Interesting day at the scouting combine in Indianapolis yesterday where the QBs, WRs and TEs did their on-field thing. And while throwing at the combine is hardly a perfect setting for the QBs where they get to make 3-4 throws to unfamiliar receivers and then have to stand around for awhile, Justin Herbert of Oregon and Jordan Love of Utah State both threw the ball very well with outstanding velocity and nice touch, although Love was a tad inconsistent with his accuracy. Still the buzz around Indy is that teams really like Love’s arm talent such that just about everybody expects him to go top 15 if not top 10 on April 23rd. The other guy who really threw the ball yesterday was Colorado’s Steve Montez, who isn’t as highly rated as some of the other QBs in Indianapolis, but likely will have scouts heading back to the tapes for another look.
Even though he didn’t break John Ross’ all-time combine 40 record of 4.22, Alabama’s Henry Ruggs still stole the show yesterday when he ran the 40 in 4.27 seconds. For good measure, Ruggs also threw in a 42-inch vertical and has people talking about him in terms of Tyreek Hill big-play potential. Ruggs’ performance contrasted with that of fellow top 15 prospects Jerry Jeudy, his Alabama teammate, and Oklahoma’s CeeDee Lamb who were both kind of meh. Jeudy did post an okay 40 time of 4.45 seconds, but he only had a 35-inch vertical, as well as one of the slower times in the short shuttle. Meanwhile, Lamb ran a 4.50 40, had a 34.5″ vertical and managed only 11 reps in the bench press. Not terrible, but again not necessarily the stuff one normally expects from a top 10 prospect.
At the same time, several other receivers did kind of jump out yesterday evening. NFL folks are still buzzing about Notre Dame WR Chase Claypool, the 6-4, 238-pounder who was being talked about as a potential TE, after he ran the 40 in 4.42 seconds, while posting a 40.5-inch vertical. Same for LSU’s Justin Jefferson, who did have 111 receptions for the national champs last fall but was thought of as more of a possession type guy, after he ran a 4.43 40 and posted a 37.5″ vertical. Meanwhile, scouts were scurrying back to the tapes to check out Southern Miss’ Quez Watkins after be blitzed a 4.35 clocking in the 40. Same story for other less well-known receivers who stood out yesterday including Denzel Mims of Baylor (4.38 and a 38″ VL), Texas’ Devin Duvernay (4.39 and some very quick shuttle times), Memphis’ Antonio Gibson (4.39 40), Boise State’s John Hightower (4.43, 38.5″ VL and top 5 shuttle times), and Tulane’s Darnell Mooney (4.38 and a 37″ VL).
While all that was going on yesterday, the defensive backs went through the weigh-in/measurement phase of the combine. Not a whole lot of import to report, but Ohio State CB Jeff Okudah, a top 5 prospect, did appear to check off all the size/length boxes as he measured in at 6-1, 205 with long (for a corner) 32.5″ arms. Other corners that impressed with their length included Bryce Hall of Virginia and Trevon Diggs of Alabama, while Okudah’s OSU teammate Damon Arnette, LSU’s Kristian Fulton and Pitt’s Dane Jackson did not.
