Saturday was the day that was the most on the radar for NFL scouts during the combine.
Quarterbacks, wide receivers and running backs took the field for the NFL Combine’s third day, but it did not come without its disappointments. Top prospects at every position (quarterbacks Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders, wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, running back Ashton Jeanty) all opted to not perform in the combine. Despite this, several prospects took the opportunity to put themselves on the map.
Here are some players that made the most of their combine, and others left with some work to do:
Winner: Bhayshul Tuten, RB, Virginia Tech
In an overall fantastic day for the running backs, Tuten put together a special performance to stand out from the crowd.
Tuten’s 4.32 40-yard dash time was not just the fastest among running backs this year, but the fourth-fastest time by one since 2003. His 40.5-inch vertical jump was also tops among running backs, and his 10 foot, 10 inch broad jump tied fellow top performers in North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton and Kansas State’s D.J. Giddens. The insane athleticism will have scouts reaching for Tuten’s tape again, examining his film in a much different light.
Tuten is no longer an under-the-radar steal in the draft class, but looks the part of a legitimate home-run threat in the NFL.
Winner: Quinshon Judkins, RB, Ohio State
While Tuten pushed himself up the boards, Judkins further established his own high draft stock.
The highlight of Judkins’s day came in the broad jump, where he jumped two inches higher than any other running back with 11 inches. His 38.5-inch vertical jump and 4.48 second 40-yard dash were also respectable numbers. With that much athleticism packed in Judkins’ 221-pound frame, teams can feel safe with him as a three-down workhorse at the NFL level.
Judkins likely punched his ticket to the second round with his incredible effort.
Loser: Cam Skattebo, RB, Arizona State
Skattebo bulldozed his way into the hearts and minds of football fans with his stellar performance against Texas at the Peach Bowl, but scouts are still left with concerns about his athleticism.
Due to a hamstring injury, Skattebo did not participate in any of the drills. He came in needing to prove he had requisite speed to adequately perform in the NFL, but the injury meant he was unable to do so. Having questions left to answer is bad enough as is, but doing so after a strong day from the rest of the positional group makes Skattebo’s absence weigh more heavily.
Arizona State’s pro day just became more crucial for Skattebo’s draft stock than ever.
Winner: Matthew Golden, WR, Texas
Plenty of receivers such as Iowa State’s duo of Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel impressed, but Golden was the one to steal the show in Indianapolis.
The only drill Golden participated in was the 40-yard dash, and he made sure to leave his mark in that event. He was the only receiver to clear the 4.3-second mark, clocking in at a blazing 4.29 seconds with a 1.49 10-yard split. While Golden will likely do more at Texas’s pro day, the times match the game-breaking speed that is evident on film.
Golden is a locked-in first round selection with his performance, and it would not be a surprise to see him as the first receiver not named McMillan to get drafted.
Loser: Isaiah Bond, WR, Texas
While Golden lit up the combine, his teammate Bond left scouts sorely disappointed.
Bond had the attention of scouts when he boldly proclaimed he would break the 40-yard dash record set by fellow Longhorn and Kansas City Chiefs receiver Xavier Worthy. Unlike Maxwell Hairston and Nick Emmanwori on Friday, Bond could not back up his claims. A 4.39 second time is still nothing to sneeze at (he finished top 10 overall amongst receivers), but Bond leaves the combine with more than a little egg on his face.
As Golden’s first-round chances increased, Bond’s has consequently evaporated.
Winner: Brady Cook, QB, Missouri
Many were disappointed by most of the quarterbacks’ decisions not to participate in the athletic drills, so kudos to Cook for deciding to try his hand.
Needless to say, Cook’s gambit paid off. He finished top of the group in all of the athletic drills, including a surprising 4.59 second time in the 40-yard dash. Even more impressive was how he looked in the drills, hitting accurate passes at all three levels of the field. The only quarterback who was comparable to Cook’s performance was Ole Miss’s Jaxson Dart, who has legitimate first-round surrounding him.
For teams looking for a mid-round developmental quarterback option, Cook has entered his name into the discussion.
