First things first: This event is really falling off a cliff, overall. It’s no longer must-watch TV...thus so many head coaches have been skipping it recently. But even as a scout/analyst it’s getting wearisome...I have lost all interest in actually going to the event, when I can just watch what I want to watch on video I control with less cost and travel and time lost.
And then, what I would really want to see...can’t be seen anymore. More and more prospects are skipping doing much/anything at this event.
21 of 40 DT prospects didn’t get timed/skipped doing various or all things.
16 of 33 EDGE rush prospects ditto.
12 of 28 LB prospects
Almost 50% of the invited DT-EDGE-LB group didn’t get timed in things.
A lot of the top prospects are (smartly) skipping this event. It has become -- if you don’t skip it, you must think you’re not a top prospect. And for the prospects who won’t test well...it’s a good way to hide and wait for the more favorable timings of your school’s Pro Day. Again, it’s a smart tactic. These guys need to use the Combine to their advantage, and for many that means ducking it.
Marvin Harrison is my best example of this -- he completely blew off almost everything at the Combine, including the basic press interview...and he was smart to do so...because all the analysts were so far up his ass already. Marv could do nothing to improve his fake news draft stock/prospect status...everyone was already guzzling the Kool-Aid. A great example of why I don’t trust any outside scouting -- everyone in the world supposedly studied Marv and the all magically saw the same thing...greatness, generational...and there was no deviation from that scouting. And they were all wrong...way wrong.
I got crucified for suggesting that not only was Marv not as good as they said...he wasn’t even one of the five best WRs in the 2024 draft. I think I’m going to win that analysis/take.
I don’t bring that up to pat myself on the back -- I mention it because with less and less Combine data on top prospects, scouts are left to guess/estimate/’feel’ for a player’s athleticism (or lack thereof)...and that’s where we trust a hivemind of scouting to tell us about/promote what they think are the top prospects, at the Combine...but why would we trust them again when their track record is so bad? But the football masses do...every year.
One of my main reasons for watching the Combine now is -- making note of who THEY say is so great, and who they are ignoring, so I know where Fantasy and betting opportunities are gonna be this preseason and in-season. It’s how we made money off betting against Caleb Williams (THEIR #1 rated QB for 2024) and betting against Marv...and betting on Daniels-Nix-Nabers-McConkey.
So, with that said...I turn on the 2025 Combine at the appointed hour, ready to learn new things -- and I am treated to a 15-minute lead in/discussion of the events to come this day. But instead of them giving me 15 minutes of things to think about or get excited for -- instead half+ of the opening time is spent with them doing ‘open mic’ comedy and laughing about insider things to them (Rappaport’s fight at the Starbucks and Rich Eisen’s love of Michigan/his Alma Mater’s players...I mean, grow up already).
15 minutes in, the 40-yard dashes hadn’t even started, but the bad comedy was flowing...and I knew this was gonna be a long day on the job.
But, despite that, I do have plenty of Combine notes that I’m going to share (randomly) from day one.
Defensive Tackle Notes (the first group up):
-- Who had the best Combine among the DTs (of the guys that actually participated)?
I think the mainstream winner looks like they’re pushing Nebraska’s Ty Robinson...because he ran the fastest 40-time (4.83) and had a nice 1.71 10-yard split...and led or nearly led every category that was timed/recorded, among DTs.
Robinson did have a nice Combine...but he’s also 288 pounds. The 300-310+ pound guys are not going to do things like a 288-pounder...or if they do, it would be an earth/Combine new shattering event.
I am looking for the 300+ pound guys who timed/recorded things well...to compare and contrast on a different scale to the sub-300-pound guys. Taking weight into consideration, I’d probably give my ‘winner’ nod to Oregon DT Derrick Harmon. Harmon ran a 4.95 40-time with a 1.74 split at 6’4”+/313 pounds. He also measured with the 3rd longest arm length (34 3/8ths) and 2nd-longest wingspan (83.68”) of the DT group.
I could also make a case for Toledo DT Darius Alexander as the top ‘winner’ among DTs. Alexander wasn’t far off Ty Robinson’s numbers/times across the board -- but Alexander is 17 pounds bigger than Robinson. And Alexander had a lot of close measurements with Harmon, but Alexander was 8 pounds lighter than Harmon.
It’s Harmon-Alexander-Robinson, for me, first reaction, in this DT Combine ‘horse race’.
-- The DT disappointment has to be our new favorite prospect, J.J. Pegues...
He didn’t do anything bad’...he just didn’t do anything that stood out to get him noticed to get more draft attention. He was middle of the pack or lower-half of the DT group in most every timed or measured thing.
His real gift, potentially, is his ‘agility for his size’...but we don’t have a record of him participating in the three-cone here, which is not a good sign. We have to wait for his Pro Day.
The one extra note on JJP was...he’s going to workout with the fullback group after the main Combine on Saturday. That’s an interesting sign.
-- Ross Jacobs’ DT winners & losers reaction: With what little there is (to go on), I'd say the two winners are Zeek Biggers and Derrick Harmon and the loser by default would be JJ Pegues but his numbers weren't even bad, they just didn't match our optimistic expectations and we didn't get to see almost anyone else that could have been worse
-- The NFL Network analysts were pushing Mason Graham, who skipped everything, as the top DT in the class...and Rich Eisen was leading the way -- Eisen is a guy I could say should be brought up on ‘pumping a stock’ fraud charges on any Michigan prospect he hypes (when you think about how much money is on the line the higher you’re drafted...it’s nice to have Eisen playing fanboy and pushing his UM guys on national cable tv -- and I like Rich, but I don’t like it when ‘they’ unwittingly manipulate the prospects with their words or silence...my opinion).
I will just say, Graham skipped it all at the Combine (smartly so)...but what he did get measured in was not favorable -- he came in with nearly the shortest arms (32”), smallest hands (9 1/8”), and shortest wingspans (78.5”) of the 41 DT prospects there. How is this guy a universal top 5-10 overall? He isn’t for us...not even close.
And I will add... They did an interview moment with Graham, and for whatever it is worth -- he does not look good in a t-shirt and shorts. He just doesn’t give that optical test excitement to me. He doesn’t look like that great of an athlete, comparing him to some of the other top DT prospects.
-- Side Note: I’m not really even going to mention/critique the on-field drills where the guys run and weave around things. Why? I couldn’t stop feeling bad for the prospects as they constantly slipped around, and several fell flat to the ground, during these drills. I think the over/under on players shoes coming off and them doing the drill with a sock on was like 6-8 times? That’s not anything I need to watch to get a feel for their football prowess.
Somebody is going to break their ankle or tear a groin with these prospects giving their all+ while their feet are slipping out from underneath them. I mean, there were guys almost falling flat on their faces like they hit a patch of black ice...and that’s 280+, 300+, 320+ pound humans going at full speed and stressing their lower half and some hitting the deck hard.
No way, as an agent or father, would I let my son do any drills or anything, at the Combine (especially a slippery Combine), and risk getting them hurt and thus losing a ton of money potentially...unless they were a 300+ overall ranked type of prospect that needed to put it all on the line.
Tallest: Deone Walker 6’7.3”
Biggest Hands: Omarr Norman-Lott 10 3/4”
Longest arms: Zeek Biggers 34 7/8”
Longest Wingspan: Zeek Biggers 85 1/8”
Fastest GPS Top Speed: Ty Robinson 20.64 mph
40-yard dash: Ty Robinson 4.83
10-yard split: Jared Harrison-Hunte and Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins 1.69
Best Vertical: Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins 36.0”
Best Broad Jump: Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins 10’4”
Fastest Shuttle: Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins 4.34
Fastest Three-Cone: Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins 7.28
*Bench Press numbers are not in yet from the day one group.
I’m kinda overlooking Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, who topped the DT group in five different measurables here...but he was also the smallest DT here...276 pounds. That’s not really a DT size, or he cut mass weight to ‘win ‘ all these categories. If he were in the EDGE/DE group he wouldn’t have only led ‘best shuttle time’, which is still impressive.
EDGE Rusher Notes (the second group up):
-- The EDGE winner for me? I have to give it to Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M. Ross and I both have questions on his value/ability, but you cannot deny his Combine -- a 4.59 40-time with a 1.58 10-yard split with a 40” vertical at 6’5”/267...and a massive 84.68” wingspan. The single best Combine set of measurables for any prospect at any position on day one.
From a pure Combine perspective, Stewart is going to be the talk of the day in the mainstream...and has likely secured a spot in the 1st-round of the draft, like him or not. The measurables are too immense to have them be outweighed by arguments on ‘technique’ and ‘motor’ and ‘effectiveness’.
Arkansas’ Landon Jackson was probably the runner-up among the EDGEs...a 4.68 40-time, a nearly record setting (for a 260+ DL at the Combine) 40.5” vertical (only Myles Garrett 41” is better in Combine history at 260+)...Jackson measured at 6’6”/264 with 10” hands, 33”+ arms and a 83.58” wingspan.
James Pearce is in the mix of ‘winners’ this day...a 4.47 40-time with a 1.56 10-yard split should make him a 1st-rounder...BUT the character/work ethic concerns could sink those hopes. I cannot confirm or deny those issues, I haven’t investigated him yet...but I will be.
-- The biggest disappointment of the EDGE rushers? Probably Kyle Kennard, South Carolina...for me. He wasn’t terrible, but I had hopes/thoughts he could be a high B-grade or possible A-grade prospect but tested bottom-half of the EDGE group in 40-time, 10-yard and GPS max. speed.
A runner up here would be Mike Green, Marshall. While he skipped on everything timed, etc., he measured with VERY small hands (8.5”) and the shortest arms (31”). Anyone who was pushing him as a 1st-rounder...they won’t after this event. He better blow up his Pro Day.
-- Ross Jacobs’ EDGE winners & losers thoughts/comments: Hard to pick one winner from the EDGE group but I'll say Landon Jackson. Loser is also hard, nobody really bombed but I'll say Kyle Kennard just because everyone else was so fast by comparison to him.
-- Boston College’s Donovan Ezeiruaku skipped the 40-yard dash, but then quietly posted a 6.94 three-cone time...the best of the day...and with a ‘wow’ (for his size/position) 4.19 short shuttle.
Tallest: Landon Jackson (6’6.0”)
Biggest Hands: Sean Martin (10 5/8”)
Longest arms: Sean Martin (35.0”)
Longest Wingspan: Shemar Stewart (84.75”)
Fastest GPS Top Speed: Jah Joyner (22.58 mph)
40-yard dash: James Pearce (4.47)
10-yard split: James Pearce (1.56)
Best Vertical: Landon Jackson (40.5”)
Best Broad Jump: Shemar Stewart (10’11”)
Fastest Shuttle: Barryn Sorrell (4.36)
Fastest Three-Cone: Barryn Sorrell (7.06)
Another ‘disappointment’ among the EDGE rushers, of the guys who didn’t do anything here -- Mykel Williams, who we just did a pre-Combine full scouting report on...and his scouting grade was favorable...but now, we’ll take back some of the favorable. YES...Williams had a long arm measurement (34 3/8ths), but that’s short of our hoped for 35-36”+...and it didn’t translate into some wild wingspan measurement either...an 82 7/8ths wingspan is good, but not the 85”+ I was wondering if could be true.
Linebacker Notes (the final group):
-- The most difficult to proclaim a ‘winner’ from this group...there wasn’t one guy that just was miles ahead of the pack, but there were plenty of solid/good performances. There might be 3-5 different LBs that analysts might pick as their ‘winner’.
I’m going to point out 3 prospects as my ‘winners’, and they could go in any order...
#1) Probably has to be Jihaad Campbell...for the mere fact that he (1) is a top LB prospect who actually participated in the timed events, and (2) he did well...upper tier speed and athleticism measurements across the board. He solidified a 1st-round status.
#2) UCLA’s Kain Medrano probably had the best round of measurables across the board, among the LBs...he was top 1-5, among the LBs, in everything he did. He was flirting with 7th-round/UDFA status before this event...now he’s shot himself into the ‘definitely drafted’ group.
#3) I might be the only analyst who will push this LB as a ‘winner’, but Georgia’s Smael Mondon just keeps getting my attention...going back to the Senior Bowl. There’s just something about him.
Mondon ran a solid 40-time (4.58)...but was one of the lightest LBs here (224 pounds), which helped him run the fastest 10-yard split (1.52) with the best broad jump 10’10”. He’s athletic and looks/plays bigger than his (6’2”/224) measurables here (he was 229 pounds at the Senior Bowl).
But it wasn’t the times and sizing that caught my attention...it was more the on-field workout. Mondon was so graceful doing those directional drills and serpentine runs, etc. He’s just so fluid and natural looking. He caught my attention with that in Mobile, and now again here...even more so. Those ‘feelings’ do not mean he’s the next great middle linebacker in the NFL...but I just keep noticing how wonderfully fluid he moves...he’s great in coverage with that ability, I saw that at the Senior Bowl.
-- The disappointment at linebacker? Maybe Jeffrey Bassa, a guy who shined at the Senior Bowl. I thought he may be quicker than his solid enough 4.63 40-time and not-that-great 7.34 three-cone. He’s not toast as a prospect...just, I thought he’d run in the 4.5s with a better three-cone.
-- Ross Jacobs’ has put in a lot of time with the linebacker group, and his comments on their Combine performances/winners & losers: Lots of good choices at LB too. I'll say Teddye Buchanan and Nick Martin as the winners, but Stutsman had a great 40 time for him and Mauigoa checked every box for me. Loser was definitely Jay Higgins.
Tallest: Tyreem Powell (6’4.4”)
Biggest Hands: Jihaad Campbell (10.5”)
Longest arms: Tyreem Powell (34 5/8”)
Longest Wingspan: Tyreem Powell (34 5/8”)
Fastest GPS Top Speed: Demetrius Knight (22.76 mph)
40-yard dash: Kain Medrano (4.46)
10-yard split: Eugene Asante and Smael Mondon (1.52)
Best Vertical: Teddye Buchanan (40.0”)
Best Broad Jump: Smael Mondon (10’10”)
Fastest Shuttle: Francisco Mauigoa (4.24)
Fastest Three-Cone: Jay Higgins (7.01)
-- Notable among the LBs who just skipped doing things: I was pleased to see UCLA’s Carson Schwesinger get some analyst’s love during the LB portion of the workouts. Peter Schrager pushed him, and later someone else, I can’t remember, was giving him a push too.
He did do one measured thing...and did it well -- a 39.5” vertical. 2nd-best of the group by a half-an-inch.
Onto day two, and my report on that will be out Saturday morning.
