The second day of the NFL belonged to the defensive backs and tight ends, and they certainly lived up to the hype.
Prior to the athletic drills, two of the prospects promised to put together big days during their performances at the combine. They proceeded to dominate, cementing themselves as first-round picks in the process. These two, however, were just a couple of the players who boosted their stock dramatically, while others are seeing their own plummet.
Here are some of the notable performances to come out of the second day:
Winner: Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky
Hairston promised to put on a show during his media availability, and he more than delivered on that bold statement.
Only clocking in at five-foot-eleven and 182 pounds, Hairston needed to ace the athletic drills to compensate. He responded by becoming the first athlete in this year’s combine to break the 4.3 second mark in the 40-yard dash, finishing with a time of 4.28 seconds. Hairston also put together a 39.5-inch vertical jump and 10-foot-9 inch broad jump, showcasing a speed and explosiveness that will allow Hairston to do more than survive on the perimeter at the NFL level.
In a cornerback class with question marks beyond the top names in Colorado’s Travis Hunter and Michigan’s Will Johnson, Hairston may have etched his name at the top of the next tier.
Winner: Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina
Emmanwori was another prospect who promised a massive day at the Combine, but not even the most optimistic of expectations had him putting together one of the best combines in recent memory.
Emmanwori practically jumped out of the stadium with an eleven-foot-six broad and 43-inch vertical, placing in the 98th percentile at his position in both marks since 1999. He also put together an impressive 4.38 seconds in the 40-yard dash, proving his athleticism was as advertised. While Georgia’s Malaki Starks also had a good performance, Emmanwori’s transcendent effort has not only closed the gap between the two for the honor of top safety, but may have shifted it in the former Gamecock’s favor.
After gaining first-round hype earlier in the process, it would be a surprise to see Emmanwori not go off the board on the first day of the draft now.
Loser: Zy Alexander, CB, LSU
Alexander’s good season and LSU’s penchant for producing quality defensive backs were major green flags for him in a crowded group of defensive backs, but those advantages are out the window after the rough day he had.
All of the drills Alexander performed in had him at or near the bottom. A 4.56-second 40-yard dash, 9-foot-8 broad jump and 31.5 vertical jump were all disappointing marks. Despite having decent measurables to work with, Alexander came across as lacking in the athleticism department.
Alexander will now have to nail his interviews and his Pro Day workouts to keep his stock from sliding further.
Winner: Darien Porter, CB, Iowa State
Porter is the second name to appear in the names to watch prior to the workouts, so a round of self-congratulations is somewhat warranted.
Porter’s pro comparison to Seattle Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen proved at least mostly accurate. His 4.3 second 40-yard dash time was second only to Hairston, and his 1.49 10-yard split was identical to Woolen’s. Comparing to one of the top athletes at his position, combined with already favorable measurables, can only work wonders on Porter’s stock going forward.
Expect Porter to win over scouts as a raw but athletically-talented Day 2 flier.
Winner: Joshua Simon, TE, South Carolina
Emmanwori was not the only South Carolina product to showcase his talents, as the unheralded Simon turned plenty of heads at the tight end position.
Simon featured as one of the best athletes at the position, finishing second in the class in both the broad (10-foot-four) and vertical jumps (38 inches). He also put together a strong 4.66 second 40-yard dash time, finishing towards the top of the group. Simon did not get much attention prior to the combine despite a strong 2024 season, but his performance in Indianapolis will have scouts re-evaluating his game in a more meaningful way.
The pre-draft process provides opportunities for prospects like Simon to get some eyes on them, and he has made himself a strong candidate for a Day Three flier.
Loser: Harold Fannin Jr., TE, Bowling Green
While Texas tight end Gunnar Helm had his own fair share of struggles, Fannin came in with the prospect that had more to lose.
Before the combine, Fannin was considered the consensus third tight end behind Penn State’s Tyler Warren and Michigan’s Colston Loveland. Unfortunately, he failed to stand out in any of the drills he participated in. With LSU’s Mason Taylor and Oregon’s Terrance Ferguson doing well, Fannin is no longer a lock to be considered a top-five tight end, possibly slipping down to Day Three as a result.
There is still time for Fannin to get himself back in the race, but the combine ultimately proved to be a stumbling block.
