Thursday combine by the numbers … Maybe the most surprising thing about the data coming out of the scouting combine in Indianapolis this week is that there actually have been so few surprises. Same again today as the QBs, WRs and TEs were weighed and measured, while the offensive linemen did the bench press. Courtesy of Walter football here are the full numbers for the QB, WR, TE and offensive line bench press.
Quarterbacks: As noted earlier, teams looking to draft a QB early in this year’s draft breathed a little easier when North Carolina QB Mitch Trubisky measured in at just over 6-2; there had been fears that he might actually be under 6-1. In fact, it was like this year’s QB class all came out of the same fold. Indeed, the numbers for Trubisky (6-2, 222), Clemson’s DeShaun Watson (6-3, 221) and Texas Tech’s Patrick Mahomes (6-2, 225), three of the 4 of this year’s QB class considered to be potential first-rounds, were almost identical. For the record, the 4th top QB prospect, Notre Dame’s DeShone Kizer came in at 6-4, 219. Kizer was one of just three QBs in this year’s draft class over 6-3, along with Davis Webb of California (6-5) and Miami’s Brad Kaaya (6-4). On the other hand, Texas A&M’s Trevor Knight was the only QB under 6-2.
Wide receivers: Again not much in the way of surprises among the WRs. Among the top receivers this year, Clemson’s Mike Williams measured in at a robust 6-4, 218, while Western Michigan’s Corey Davis came in at 6-3, 205, Washington’s John Ross was 5-11, 188, East Carolina’s Zay Jones was 6-2, 201, while small-school ace Cooper Kupp of Eastern Washington registered in at 6-2, 204.
Tight ends: Whether this year’s TE class lives up to the hype of being one of the best groups at the position ever, they certainly looked the part at today’s weigh-in. Alabama’s O.J. Howard, who is reportedly starting to draw some legit top 5-10 interest measured in at a rangy 6-6, 251, while Miami’s David Njoku, who may not be all that far behind was a solid 6-4, 246. Bucky Hodges of Virginia Tech and Clemson’s Jordan Leggett both closely mirrored Howard at 6-6, 257 and 6-6, 258 respectively. At the same time, rising star Adam Shaheen of Ashland measured in at 6-6, 278. Meanwhile, the undersized H-back guys, Evan Engram (6-3, 234) of Ole Miss and South Alabama’s Gerald Everett (6-3, 239) weren’t too small, although Everett has relatively small hands (8.5 inches) compared with close to 10-inches or more for almost all the other TEs.
Offensive line: Unfortunately, the one guy NFL types really wanted to see lift today, Garrett Bolles of Utah, didn’t in the end. Scouts figure Bolles has the athleticism to blow up tomorrow’s on-field workouts for the offensive linemen, but there are concerns about his strength and physicality which didn’t get answered today. Bolles, though, was not the only top OL not to lift today as both Cam Robinson and Florida State’s Rod Johnson also chose not to lift because of injury concerns.
No such questions for Western Kentucky G/T Forrest Lamp who was among the leaders on the OL bench press with 34 re[s at 225 pounds. That came even with Lamp’s new longer arms. For those that haven’t been following the story, Lamp’s arms measured over an inch longer at the combine than at the Senior Bowl. Even at 32 and 1/4 inches, Lamp’s arms are still relatively short meaning that he’ll likely still be graded as an OG or even C rather than an OT. For the record, Bolles Utah teammate OG Isaac Asiata led the OL with 35 reps in the bench press. Meanwhile, several other top OL prospects put up decent numbers including Indiana OG Dan Feeney (26), Pittsburgh G/T Dion Dawkins (26), and Wisconsin’s Ryan Ramczyk (25).
In fact, NFL types generally don’t put too much stock when a guy goes out and throws up 55 reps; what does draw red flags though when an offensive lineman under-performs in the bench. Among those the NFL probably were expecting a little more included Pitt G/T Dorian Johnson (21), Ohio State C/G Pat Elflein (22), and Western Michigan G/T Taylor Moton (23). Even redder were the flags for Florida G/T David Sharpe (19), Bucknell OT Julien Davenport (18), William&Mary OT Jerry Ugokwe (18), Kentucky C Jon Toth (18), USC OT Chad Wheeler (15) and Utah OT Sam Tevi (15).
