Combine Risers: Offense

Now that the NFL Combine is over let’s take a look at the offensive prospects who helped themselves.

Quarterbacks

1. Tim Tebow – One of college football’s all-time greats has been under much scrutiny for his footwork and throwing mechanics as he transitions to the NFL. This has led many to believe he could convert to another position such as tight end or H-back. Tebow showed his athleticism by running a 4.72 40-yard dash, a 38.5” vertical leap, tying the combine record for QB’s, and posting the best broad jump and 20-yard shuttle drill times for quarterbacks.

2. Dan LeFevour – Chose not to throw but did post some of the top times in most drills.

Running Backs

1. C.J. Spiller – Clemson’s do-it-all running back and return man ran a blazing 4.37 official 40-yard dash. He also posted a respectable 19 reps on the bench press, solidifying himself as a Top-15 lock.

2. Ryan Matthews – The nation’s leading rusher from Fresno State weighed in at a rock solid 5’11, 218 lbs and went out and ran in the low 4.4s. He also put up 19 reps on the bench and did well in the workouts.

3. Jahvid Best – The sensational runner out of Cal bested Spiller with a 4.35 official time while putting up 18 reps and finishing first among running backs in the three-cone drill. He did well in workouts especially in catching the ball.

4. Montario Hardesty – Hardesty posted very good times in all the tests including a 4.49 and 21 bench reps. He also led the running backs with a 41-inch vertical jump and a 10’4” broad jump. He finished in the top five in the shuttle and three-cone drill.

Wide Receivers

1. Golden Tate – The acrobatic playmaker from Notre Dame has been knocked for size and really needed to show his explosiveness. Tate did just that – running a 4.42 official 40-yard dash while recording a 10 foot broad jump. He caught the ball well in drills and seemed to solidify himself as a late first round pick.

2. Jacoby Ford – Questioned as just a track star who plays football, Ford showed his world class speed by posting a combine-best 4.28 official 40-yard dash. He also did excellent in route running and catching the ball.

3. Emmanuel Sanders – Coming from a small school in Southern Methodist, the combine was Sanders’ chance to show off his athletic skills. He certainly made an impression when he ran an official 4.41 40-yard dash which tied for second amongst all receivers. He also posted a 39.5” vertical jump, a first place 10’6” broad jump, the second fastest three-cone drill and the third fastest 20-yard shuttle times amongst receivers.

Tight Ends

1. Dorin Dickerson – Dickerson’s combine performance ranked as one of the best overall. A future h-back, slot receiver type in the NFL at 6’1 226 lbs, Dickerson ran a blazing 4.4 40-yard dash, recorded 24 reps on the bench, had the second best vertical jump overall at 43.5 inches, had the top broad jump and ranked third in both the three-cone and shuttle amongst tight ends.

2. Jimmy Graham – The former basketball player at the University of Miami showed off his athletic skills posting a 4.56 40 and a 38.5 inch vertical jump. He also was second in the broad jump and three-cone drill amongst tight ends and was fluid in pass catching drills. His upside and athleticism is intriguing despite only having one year of college football experience.

3. Dennis Pitta – The former BYU Cougar was very productive in college recording over 800 receiving yards each of the last three years. He ran in the mid
4.6 range at 6’4 245 lbs and had an impressive 27 bench reps. He led the tight ends in the three-cone and shuttle drill times and caught the ball well.

Offensive Linemen

1. Bruce Campbell – He is Maryland’s offensive tackle version of Vernon Davis. The guy is an absolute physical freak who is a chiseled 6’6 314 lbs. He ran a ridiculous 4.85 official 40-yard dash and put up 225 lbs. 34 times despite having the longest arms. He showed quick feet and athleticism in drills.

2. Roger Saffold – A tackle at Indiana, Saffold is quickly rising up draft boards after a great combine. He measured in at 6’4 316 lbs and ran between 5.1-5.2 in the 40. He also had 27 reps on the bench and recorded an impressive broad jump and three-cone time. He was also very athletic in drills on the field.

3. Trent Williams – The talented former Oklahoma Sooner played all over the line during his time under Coach Bob Stoops. He showed off his athleticism including a 4.88 40 yard dash. He ranked first in the vertical jump, third in the broad jump, and fourth in the shuttle amongst offensive linemen. Showed his fluidity and range in pass protection which has been questioned when looking at his senior season tape at left tackle.

4. Jared Veldheer – The offensive tackle from Division II Hillsdale has been receiving a lot of buzz amongst draft analysts and scouts. He has intriguing size measuring in at 6’8 312 lbs and ran a very solid 5.09 40. He also put up 32 reps on the bench and ranked third in the vertical jump, fifth in the broad jump, second in the three-cone drill, and tied for first in the shuttle amongst all offensive linemen. He put it all together with a great field work out in drills.