NFL Combine 2017: Weekend Schedule and Intriguing Prospects to Watch

The 2017 NFL Scouting Combine is officially underway—and if you like watching some of the country's most athletic men run, jump and throw while clad in spandex, be sure to tune in to the prospect workouts beginning Friday.

NFL Network will air all of the drills and workouts, including the usual favorite, the 40-yard dash, beginning at 9 a.m. ET every day between Friday and Monday. 

The position groups taking center stage will vary each day, so if your team is in the market for a new quarterback, make sure you catch the passing drills on Saturday. 

If you won't be near a TV this weekend, you can also follow the action on NFL.com or on the NFL mobile app. 

Combine Workout Schedule

Date	Position Groups	TV	Time
Friday, March 3	RB, OL, ST	NFL Network	Coverage begins 9 a.m. ET
Saturday, March 4	QB, WR/TE	NFL Network	Coverage begins 9 a.m. ET
Sunday, March 5	DL, LB	NFL Network	Coverage begins 9 a.m. ET
Monday, March 6	S, DB	NFL Network	Coverage begins 9 a.m. ET

Prospects to Watch

Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson

2016 College Football National Championship-winner Deshaun Watson's combine started off on a great foot...and hands. 

The quarterback, who hopes to be selected as high as the top 10 in April's draft, was plagued by reports that his size, including his height and his hands, was less than ideal for a QB at the next level heading into the combine, as noted by Chuck Carlton of the Dallas Morning News. 

But the NFL tweeted out the results of the weigh-in and measurements at the combine on Wednesday, which were favorable for Watson when compared to the other quarterbacks. 

On Saturday, Watson and the other quarterbacks will participate in workouts and position drills. Watson did not participate in the Senior Bowl, but he plans to be a full participant at the scouting combine. 

"That’s the plan," Watson said in late February, per the Associated Press (via the Chronicle-Telegram). "Run, throw, meetings, everything."

Per the AP, Watson plans to focus on becoming "more technically sound at the quarterback position." Scouts and executives will take particular interest in his footwork and throwing motion on display Saturday. 

John Ross, WR, Washington

If you're looking for a player who has a chance of breaking Chris Johnson's combine-record 4.24 40-yard dash time, wide receiver John Ross could be your guy. 

Ross, who will run the 40 on Saturday, told Emily Kaplan of the MMQB that he ran a 4.30-second laser-timed 40 in February. That's unofficial, of course, but anyone who has watched Ross line up for the Huskies has taken note of his blistering speed. 

Ross' size contributes to his ability to be so speedy and elusive; at the combine, he came in at 5'10 3/4" and 188 pounds. 

But don't let Ross' size make you relegate him to the role of a slot receiver. As players like the New York Giants' Odell Beckham Jr. have shown, a speedster can be an offense's top weapon if he is used correctly. 

That's why Ross projects in the first round; the team that lands him will get a bonafide impact player who can change the look of its offense. After all, despite tearing his ACL in 2015, Ross managed 81 receptions for 1,150 yards and 17 touchdown catches last season. 

Needless to say, he'll be a fun prospect to watch during combine workouts. He may even challenge Johnson for his record. 

Solomon Thomas, DL, Stanford

MARK LAMBIE/Associated Press

If you like to see big men jump, run and be generally athletically freakish, Stanford's Solomon Thomas is the player to watch when the big men do their drills on Sunday. 

Thomas is a physical specimen at 6'3" and 273 pounds. But he is also an incredibly powerful, nimble player. Thomas is always on the attack, but he doesn't need to choose between power and quickness: he offers both. 

Because defensive linemen often measure in heavier than Thomas' 273 pounds, scouts will have questions about how much weight he can put and keep on his frame in the NFL.

Look for Thomas to prove his strength during the bench press...and then follow that up with his agility during the defensive line drills, showing off his fluidity in his pass rush. 

Thomas also has major ups, which he'll show off during the high jump portion of the combine. This exciting prospect could solidify his status as a top-15 draft selection with an impressive performance this weekend.