Combine Craziness

This Combine was so strange. The different drills, the altered schedule, the lack of overall speed, but the excitement of a few amazing performances. It is like getting to watch one of your favorite movies, but the lips are just out of synch with the audio. It is enjoyable, but also weird…

Anyway, I made some semi-bold predictions for the NFL combine. Let’s see how I did!

Disclaimer: All ‘records’ I reference are regarding modern combine history, so since 2003.

Laviska Shenault test as a top 10 40 for WRs and top 10 at the bench… for LBs.

Boy was I wrong on this. He wasn’t even top 25. He tied for 32^nd at his position in the runs, only faster than 12 other tested pass catchers. And the bench? While he tied for 7^th as a wideout, he was all the way back at 18^th for Linebackers. However, it did come out he will be having Core Muscle surgery, so hopefully that explains the decreased performance. These were also the only tests he completed.

Top O Linemen astound

I was correct on this mark. Mekhi Becton ran the fastest 350lbs Forty Yard dash ever at 5.1. Tristan Wirfs was an all-around monster with record setting O-Line vertical, a great 4.85 40 (at 320 lbs), and 24 reps of the bench with 34” arms. Cesar Ruiz and Ezra Cleveland combined great explosiveness in the vert, excellent movement in the 5-10-5, and great strength on the bench.  Andrew Thomas, Matt Hennessy, and Jon Runyan all had great performances in certain tests. This is an athletic class of tackles.

Five participants go under 4.3, none go under 4.26

I was off on this. The overall top speeds were on par, with Ruggs wining the Combine Gold with a 4.27, but a lot of other speed freaks vastly disappointed. Jaelen Reager claimed he was going to beat Ruggs and ran .2 seconds slower at 37^th overall. Jerry Juedy and Jeff Thomas were both expected to burn, and they ran respectable 4.45s. While Isaiah Simmons flew by at 4.39 (more on him below), only one running back and five defensive backs went under 4.4 (with Javelin Guidry snagging the silver with a 4.29).

Linebackers show their range

As stated above, Isaiah Simmons is a freak athlete. He ran a 4.39 40, a 39 inch vert, and a 11 foot broad jump. He is the only 240 lbs+ player to test that well across the board. Willie gay also ran in the top 10 for DBs with a 4.46. Nearly 20 players were under 4.70, a good time for LBs in the 40. 6 were over 4.8, however, with Cale Garrett at the end with a 4.92. The top jumpers were also phenomenal, with 7 over 36 inches, including 5 at 39 or higher. But a few were even under 30 inches. 13 tested sub-7.1 in the 3 cone, with 5 at 7.2 or higher. 11 were over 4.3 in the shuttle, with none under 4.13. basically, there are some fleet footed ‘backers, and some traditional thumpers who may not be able to cut it athletically in the next level, regardless of collegiate accolades and success.

Freak

Let’s bring up Isaiah Simmons again. Amazing performance overall by him! But a few more jump out as great testers. Tristan Wirfs was already mentioned as a record setter and great all around combine performer. Also, Chase Claypool and Denzel Mims showed speed and strength in the wideout group. Mims went under 4.4 in the 40, 2020 best 6.66 in the 3 Cone, and jumped nearly 40 inches up and 11 feet broad. Claypool ran a 4.42 at 238 pounds with a 40+ inch vertical and 10 foot 6 broad jump. Khalil Davis ran a 4.75 at 308 pounds to go with 32 reps on the bench.

Lots of reps on the bench

Not nearly as much strength as I anticipated. One over 40 with 44 reps, but only 10 total over 30 reps. There were 16 in 2019 and 14 in 2018 (with two over 40 reps). There were a number of great performances, with a punter putting up 25 reps, for instance, but not as much high volume as I expected.

Disappointment

There were a number of poor performances at the combine. But who was the worst overall? You have Quintez Cephus running the slowest WO 40, but leading in the bench and doing very well in the Vert. AGG also ran slow but jumped very well, and his was more expected. Omar Bayless may not be a huge disappointment, but he did not help himself. Moderately poor showing is all drills hurt his stock as he couldn’t crack 4.6, his agility work was marginal, and his vertical was less than Wirfs, and Bayless weighs 100 pounds less.  

However, Iowa’s A.J. Epenesa may have been the biggest faller. His athleticism was almost non existent in the testing with a 5+ second 40, a sub 10 foot broad jump, 17 reps on the bench, and only acceptable times in the agility drills. He lacked explosiveness across the board, which is not good for a tweener.

On offense, Zack Moss didn’t help his cause much with some middling testing. But running back Salvon Ahmed underperformed in all athletic testing while coming in with a small frame, short arms, and not ideal hands. Smallerbacks crave the testing to prove they belong, but Ahmed din’t convince anyone of that.

Unheralded Back Astound

There were some far better performances by some running backs, though. Raymond Calais, a sub 190 lbs runner out of Lafyette, put up 20 reps on the bench with a 4.42 forty and a 37.5 inch vertical. Darrynton Evans put up similar number out of App State, but with 15 more pounds. Josh Kelley ran a nice 4.49 with 23 reps and a sub 7 second 3 cone (but his jumps lacked explosion). AJ Dillon isn't really unheralded, but he showed some speed in the 40 with a low 4.5, put up 23 reps, exploded for a 41 inch vert and near 11 foot broad, and ran a good 7.19 3 cone.

I won’t be the worst

Last but (I hope) not least, is me. I predicted I would not be the worst performer in any category. I found out some interesting things.

My 40 form sucks now. Jumping 90% distance in the broad jump is WAY easier than 100%. I was surprised by my vertical, shuttle, and 3 cone.

The worst categories in each drill were…

40: 5.6 sec (Trey Adams, OL)

Bench: 7 reps (Chris Finke, WO)

Vertical: 24.5” (Trey Adams, OL)

Broad: 92” (Trey Adams, OL)
3 Cone: 8.41 sec (Justin Herron, OL)

Shuttle: 5.26 sec (Benito Jones, DL)

To be honest, this isn’t very fair. I have an advantage in so many ways. I test my best against the worst results, and I should be able to out run and out jump guys nearly twice my weight. Benito Jones, Justin Herron, and Trey Adams all weigh 308+. I weigh 180. However, am going against rare athletes, so I am going to count it.

My results…

40: 4.95 sec

Bench: 11 reps

Vertical: 26.5”

Broad: 94”
3 Cone: 8.01 sec

Shuttle: 5.07 sec

Not only was I not last in any event, I also avoided SECOND last in every event… though I was third worst in broad. So I nailed this prediction, even without full speed testing on 3 cone and shuttle.

With the combine in the books it is time for Pro Days, mock drafts, and anxiety mingled with excitement as the draft approaches!