NFL Combine 2012: Performances That Sent Prospects Plummeting from 1st Round

NFL scouts love spandex.

Domination in shoulder pads and a helmet is easily overshadowed by a poor 40 time or bench press in today’s draft process.  While the 2012 combine boosted and solidified many prospects’ stock, just as many—if not more—are suffering after posting disappointing numbers.

Here are athletes that were former first-round selections and ones that possess the potential for a draft day drop.

Second-round locks

3. Mohamed Sanu (WR, Rutgers)

The only way the sure-handed Sanu was going to sneak into the first round was if he blew up at the combine.  Instead, he put scouts to sleep with a 4.67 in the 40-yard dash.  A 36-inch vertical on top of a 6’2” frame isn’t enough to warrant a late first-round selection.

2. Dwayne Allen (TE, Clemson)

With the New York Giants desperate for a tight end, Allen looked like the favorite to be selected at No. 32 going into the combine.  A 6’3”, 255-pound frame is solid and so are 27 reps on the bench.  A 4.89 40-yard dash time, though, will prevent NY from taking a serious look at Allen.

1. Mike Adams (OT, Ohio St.)

A 6’7” frame is impressive, but a 5.4 40-yard dash time is not.  But it’s cool.  Adams is a big boy at 323 pounds.

All he had to do was display top-notch strength on the bench press and his first-round stock would be cemented.  Nineteen reps, though, isn’t enough.  Not even close. 

For comparisons sake, the 5’8”, 180-pound Chris Rainey put up 15 reps and I don’t care about the difference in arm length.  Those two shouldn’t have comparable numbers.

Potential second-round casualties

2. Kendall Wright (WR, Baylor)

Going into the combine, Wright drew comparisons to the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Mike Wallace.  What a joke those comparisons were.  Instead of running a sub-4.4 like many experts predicted, Wright clocked in with a 4.61. 

By the way, Wallace ran a 4.33.  I mean, that’s only a 0.28 difference, right? 

Fun Fact of the Day: Chris Johnson ran a 4.24 and Jake Locker ran a 4.52, so the difference in speed between CJ and Locker is the same between Wright and Wallace.

Scouts really whiffed on those projections.

1. Janoris Jenkins (CB, North Alabama)

Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller gave a stock update on the former Florida Gator from the combine, tweeting:

"

Talking to a source in Indy who says he wouldn't touch Janoris Jenkins due to off-field.

— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) Feb. 26, 2012"

The USA Today’s Jim Corbett also reported that Jenkins mentioned having four children to three different women in interviews.  I won’t even knock Janoris for the names he gave his kids (via CBS Sports’ Will Brinson).

"

Janoris tells media he has four kids. Janoris Jenkins Jr, Legend, Janorian and Paris

— Will Brinson (@willbrinson) Feb. 26, 2012"

But right now, he’s looking like the next Antonio Cromartie.  And that’s not a good thing.

David Daniels is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report and a syndicated writer.

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