With the 2015 NFL Scouting Combine coming to an end Monday, here's a look at five prospects who helped their draft stock the most with their results from Indianapolis.
Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson
NFL teams will have to figure out which edge rusher they like best, and Beasley didn't make the decision any easier on them with his combine performance. We knew he was a highly talented pass rusher coming into the combine, but he surprised with his added weight, weighing in at 246 pounds, and strength, posting 35 reps in the bench press. Some guys look sluggish after gaining weight, but Beasley was far from that. He had the best 40-yard dash of all front-seven defenders (4.53), and he was also very smooth in on-field drills. He went through defensive back drills in preparation for the combine to help his footwork, and it paid off. Beasley no longer takes a backseat to the likes of Randy Gregory, Dante Fowler and Shane Ray. A top-10 selection is not out of the question for him now.
Byron Jones, CB, UConn
Jones was listed 50th on colleague Daniel Jeremiah's Top 50 list heading into the combine, and he might have pushed himself into the first round with his combine results. That gives you an idea of just how well he performed, setting a world record in the broad jump in the process. He didn't run the 40 because he's recovering from surgery to repair a torn labrum, but given his numbers in other events, you have to believe he'll run a very good time at his pro day.
Ali Marpet, OL, Hobart
Marpet began his rise at the Senior Bowl, and he only strengthened his case at the combine. He might be from a Division III school, but he proved again that teams should take him very seriously. Marpet had the best 40 time (4.98) of any offensive lineman at the combine and had the second-best time among offensive linemen in the three-cone drill (7.33) and 20-yard shuttle (4.47). He never seems to be overwhelmed by the big stage. The 6-foot-4, 307-pounder was a dominant left tackle in college but will move inside to guard or center in the NFL. He passed the combine test in a big way.
Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State
Waynes arrived in Indianapolis as the No. 1 corner on most draft boards, but there were still questions about how early the first corner would come off the board. After putting up 19 reps on the bench and running a 4.31 in the 40, Waynes has put himself in top 10-15 territory. He's a physical player who can tackle, and he played man coverage the vast majority of the time at MSU. He really elevated his stock by showing off his athleticism at the combine.
Kevin White, WR, West Virginia
Before the combine even started, there had been plenty of debate about who's the top wide receiver in this year's draft. Most people had Amari Cooper No. 1, and that's understandable. But I, along with colleagues Mike Mayock and Daniel Jeremiah, had White No. 1, and he only strengthened our belief that he's the best player at the position with his combine showing. It's extremely tight when it comes to ranking the top three or four players at the receiver position this year, but White's 4.35 40 -- the best of any top-rated wide receivers and tied for third-best among all WRs -- really helped him emerge from the pack.
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