Just one more group to go through the hated combine weigh-in/measurement process tomorrow after the defensive line and linebackers did their thing in shorts earlier today. While it’s no fun for the players, on balance there were probably more winners than losers during today’s sessions. Certainly, top 10 DT prospects Derrick Brown of Auburn and South Carolina’s Javon Kinlaw held serve during their weigh-ins. Brown, who is starting to generate some legitimate top 5 buzz, for example, measured in at a robust 6-4.5, 326 with 34″ arms – which is outstanding for an interior defensive line prospect – although his hands at just 9″ were a tad on the small size. Meanwhile, Kinlaw was the hands down winner of the mythical ‘best looking player’ at today’s weigh-in as he measured in at 6-5, 324 with 35″ arms and 10″ hands. Ohio State DE Chase Young, the consensus non-QB prospect for the upcoming draft, also for all intents and purposes, held serve as he measured in at just under 6-5 and 264 pounds, although pro scouts would have liked to see his 34″ arms, and his were slightly under that. However, that shouldn’t impact his grade in any meaningful way.
At the same time, Iowa DE AJ Epenesa, another top 15 prospect for the upcoming draft, also checked off all the boxes today as he measured in at 6-5, 275 with 34.5-inch arms and 10-plus inch hands. Meanwhile, other top DE prospects that got clear passing grades on the eyeball test included Penn State’s Yetur Gross-Matos (6-5, 276, 35″), Florida’s Jonathan Greenard (6-3, 263, 35″), DJ Wonnum of South Carolina (6-4.5, 258, 34″), and Notre Dame’s Julian Okwara (6-4, 252, 34.5″). On the other hand, pro scouts had to be a little disappointed that a number of other top edge-rushing prospects didn’t have quite the expected length which can be so important to disengaging from blocks. DEs Bradlee Anae of Utah, Kendall Coleman of Syracuse and Michigan State’s Kenny Willekes, for example, each had arms under 32 inches; indeed, Willekes barely was over 31″, while ER OLBs Zack Baun of Wisconsin, Boise State’s Curtis Weaver and K’Lavon Chaisson of LSU came in at under 33 inches, with Chaisson barely cracking 32″.
Pro scouts may also have been a little underwhelmed with DTs Ross Blacklock of TCU and Texas’ Malcolm Roach. Blacklock, who had been considered to be a rising star in this year’s draft class, measured in at just 6-3, 290 with only 32-inch arms, although his game has always been more about speed and quickness. Meanwhile, Roach also checked in with barely 32″ arms after he tipped the scales at 6-2, 297. At the same time, two other DTs that maybe earned a little spending money today included Leki Fotu of Utah and Alabama’s Raekwon Davis. Fotu measured in at 6-5, 330 with 34 inch arms and 10.5″ hands, while Davis tipped the scales at 6-6, 311 with 34-inch arms and huge 11-inch hands.
Courtesy of Steelers Depot here are all the numbers from the combine weigh-ins.
