March 1. Over 300 players, and many more NFL team representatives, will convene at Indianapolis' Lucas Oil Stadium for the premier event of the pre-draft process.
We've got you covered with this comprehensive preview of the six-day affair, and will update all notable Combine developments beginning with the weigh-in on the
Rotoworld news page.
Spotlight on the StarsLSU CB
Patrick PetersonThe Thorpe Award winner as college football's top defensive back, Peterson is
aiming for a 4.2 forty time while
draft analysts debate whether his best NFL position is
corner or safety. Peterson was timed at 4.37 last spring, also putting on record a 39-inch vertical and 11-foot-1 broad jump.
Georgia WR
A.J. GreenI sent Green to Cleveland with the sixth pick in
my latest mock draft, but he's emerging as a sleeper to go No. 1 overall with
momentum building for a
Steve Smith trade. In addition to his forty time and vertical, keep an eye on Green's hand size and arm length at the weigh-in.
Auburn DT
Nick FairleyLike
Ndamukong Suh last year, Fairley heads to Indy favored to be drafted first. Suh enjoyed a
terrific Combine, but "fell" to No. 2. Fairley isn't as clean a prospect as Suh was, so he may need even better workouts to avoid being passed by Green,
Da'Quan Bowers, or
Cam Newton.
Alabama WR
Julio JonesJones is currently seen as a
surefire top-14 pick who may begin receiving consideration at No. 10 from Washington. But what if the Panthers trade Smith and use the top pick on Green? With only two wideouts certain to be drafted in the top 20, Jones could benefit greatly from such a scenario.
UCLA LB
Akeem AyersIn 28 college starts, Ayers racked up 29.5 tackles for loss, 14 sacks, and six interceptions despite playing out of position at strong-side linebacker in UCLA's 4-3 defense. He's seen as a 3-4 rush linebacker prospect for the pros, and could be among the Combine's leaders in the
10-yard split.
SleepersIndiana WR
Tandon DossESPN's Mel Kiper and Todd McShay have both mentioned Doss as a likely Combine riser, with Kiper going so far as to suggest Doss could be drafted
late in the first round. An
impressive athlete at 6'3/200, Doss led the Big Ten in all-purpose yardage last season as a third-year junior.
Hawaii RB
Alex GreenDiscussed over on
Pancake Blocks, Green boasts the second best career yards-per-carry average in the 2011 NFL draft. Hawaii's
first 1,000-yard rusher since June Jones installed the run-and-shoot offense in 1999, Green is a physical runner with plus size (6'0/219) and great hands.
Nevada TE
Virgil GreenA
jacked-up 6'3/248, Green has shot to No. 5 among draft-eligible tight ends in NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock's
latest rankings. Expected to "
come real close" to the 2006 Combine numbers posted by
Vernon Davis, Green averaged 14.71 yards per reception as a senior.
Lehigh G/T
Will RackleyMcShay has jumped on the Rackley bandwagon started by Mayock months ago, and the FCS first-team All-American is now widely seen as a future starter by the draftnik community. Rackley started 40 straight games as Lehigh's left tackle. At 6'3/307, he projects as an NFL guard.
USC TE
Jordan CameronEssentially a poor man's version of
Jimmy Graham last year, Cameron played basketball at Brigham Young and Southern Cal before taking up football full time for the Trojans. Another basketball player-turned-footballer at the Combine will be
Julius Thomas from Portland State.
Workout WondersPitt WR
Jonathan BaldwinBaldwin is targeting a forty time in the 4.3s, 41-inch vertical leap, and 20-plus repetitions of 225 pounds on the bench press. Interviews may be the biggest obstacle for
the college malcontent Baldwin, but he's likely to put a dent in stop watches. At a listed 6-foot-5 and 230 pounds.
Nevada DE
Dontay MochDepending on which scout you ask, Moch was timed anywhere from
4.19 to 4.28 at Nevada's Junior Day last year. Size is going to be an issue for the 6'1/227-pound pass rusher, but speed and production isn't. Moch paced the Wolfpack in sacks (8.5) and tackles for loss (22) in 2010.
Virginia Tech RB
Ryan WilliamsAt a rocked-up 5'10/202 (listed), Williams
recently ran a 4.41 forty with a 1.54 ten-yard split, the latter time indicating a player's short-area speed. Still just 20 years old, Williams lost his starting job as a sophomore after a monster freshman year, so he'll be on the spot in Indianapolis.
Colorado LT
Nate SolderSolder has on record a 4.88 forty time and 32-inch vertical, both outstanding measurables for a 6'8/314-pound tackle. He also has
seven percent body fat. Possessing nearly 35-inch arms, Solder will be the most athletic, physically imposing lineman at this year's Combine.
Missouri DE
Aldon SmithWith a pterodactyl-like wingspan, Smith has drawn comparisons to
Jason Pierre-Paul,
Simeon Rice, and
Jevon Kearse as a freakishly built pass rusher. "If his arms are under 35 inches," recently wrote Wes Bunting of the
National Football Post, "
I'll come away shocked." Smith could also threaten the 4.4s at 6'5/260.
Deep Quarterback ClassCam Newton,
Blaine Gabbert, and
Jake Locker are the draft's highest-profile quarterbacks, but the position runs deep.
Ryan Mallett (Arkansas),
Christian Ponder (Florida State), and
Andy Dalton (TCU) are day-two prospects, while
Colin Kaepernick (Nevada) and
Ricky Stanzi (Iowa) have risen swiftly since standout Senior Bowl weeks. Whereas the NFL has averaged 5.2 QBs drafted in the first three rounds over the last decade, as many as eight look likely to go in those frames this year. Other signal callers likely to be selected in April:
Greg McElroy (Alabama),
Tyrod Taylor (Virginia Tech), and Pat Devlin (Delaware). And all of them will be in Indianapolis.
QBs capable of helping themselves at the Combine include Kaepernick and Locker with big arms and sub-4.5 wheels, and Ponder, Stanzi, and Dalton with short to intermediate accuracy in throwing drills. Mallett
must interview well, because he's been
red flagged for an array of off-field and leadership concerns, including
alleged drug use. Already highly rated, Gabbert and Newton may elect against throwing for scouts.
UPDATE: I've updated the latest on each top-eight quarterback's intentions over at Profootballtalk.com. Gabbert and Ponder are the most notable QBs not expected to throw. Newton, Kaepernick, and Locker will do everything in Indianapolis.
Speed to Burn
Abilene Christian WR Edmund Gates
Gates is Todd McShay's pick to run the fastest forty at the Combine, and the D-II product was timed in the low 4.4s as a college junior. The cousin of Bengals tailback Bernard Scott, Gates also boasts plenty of "game speed," graduating with an 18.26 career yards-per-catch average.
New Mexico State CB Davon House
If House is fully recovered from the ankle injury that prevented him from practicing all last season, he'll be a sleeper for the best forty among defensive backs. A burner with ball skills, the lithe, 6'0/182-pound four-year starter intercepted 11 career passes, returning three of them to the House.
Maryland WR Torrey Smith
Smith has also been mentioned by McShay as a likely star in straight-line speed drills, and his prediction is backed up by Mike Mayock. "He's a guy that's going to run 4.35 or 4.38," said Mayock, calling Smith "a guy that flies." Smith twice reset the ACC single-season kickoff return yardage record on top of being a first-team all-conference wideout.
Miami CB Demarcus Van Dyke
Van Dyke lost his starting job as a senior, but that doesn't mean he can't run. "D.V.D." doubled as a track star for the Canes, and training mate Torrey Smith predicts Van Dyke will run the fastest forty at the Combine. "I'm fast, but not 4.2 fast," tweeted Smith recently. "That's moving."
Troy WR Jerrel Jernigan
Jernigan averaged "only" 11.94 career yards per reception playing the slot in Troy's spread offense, but his highlight reels reveal an absolute speed demon. Percy Harvin-like in terms of versatility, Jernigan averaged 23.58 yards per kick return, 8.27 on punts, and 6.28 career yards per carry.
Something to Prove
Nebraska CB Prince Amukamara
Amukamara is widely considered the second best corner in the draft, but Bunting is beating the drum for a move to free safety. The senior's straight-line speed has been a topic of debate since Amukamara was torched for 157 yards and two TDs on five receptions by Oklahoma State third-year sophomore Justin Blackmon last October.
Illinois RB Mikel Leshoure
Leshoure's career 6.03 yards-per-carry average is the most impressive in this year's draft class, but there's plenty of evaluation work to do on the one-year starter. How athletic is he? What's his forty time? Leshoure has drawn comparisons ranging from LeGarrette Blount to Ryan Mathews.
Iowa DE Adrian Clayborn
Clayborn racked up 20 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks as a junior, only to fall to 7.0 and 3.5, respectively, as a senior. What happened? Did Clayborn "play to not get injured," as at least one scout has suggested? The St. Louis native needs to exhibit explosiveness in Combine drills.
North Carolina WR Greg Little
Like so many members of the Tar Heels' 2010 roster, Little was suspended for the entire season after accepting gifts from a sports agent. Entering the draft with only 13 starts and 969 receiving yards on his college resume, Little must interview well and show he's been staying in shape.
Michigan State LB Greg Jones
Four-year starter. Two-time first-team All American. Third most tackles in Michigan State history. 46.5 career tackles for loss. 16.5 sacks. Jones is one of the most decorated college players eligible for the draft, but questions about his speed and down-to-down effort are prevalent.
Georgia DE/LB Justin Houston
Houston demonstrated incredible off-the-edge burst as a 4-3 pass rusher at Georgia, but draftniks are wary of his ability to translate those traits into a 3-4 defense. Houston needs to show well in coverage drills at the Combine, as well as an explosive "get off" from a two-point stance.
Clemson SS DeAndre McDaniel
McDaniel's 15 career picks rank impressively high among draft-eligible defensive backs, but the converted linebacker's cover skills have come under fire. In addition to exhibiting straight-line speed, it's up to McDaniel to show he can back pedal and fluidly flip his hips in the speed-turn drill.
LSU DT Drake Nevis
How big is he? Nevis was listed at 6'2/285 by LSU, but some contend that the three-technique prospect will report to Indy shorter and lighter. Though Nevis was one of the nation's top interior pass rushers last season, the weigh-in will be his tallest hurdle toward earning a day-two grade.
Louisville RB Bilal Powell
You wouldn't know Powell faces scrutiny about his speed by glancing at his 6.14 yards-per-carry average as a senior, but the bruising power back is not considered a homerun hitter. Powell also presents "one-year wonder" concerns. He wasn't anywhere near the NFL draft radar before 2010.
Penn State RB Evan Royster
Royster enjoyed a productive career in Happy Valley, but ranks 30th on Bunting's running back big board, behind the likes of Navy QB Ricky Dobbs. Not helping Royster are the failures of fellow PSU backs Tony Hunt, Curtis Enis, Ki-Jana Carter, and Blair Thomas over the past few decades.
All in the Family
Boston College RT Rich Lapham - Nephew of former Bengals G Dave Lapham
Alabama RB Mark Ingram - Son of former Giants WR Mark Ingram
UConn LB Greg Lloyd - Son of former Steelers LB Greg Lloyd
Oregon LB Casey Matthews - Brother of current Packers LB Clay Matthews
Florida G/C Mike Pouncey - Twin brother of current Steelers C Maurkice Pouncey
Penn State G/C Stefen Wisniewski - Nephew of former Raiders G Steve Wisniewski
Ohio State LB Brian Rolle - Cousin of current Giants S Antrel Rolle
Kentucky WR Randall Cobb - Cousin of former Chargers TE Shannon Mitchell
20 Key Medical Concerns
Clemson DE Da'Quan Bowers - Played through a partial meniscus tear late in the college season and had the knee scoped sometime in January. He's tentatively expected to run at the Combine.
UPDATE: Bowers will only lift in Indy. He will run at Clemson's Pro Day in late March.
Notre Dame TE Kyle Rudolph - On October 15, underwent season-ending surgery on his right hamstring. He'll be available for inspection at the Combine, but won't run before the Irish's April 7 Pro Day.
North Carolina DE Robert Quinn - Had a benign tumor removed from his brain as a high school senior. Quinn has long since been medically cleared, but one report over the weekend claimed NFL teams are "really getting scared off" by the four-year-old surgery.
USC OT Tyron Smith - Underwent arthroscopic knee surgery in January after playing through the injury down the stretch. Smith is expected to wait for USC's March 30 Pro Day to run for scouts.
Ohio State DE Cameron Heyward - Heyward underwent Tommy John surgery on his left elbow in early- to mid-January. He should be able to run, jump, and perform agility drills in Indianapolis.
Boston College LB Mark Herzlich - Overcame Ewing's Sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer, as a college junior. Herzlich had a rod inserted into his left leg during chemotherapy, however, and struggled in coverage as a senior. He can expect plenty of poking and prodding.
North Carolina LB Bruce Carter - Tore his left ACL on November 20 and had reconstructive knee surgery on December 14. Carter will attend the Combine only to weigh in and meet with teams.
Virginia CB Ras-I Dowling - Dowling skipped the Senior Bowl to rehab hamstring, ankle, and knee injuries suffered during a disappointing senior year. His status for the Combine is questionable.
Southern Miss WR DeAndre Brown - Suffered a compound tibia and fibula fracture in the 2008 New Orleans Bowl, and last year missed seven games with an injury coach Larry Fedora called a "lower leg strain," but did not detail further. Agent Bus Cook insists Brown can run a 4.4 in Indy.
Miami RB Graig Cooper - Tore his ACL in the 2009 Champs Sports Bowl and lost his starting job as a senior. Also missed three games in 2010 with a high ankle sprain. Cooper participated in January's Senior Bowl, but whether he's truly 100 percent is unclear.
Villanova T/G Ben Ijalana - Missed the Senior Bowl due to "double hernia surgery" after playing the last six games of his college career with the injury. He's expected to be OK for the Combine.
Kansas State RB Daniel Thomas - Sat out January's Senior Bowl with a hamstring injury, the extent of which was unknown. Thomas should be 100 percent by now.
Eastern Washington RB Taiwan Jones - In December, underwent surgery to repair a fractured fifth metatarsal in his left foot. Jones also injured both shoulders in college, had a sports hernia, and broke his fibula. The small-schooler will wait for Hawaii's March 31 Pro Day to run for scouts.
Ole Miss DE Kentrell Lockett - Applying for a sixth year of college eligibility after tearing his left ACL on September 25. Lockett is also believed to be dealing with a heart condition.
Purdue WR Keith Smith - Tore his right ACL and MCL on September 11, and didn't have surgery until October 18. Like Lockett, Smith is petitioning the NCAA for a sixth year of eligibility.
Utah State CB Curtis Marsh - Missed the Senior Bowl with a recurring hamstring injury. A former running back, Marsh should be ready to participate in all drills at the Combine.
Oregon State DT Stephen Paea - Tore his right meniscus at the Senior Bowl and had the knee scoped on January 27. Paea is considered questionable to perform lower-body drills in Indy.
UPDATE: Paea announced that he will not run in Indy.
Ohio State CB Chimdi Chekwa - Severely dislocated his right wrist in January's Sugar Bowl and required surgery. Also a track star at OSU, Chekwa should be able to run at the Combine.
Pittsburgh DE Greg Romeus - Tore his right ACL on November 11 after returning from September surgery to repair a disc in his back. Romeus may spend his first NFL season on injured reserve.
North Carolina FS Deunta Williams - Fractured his right fibula at the ankle joint in the Music City Bowl and had surgery on January 4. Williams is questionable to work out before the NFL draft.
Bigguns
TCU T/G Marcus Cannon
Cannon did not participate in any pre-draft all-star games, ostensibly because he's focused on conditioning for the Combine. Listed at 6'6/350, the Horned Frogs' three-year starting tackle projects to kick inside in the pros. Cannon was a third-team All-American selection as a senior left tackle, and also earned all-conference track and field honors as a shot putter.
North Carolina DT Marvin Austin
After being suspended and kicked out of school for accepting gifts from an agent, Austin helped himself by reporting to the East-West Shrine Game in stellar shape and dominating practices. Still, the 6'2/312-pound defensive tackle's weight remains a concern without oversight from a college coaching staff for the last year. Austin will also be sized up heavily in interviews.
Mississippi State LT Derek Sherrod
Nate Solder might be the tallest premier tackle prospect, but Sherrod boasts the most impressive wingspan. At 6'6/312, the impressively built All-SEC first-teamer has 35 1/2-inch arms, 11-inch catcher mitts for hands, and measures 84 inches from fingertip to fingertip. On the field, Doug Farrar of Football Outsiders has observed that Sherrod "may be the most consistent on a play-to-play basis ... of all the tackles in the 2011 draft class."
Hampton DL Kenrick Ellis
Oddly listed at 6'3/280, Ellis showed up to the East-West Shrine at 6-foot-5 and 336 pounds. Ellis can't afford to report much heavier to the Combine, although interviews may be his biggest test. He was dismissed from South Carolina for repeated violations of team and university policy early in his college career, before exploding for 37.5 tackles for loss in three years at Hampton.
Georgia RT Josh Davis
An absolute behemoth, Davis outdoes even Sherrod with an 86-inch wingspan, nearly 11-inch hands, and 36-inch arms at 6'7/305. Unfortunately, Davis garnered no postseason All-SEC recognition from the coaches or media. Cue the "Looks like Tarzan, plays like Jane."
Draft Debates
Marcell Dareus vs. Nick Fairley
When future first-ballot Hall of Fame defensive tackle Warren Sapp says something about the position he patented, we should probably listen. And Sapp believes Dareus is the best "three-technique" tackle prospect in the draft. Ndamukong Suh and Gerald McCoy were compared similarly during last year's pre-draft process. Fairley is currently the favorite to be drafted first overall, but Dareus could make up ground with a stronger performance in Indianapolis.
Patrick Peterson vs. Prince Amukamara
Both of this year's top cornerbacks are listed at 6-foot-1 and over 200 pounds, and have been suggested as candidates to move to safety. Either the corners aren't top prospects at all, or we're thinking too much. Amukamara is said to possess superior natural cover skills, while Peterson has better speed, versatility, and made more big plays over the course of his college career.
A.J. Green vs. Julio Jones
At least one scout prefers Jones to Green, which isn't the majority but gives us something to ponder. Because Jones is better after the catch and as a downfield blocker, will he appeal more to power-running teams that use West Coast-style offenses? We're likely to see a little, if not a lot, of separation this week and weekend. Green should run much, much faster than Jones.
Left Offensive Tackles
Ask five draftniks to name the best left tackle prospect, and you might get five different answers. Mayock, Rob Rang, and Chad Reuter believe it's Anthony Castonzo. Bunting and Tony Pauline say Tyron Smith. Mel Kiper and Todd McShay? Nate Solder. Derek Sherrod is Doug Farrar's favorite. Combine workouts don't separate offensive linemen because they won't actually be blocking anyone, but they do help us learn more about each player.
Jeremy Beal
Combine sustained production with durability, and Beal compares favorably to every pass rusher in this draft save Von Miller and Ryan Kerrigan. The fifth-year senior is a mediocre to below-average athlete, however, which theoretically limits his upside. Pro personnel evaluators will have to determine how far Beal's non-stop motor will get him at the next level. He racked up 58.5 tackles for loss, 29 sacks, and 10 forced fumbles in college.
Allen Bailey
The anti-Beal, Bailey's production never matched his talent as a 6'3/278-pound athletic phenom. Bailey's career totals: 31 tackles for loss, 12 sacks, and two forced fumbles. The list of Miami Hurricanes who underachieved in college is long, as is the list of ex-Canes who became better under stronger tutelage from NFL coaching staffs. Unlike Beal, Bailey is a possible top-32 pick based on potential. If we're looking at college resumes, Beal beats out Bailey every which way.
Combine Coverage Twitter Follows
Chris Wesseling (@ChrisWesseling) and myself (@EvanSilva) will handle Rotoworld's Combine coverage all week.