The second day of workouts at the NFL Scouting Combine provided scouts with an opportunity to see several of the top prospects display their immense talent and potential. Here are a few of the notable standouts in my mind:
(Click on prospect's name to view the full profile.)
Luck showed scouts he is a much better athlete than most anticipated with his remarkable display of explosiveness and athleticism Sunday. He recorded impressive numbers in the broad jump (10 feet, 4 inches) and vertical jump (36 inches), and he blazed a 4.67-second time in the 40-yard dash. Luck also showed excellent quickness and burst while executing the three-cone and pro agility drills. While Luck didn't throw in Indianapolis, he made a strong bid to be the No. 1 overall pick in April's draft.
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RGIII created a buzz in scouting circles with his impressive performance this weekend at the combine. Scouts have raved about his football acumen, character and leadership skills, and Griffin capped the weekend with a remarkable display of explosiveness and athleticism during his workouts. He recorded the second-fastest time for quarterbacks in the 40-yard dash at the combine since 2000 with an official time of 4.41 seconds, and he posted impressive measurements in the rest of the agility drills. Even without throwing, Griffin's overall performance in Indianapolis has him a coveted prospect at the No. 2 spot.
Weeden surprised scouts by participating in throwing drills despite a reported hamstring injury. The gamble paid off when he impressed onlookers with his exceptional arm strength, zip and velocity. Weeden made all of the requisite throws with outstanding accuracy, and his ball placement rated near the top of the charts. Weeden also showed good footwork, quickness and body control executing three-, five- and seven-step drops. His fluidity executing drops should convince scouts he is capable of making the transition from a spread system to a pro-style offense.
Hill was one of the stars of the day with his sensational performance during the workout. At 6-foot-4, 215 pounds, Hill ran a 4.36-second 40-yard dash and ranked near the top of the group in the remainder of the agility drills. He also showed strong hands catching the ball in individual drills and looked like a natural pass catcher in the route running portion of the workout. His routes remain unpolished in several aspects, however, Hill's speed and big play ability will push his name up draft boards across the league.
Streeter has been underrated on some boards across the league, but that should change after his strong performance in Indianapolis. He posted times in the high 4.3-range on stopwatches in the stands, and his display of speed and explosiveness during the route running portion certainly will intrigue teams looking for legitimate deep threats on the perimeter. Streeter also showed consistent skills as a pass catcher in drills. His ability to extend and pluck stood out in my mind, and he has all of the tools to be an effective playmaker as a pro.
Jenkins has been cast as a possession receiver due to questions about his speed and burst, but those concerns were rendered moot after he posted a pair of 40 times in the high 4.3 range on unofficial watches on the sideline. His impressive display of speed complemented a solid showing during the positional workout. He is one of the smoothest route runners in this year's class, and he validated that belief with his crisp routes and polished breaks. Jenkins' performance will not lead to a dramatic surge up the charts, but he certainly has caused personnel men to rethink their early evaluations.
Questions persist about Miller's durability as a potential workhorse, but there is no doubt about his speed and explosiveness. He led running backs with a 4.4-second time in the 40-yard dash, and his impressive display of acceleration and burst will lead many to consider him as the premier big-play threat at the position. In addition, Miller showed balance and body control running through positional drills.
James was certainly one of the more explosive players in college football, and his 4.45 speed in the 40-yard dash confirmed that fact. He showed excellent burst and acceleration in drills, and his change of direction ability is impressive to watch. While his size and durability remain legitimate concerns, his remarkable display of speed and quickness makes him an intriguing prospect.
Follow Bucky Brooks on Twitter @BuckyBrooks.
