NFL Combine 2012: Wide Receivers Who Fell Flat in Indianapolis

The 2012 NFL Scouting Combine has concluded for all offensive players. While some wide receivers such as Stephen Hill of Georgia Tech likely helped their draft stock considerably with a strong showing in Indianapolis, for others the combine was a nightmare from which they surely wish they'd wake up.

South Carolina wide receiver Alshon Jeffery was one of the more discussed players at his position in college football entering the combine, as some draft pundits had Jeffery pegged as a potential top 10 pick while others had him outside the first round altogether.

Rumors had swirled around Jeffery's conditioning heading into the combine, with some reports stating that Jeffery's weight had skyrocketed to over 240 pounds, but after weighing in at Lucas Oil Stadium at 6'3" and 216 pounds, Jeffery was able to dispel those misconceptions.

However, Jeffery did nothing to quiet those who question his straight-line speed, as Jeffery somewhat puzzlingly chose not to run or participate in any receiving drills at the combine, a decision that apparently did not sit well with some NFL clubs according to Tony Pauline:

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Let's try english this time: Two AFC teams told me they would not draft Alshon Jeffery before the middle part of round 2- sorry..long 4 days

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"— TonyPauline (@TonyPauline) February 26, 2012"

The combine was similarly unkind to Baylor wide receiver Kendall Wright, who was considered one of the top two or three prospects at his position after topping 105 receptions and 1,500 yards while scoring 14 touchdowns for the Bears in 2011.

It was anticipated that the 5'10", 196-pound speedster would run one of the fastest 40 times at his position at the combine and could conceivably break the 4.4-second mark. However, the senior from Pittsburg, Texas ran a wildly disappointing 4.61-second 40-yard dash, which may well have sent Wright's draft stock tumbling according to Peter King of Sports Illustrated:

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[It] Looks like Justin Blackmon and Michael Floyd of Notre Dame will be the only wideouts in round one, unless Hill sneaks in there. Reuben Randle of LSU and Rutgers' Mohamed Sanu (the Bucs and new coach Greg Schiano want him) could go 4-5 unless Baylor's Kendall Wright overcomes a lousy combine.

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It's possible that Jeffery and Wright could bolster their lagging stocks for April's NFL draft with strong showings at their respective pro days. The pressure on these two talented youngsters is rising, as a flat performance in Indianapolis may have caused their first-round aspirations to go up in smoke.

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