Combine hits and misses: Every combine synopsis, of course, starts with the recognition that the scouting combine is only part of the draft jigzaw puzzle. In particular, with the exception of a very small number of cases over the years, no team drafts a player because of what he did in shorts in Indianapolis. Teams have already set their boards heading into the combine and the information gathered in Indianapolis is used primarily to tweak grades that have been set based on the literally hundreds of man-hours that pro scouts have spent scouring the country over the past 6 months. However, each of the positional groups that make up an NFL roster have certain key speed, strength and overall athleticism parameters that can push a prospect’s grade up, or conversely down, depending on how well or poorly they tested in Indianapolis. Players who appear to have passed those tests with flying colors over the past week include:

West Virginia WR Kevin White: Coming into the combine, the buzz around the NFL was that White had all the tools to be an elite receiver, but maybe lacked that extra gear such that if he ran anything under 4.55 second in the 40 he could very well move into this year’s top 10. However, white left nothing to chance when he blitzed a 4.35 clocking and may now be challenging Alabama’s Amari Cooper for the top grade among receivers and may very well end up going in the first 5 picks.

Florida OLB Dante Fowler: Same story for Fowler, a relentless edge rusher whom pro scouts feared still lacked real explosion; Fowler, though, put those doubts to rest by running in a 4.60 time and like White could start to get some legit top 5 consideration.

Clemson OLB Vic Beasley: Coming into the combine there was a widespread concern that Beasley was barely 230 pounds such that while he could blow past people when he got a crease he lacked the size and strength to get off blocks at the next level; Beasley, though showed up at the combine at a robust 246 pounds and after leading all LBs with 35 reps in the bench press proceeded to put on an athletic display including a 4.53 forty and a 41-inch vertical that if nothing else puts him solidly back in the top 10 converstation

Florida State QB Jameis Winston: It wasn’t so much what Winston, arguably the most polarizing prospect in the entire 2015 draft because of his off-field issues, did on the field in Indianapolis, but by all accounts he aced the off-field stuff; in public, Winston was alternately charismatic an cocky, but always positive. More importantly, though, the buzz around the combine was that he really impressed teams in private interviews with his demeanour and football acumen.

Missouri Sooners WR Dorial Green-Beckham: It is still possible that DGB doesn’t get drafted at all because of his off-field issues, but he was able to show teams why he was the top recruit in the country coming out of high school with some uncommon athletic ability. To paraphrase former Giants’ GM George Young’s ‘Planet theory’ guys that big (6-5, 237) who can run under 4.5 in the 40 just don’t come along that often and when they do you have to take them.

Kansas State WR Tyler Lockett: The 2015 draft is characterized by a number of really good smaller slot receiver types, but Lockett went to the head of the class when he ripped off a 4.40 40, led the way in the agility testing, and looked smooth and polished in the positional drills.

Michigan State CB Trae Waynes: Came to the combine as arguably the only first-lock at the position, but clearly was after more with a rollicking 4.31 40 and 38” vertical which get some top ten consideration.

LSU LB Kwon Alexander: Looked to be just another guy in a relatively weak group but opened some eyes with an athletic outing including a 4.55 40 and 36-inch vertical while he moved well in agility tests and positional drills

Oregon OT Jake Fisher: The 6-6, 306-pounder ran the 40 in 5.01 seconds with a quick 1.75 second split; he also had a 32-inch plus vertical while posting one of the fastest short shuttle times for an offensive lineman ever. Indeed, Fisher’s SS time of 4.33 seconds was almost two tenths faster than another lineman in Indianapolis this week. And while Fisher played RT at Oregon, there is just a hint of a buzz that he might get a try on the left side at the next level.

Hobart G/T Ali Marpet: If nothing else Marpet, who also held his own at last month’s Senior Bowl, proved that he can indeed play with the big guys. Marpet was the only offensive linemen this week to run under 5-flat as he broke the tape in the 40 in 4.98 seconds. Marpet also had the fastest 10-yard split among offensive lineman, along with the second fastest short shuttle time for the position, while he also had a very respectable 30 reps in the bench press and an athletic (for a 307-pound guy) vertical leap of over 30 inches.

Georgia WR Chris Conley: Did have 117 career catches, including 20 for Tds, but never really dominated at UGA, but may have been the most athletic guy in Indianapolis last week, running the 40 in 4.35 and posting a 45-inch vertical

UConn CB Byron Jones: Tweener CB/S didn’t run the 40 but otherwise blew up the combine with a record 12-3 broad jump, along with a 44-5 vertical leap.

On the other hand, players who likely did not help their grades at all in Indianapolis last week included:

• Michigan WR/TE Devin Funchess: That 4.70 40 was more the stuff of a TE.
• Miami TE Clive Walford: Was expected to run much better than 4.79
• Florida State TE Nick O’Leary: Very slow 4.93 40 time.
• Minnesota RB David Cobb: Was thought to be something of a sleeper but looked to be asleep running 4.81 for the 40. Same for fellow RBs Dee Hart of Colorado State and LSU’s Kenny Hilliard.
• Missouri DE/OLB Markus Golden: 4.90 40
• Norfolk State DE/OLB Lynden Trail: 4.91 40
• TCU OLB Paul Dawson: One of the most productive players in college football last fall was looking for a big combine to quiet some of those off-field concerns but he did not run or test well at all starting with a 4.93 40.
• Michigan State ILB Taiwan Jones: 4.95 40
• Oregon OLB Tony Washington: 4.99 40
• Miami CB Ladaris Gunter: 4.69 40
• TCU FS Chris Hackett: Thought to be a rising star but ran very slowly with a 4.81 40
• FSU CB PJ Williams: May have run himself out of the first round with a 4.57 40, along with slowish times in the agility drills.