NFL Combine 2015: Event Schedule, Top Prospects Following Super Bowl

There are very few events as polarizing as the NFL Scouting Combine. 

Some view it as an important factor in determining the draft's most athletic players, while others suggest it's overrated, noting that a single 40-yard dash time shouldn't outweigh two, three or four years of game tape when deciding a player's draft stock. 

No matter how you feel about the event, though, there's no denying its massive popularity, as it has grown into one of the most watched non-game sporting events. 

With the Super Bowl now in the rear-view mirror, every team and every diehard fan is already focused on the draft. That starts with the combine. 

Event Schedule Information

Group 1 (PK,ST,OL), Group 2 (OL), Group 3 (TE)	Date
Group 4 (QB,WR), Group 5 (QB, WR), Group 6 (RB)	Date
Group 7 (DL), Group 8 (DL), Group 9 (LB)	Date
Group 10 (DB), Group 11 (DB)	Date
Travel, Registration, Hospital Pre-Exam, Orientation, Interviews	Tue, Feb. 17
Measurements, Medical Examinations, Media, Interviews	Wed, Feb. 18
NFLPA meeting, Psychological Testing, Bench Press, Interviews	Thur, Feb. 19
On-Field Workouts (Timing, Stations, Skill Drills)	Fri, Feb. 20
Travel, Registration, Hospital Pre-Exam, Orientation, Interviews	Wed, Feb. 18
Measurements, Medical Examinations, Media, Interviews	Thur, Feb. 19
NFLPA meeting, Psychological Testing, Bench Press, Interviews	Fri, Feb. 20
On-Field Workouts (Timing, Stations, Skill Drills)	Sat, Feb. 21
Travel, Registration, Hospital Pre-Exam, Orientation, Interviews	Thur, Feb. 19
Measurements, Medical Examinations, Media, Interviews	Fri, Feb. 20
NFLPA meeting, Psychological Testing, Bench Press, Interviews	Sat, Feb. 21
On-Field Workouts (Timing, Stations, Skill Drills)	Sun, Feb. 22
Travel, Registration, Hospital Pre-Exam, Orientation, Interviews	Fri, Feb. 20
Measurements, Medical Examinations, Media, Interviews	Sat, Feb. 21
NFLPA meeting, Psychological Testing, Bench Press, Interviews	Sun, Feb. 22
On-Field Workouts (Timing, Stations, Skill Drills)	Mon, Feb. 23

TV: NFL Network will provide extensive coverage, showing live workouts Feb. 20 through 23. 

Location: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana

Workouts: 40-yard dash, bench press, vertical jump, broad jump, three-cone drill, shuttle run

Prospects to Watch

Brandon Scherff, OT, Iowa (Friday, Feb. 20)

Charlie Neibergall/Associated Press

Pretty sure the term "country strong" was coined in preparation for Brandon Scherff, who drew national attention in July when he cleaned 443 pounds (!) three times (!!). Take a look if you're in the mood to feel incredibly weak:

The Iowa native is a rare athlete. He's 6'5" and 320 pounds but still has astounding agility. He played quarterback during his first two years in high school (when he was 280 pounds) and sometimes returned punts during practice with the Hawkeyes. 

But his strength is super-human. His personal bests, via BTN.com's Brent Yarina, are borderline comical: 665 pounds (squat), 395 pounds (bench) and 480 pounds (clean).

At the combine, he'll "only" have to bench 225. Going for max weight and max reps—he'll do the latter at the combine—are two completely different things, but considering he has the power to bench the equivalent of about 1.6 Mike Tolberts, he should put on a show. 

Stephen Paea's record of 49 reps could be within striking distance. 

Sammie Coates, WR, Auburn (Saturday, Feb. 21)

Brynn Anderson/Associated Press

The 40-yard dash is always the most popular workout, with the distinction of "fastest player" being a highly sought-after one. 

Usually, it's the little guys who record the top times. Over the last five years, the average height and weight of the annual winner (Dri Archer, Marquise Goodwin, Josh Robinson, DeMarcus Van Dyke, Jacoby Ford) has been about 5'10" (69.8 inches) and 183.4 pounds, according to NFL.com.

Sammie Coates has a good chance to buck that trend.

The Auburn wide receiver is 6'2" and 201 pounds with explosive, blazing speed. In April, Bobby Bentley recorded him with a time of 4.16:

"

Another one- Sammie Coates 4.16 forty #AuburnFast pic.twitter.com/JopxHwQSPI

— Bobby Bentley (@bobbybentley) April 26, 2014"

That would break Chris Johnson's record of 4.24. That likely won't happen—there's a large difference between a hand-operated stop watch and what is used at the combine—but it gives you an idea of the kind of wheels on this kid. 

Inconsistent hands have him right on the fringe of the first round. But Coates is one of the most impressive physical specimens in the 2015 class.

Arik Armstead, DL, Oregon (Sunday, Feb. 22)

Brandon Wade/Associated Press

Arik Armstead's stock has steadily been rising since he tossed his name into the NFL draft hat, but he may see the biggest increase after the combine. 

The Oregon product is like a small tree who can move extremely well, which is a scary visual. He has towering size at 6'8" and 290 pounds, but as someone who spent some time on the Ducks basketball team, he also boasts tremendous agility. 

"No. 9 (Armstead) is extremely gifted," one NFL general manager told NFL Media's Albert Breer. "He has first-round talent, no doubt...he's a 6-foot-8, 290-pound freak."

Armstead probably won't set any combine records, but according to Ryan Ratty of Football Insiders, he has a shot to run a 4.8 40-yard dash and hit 41 inches on his vertical. For a player with his size to achieve those numbers would be downright impressive.