Projecting 10 Players Who Will Shock Scouts at the 2015 NFL Combine
The NFL draft cycle is in full swing, and the madness will really kick in this week. Everyone who matters in pro football will descend on Indianapolis for the 2015 NFL Scouting Combine, which is the best opportunity for decision-makers to evaluate talent in one place before May’s NFL draft.
Everyone will pay attention to high-profile prospects like Oregon’s Marcus Mariota, Florida State’s Jameis Winston and Nebraska’s Randy Gregory. But, as you know, the draft doesn’t end after the first round. Value can be found in the later rounds. After all, New England quarterback and four-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady was picked in the sixth round, No. 198 overall.
So who’ll break out in Indianapolis? Here are 10 players who’ll shock scouts at the combine.
Minnesota TB David Cobb
1 of 10
2014 was a great year for Minnesota fans. Jerry Kill’s reclamation project took a step forward, as the Gophers won eight games and were in contention for the Big Ten West title until the regular season’s final weekend. A big reason for that success? David Cobb.
Cobb served as the engine for the Gophers offense, rushing for 1,626 yards and 13 touchdowns. He’s a very solid back with good speed and power, and he is certainly durable (he carried 314 times in 2014). He is a likely second-day pick, but if talent evaluators see what the Big Ten saw in his career, he’ll become a trendy value selection.
Central Michigan WR Titus Davis
2 of 10
Five years ago, the Pittsburgh Steelers got incredible value with their sixth-round pick, snagging Central Michigan wide receiver Antonio Brown with pick No. 195. Good job: Brown has turned into one of the NFL’s best wide receivers.
This spring, the Chippewas have another under-the-radar receiver ready for the NFL. Davis was consistently productive at Central Michigan, becoming the only player in NCAA history to catch at least eight touchdowns in four seasons. He is a solid route-runner who catches whatever is thrown at him.
Last fall, he missed three games with an ankle injury but still caught 60 passes for 980 yards and 13 touchdowns, including a four-touchdown effort in his career finale in the Bahamas Bowl against Western Kentucky. If he brings those hands to Indianapolis, NFL teams will take notice.
Arkansas DE Trey Flowers
3 of 10
This season, Arkansas turned a corner under coach Bret Bielema, finishing 7-6 with a Texas Bowl demolition of former Southwest Conference foe Texas. Defensive end Trey Flowers is surely glad he stuck around for his final season of college football after considering entering the NFL draft as a junior.
He had an excellent senior season, making five sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss and breaking up six passes.
Flowers is a force at the line of scrimmage with excellent hands and arms. He’s a true three-down defensive end who proved himself against the best the Southeastern Conference had to offer.
He should perform well in agility drills, especially those that showcase his impressive leaping ability. He performed a 55-inch box jump that was caught on video and tweeted by Bielema, an impressive feat for a 270-pound lineman.
"This is video evidence that Trey Flowers is going to explode in testing for the next level," Bielema tweeted.
Flowers isn’t necessarily that well-known, but his stock should bloom following this week.
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East Carolina WR Justin Hardy
4 of 10
Playing in the American Athletic Conference, it can be easy for players to fly a little under the radar—especially at East Carolina, which must fight with ACC in-state teams like North Carolina, N.C. State, Duke and Wake Forest for media attention.
That’s the case with East Carolina wide receiver Justin Hardy. Hardy thrived in the Pirates’ Air Raid offense, catching 121 passes for 1,494 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2014. But he wasn’t even named as a semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award, given to college football’s top wide receiver.
He has excellent hands and is quick and productive. Hardy stands 6’0”, 186 pounds, so he won’t wow scouts in measurements, but in drills, he should make a real difference. With a good effort in Indianapolis, he could work his stock into the early rounds of the draft.
Florida OT D.J. Humphries
5 of 10
2014 was a miserable season for Florida’s offense. Kurt Roper’s new offense didn’t really click, as the Gators averaged 30.3 points per game, No. 56 nationally. Will Muschamp took the fall and was fired before season’s end.
So it was a bit of a surprise when junior left tackle D.J. Humphries left early for the NFL draft. But Humphries has been getting some serious attention, and his stock is on the rise. At 6’5”, 295 pounds, he has excellent foot speed and quickness for a man of his size.
NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah thinks that Humphries could emerge as a first-round selection. With a great effort in Indianapolis, he’ll take a big step toward that status and justifying his early departure.
Penn State TE Jesse James
6 of 10
2014 was a rather miserable year for Penn State’s offense. A young, beat-up offensive line struggled to protect quarterback Christian Hackenberg, who threw 12 touchdowns against 15 interceptions. But the offense still had some solid pieces, including tight end Jesse James.
James caught 38 passes for 396 yards and three touchdowns. At 6’7”, 254 pounds, he combines excellent size with good pass-catching abilities and athleticism. He is not currently projected as an early-round pick but could impress at the combine with a solid performance in bench-press and passing drills.
In other words, you could say that Jesse James might be a real steal for teams looking for mid-round value.
Wake Forest CB Kevin Johnson
7 of 10
Dave Clawson’s first season at Wake Forest was a major struggle. The Demon Deacons struggled to score points and finished 3-9. But if there was a strength, it was Wake’s secondary, which was led by senior cornerback Kevin Johnson.
Johnson had 44 tackles, six pass breakups and an interception in 2014, capping a career that saw him emerge as one of the ACC’s top cornerbacks. He stands 6’0”, 175 pounds and has a penchant for big plays.
He is an excellent cover corner who has quick feet and fluidity in man-to-man coverage or zone. He isn’t the best at run coverage, but if he impresses in drills in Indianapolis, his stock could rise quickly.
UAB WR Jamarcus Nelson
8 of 10
UAB’s program is no more. University administrators shut down the program following the 2014 season, stunning coaches, players and fans and sending members scurrying for new homes. That said, it doesn’t mean that the Blazers can’t live on in the NFL.
The best hope? Receiver Jamarcus Nelson. At 5’11”, 160 pounds, he won’t dazzle with measurables, but he has excellent speed. In 2014, Nelson caught 35 passes for 655 yards and four touchdowns, averaging 18.7 yards per reception.
Nelson also returned punts and kicks and is a legit threat to run the fastest 40-yard dash at the combine. If that happens, he’ll really get teams’ attention and garner some positive press for the Blazers program.
Virginia LB Max Valles
9 of 10
When Max Valles declared for the NFL draft in January, it was surprising, to say the least. The Virginia linebacker is a true sophomore but was eligible for the draft after spending a season at prep school before heading to the Cavaliers program.
Valles stands 6’5”, 240 pounds and is a versatile player. He was a tight end before converting to linebacker but was very productive. In 2014, he had nine sacks, 12.5 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, an interception and a fumble recovery.
He is long and lean and projects as an edge-rusher. If he performs well in agility drills this week, Valles’ stock could soar, which would validate his decision.
Virginia Tech S Kyshoen Jarrett
10 of 10
Under Bud Foster’s watch, Virginia Tech’s defense has consistently been one of the best in the nation. That was the case again in 2014, as the Hokies held foes to 20.2 points per game. The leader of that defense? Senior safety Kyshoen Jarrett, who had 88 tackles, three interceptions and five pass breakups in 2014.
Jarrett is a very hard hitter for a safety and has solid range and agility. He is great in man coverage and can even line up in the slot to cover wide receivers. He has excellent hands and is very good in both run and pass coverage, and he also returned punts at Virginia Tech.
If Jarrett can carry over these skills to Indianapolis this week, his stock should improve greatly as a result.
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