2015 NFL Scouting Combine: Small-School Names You Need to Know
The NFL Scouting Combine is an opportunity for robust athletes to set themselves apart from the pack through individual drills. Everyone will focus on the biggest names and most popular players, but the hidden gems have the most to gain from a strong performance.
Players who dominate lower levels of competition have more to prove because the jump from FCS-level football to the NFL is even greater than what FBS participants face. By demonstrating their athleticism in shorts, they may force evaluators to look at film again to see whether it translates onto the field.
We should keep the importance of the combine in context. Top performers don't always have good NFL careers, and players who struggle aren't doomed. But the results and interviews are a piece of the puzzle that teams must consider when finalizing their draft boards.
The small-school participants cannot waste this opportunity. They face a stigma that is undeserved because of where they played, but they can minimize those concerns with a strong combine. Through previous all-star games, collegiate statistics and junior pro day measurements, eight prospects have already set themselves up for a productive and beneficial combine performance.
Let's check out the small-school names you need to know as the combine gets underway. These eight players have the chance to boost their draft stock considerably and get onto the national stage as the draft approaches.
Jaquiski Tartt, S, Samford
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The top small-school prospect in the 2015 draft is coming off a strong Senior Bowl showing and now could continue the momentum into the combine. Jaquiski Tartt, an athletic safety from Samford, mesmerizes with his 6'1", 220-pound frame and ability to turn and run with receivers in coverage.
Tartt instantly stands out while watching his film due to his mixture of size and speed. He plays as physically as a linebacker, often coming down from deep coverage to stick his nose into a pile to help finish tackles. He's almost reminiscent of Bernard Pollard because of his size and ability to play the run.
Scouts will be watching him closely in lateral agility drills and ball-skill tests. Tartt showed that he is capable of being effective in zone coverage while at the Senior Bowl. He reads and reacts to plays well and has good speed and burst to make plays on the ball. He logged an impressive interception in practice during seven-on-seven drills because of his natural movement ability and eye discipline.
In man coverage, Tartt isn't quite as comfortable. He didn't play in the scheme often at Samford, and his inexperience shows. However, teams will be more willing to take him early on Day 2 if he can prove that he's fluid and flexible enough to turn and run with receivers.
David Johnson, RB, Northern Iowa
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Stuck at a position deep with talent in the 2015 class, Northern Iowa running back David Johnson has rare size and a unique skill set. He measured over 6'0" and 224 pounds at the Senior Bowl, and if he can show off plus speed and agility, he could jump up draft boards.
On his tape, Johnson looks stiff as a runner. His hips don't show the wiggle that other top backs have, so he has to run past or through defenders more often. He did this well in college, notching 4,682 career rushing yards and 1,734 receiving yards. His breakout game came in the 2014 season opener against Iowa, when he had an incredible 203 yards on five receptions.
Johnson best projects as a third-down contributor with his pass-catching talent and experience. He struggles as a pass protector right now, but the combine is an opportunity to show improved technique and first-year potential. Good lateral agility results will also help Johnson's stock, as it is the biggest question mark of his game.
Lynden Trail, OLB, Norfolk State
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In a similar fashion to how Bill Turner improved every day at the Senior Bowl in 2014, Norfolk State linebacker Lynden Trail looked less like a project and more like a football player as practices progressed this year. His ability to take on coaching quickly was certainly recognized, and he started to play a lot better when he became comfortable and confident.
Trail should be a standout player at the combine, and anything less than above-average results would be concerning. He's still raw as a player, but he should validate his reputation for being a great athlete in drills that demand speed, range and movement skills. If he delivers, he is another potential second-day pick from a small school.
On the field, Trail has the ability to be a great strong-side linebacker who can cover tight ends downfield and also be a force against the run. Those talents are mere flashes right now, so he's a developmental athlete who still needs molding. The payoff for patience could be excellent, and the combine will only strengthen that belief among NFL teams.
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Ali Marpet, OG, Hobart
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Another Senior Bowl participant, Ali Marpet was a star in the trenches all week against top competition. The Hobart product went from complete unknown to potential Day 2 pick in the draft after he manhandled Washington's Danny Shelton and Stanford's Henry Anderson in practices.
Marpet was surprisingly dominant as a run and pass protector at guard. Usually, small-school linemen struggle with higher levels of competition because they haven't faced elite athletes regularly, but Marpet stood out as the best prospect on the field.
Not only is he quick enough to pull across the formation as the lead blocker, but he is also strong enough in the hands to stone defenders who get into his body. He's a solid technician who plays with leverage and length consistently. It's impressive for any prospect to look so good in a setting like the Senior Bowl, let alone a small-school name.
Ryan Delaire, DE, Towson
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One year after the Cleveland Browns drafted Terrance West in the third round, Towson might have back-to-back Day 2 picks if pass-rusher Ryan Delaire can deliver a standout performance. He looks every bit the part of an NFL edge-rusher at 6'4" and 250 pounds, and his production was also impressive. He logged 11 sacks, 14.5 tackles for loss and three forced fumbles in 2014.
Using speed at the snap of the ball, Delaire is highly disruptive on run and pass plays. He's more of a pass specialist right now considering his level of play awareness, but as a 3-4 stand-up rusher, he has great value. His hips and ankles are flexible enough to bend the edge of the pocket—the single trait that almost all great sack artists share.
The combine should be great for Delaire, as he's a better athlete than refined technician. That should be expected for the FCS-level star, as nearly every NFL prospect struggles with consistent technique usage. Once Delaire develops a counter pass-rush move, he's going to push for playing time early in his career.
Edmond Robinson, OLB, Newberry
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Likely one of the biggest unknowns in the draft class at this point, Newberry outside linebacker Edmond Robinson could put himself on the map if his athleticism translates from the field to the combine setting. At 6'4" and 230 pounds, he's lean and long, but he also needs time in the weight room to become a well-rounded player.
Robinson has experience playing in a 4-3 defense, and Newberry utilized him as a defensive weapon. He covered tight ends and slot receivers and moved to safety at times, as well as attacking downhill against the run. He's as fluid as he is big, and that's tantalizing for a defensive coordinator who is willing to move him around the defense for matchups.
The negative is that Robinson is possibly two years away from being at proper playing weight. He's the quintessential project player who could become great because his physical attributes suggest the upside is there.
Davis Tull, OLB, Chattanooga
7 of 8One of the most accomplished defensive players in FCS history, Chattanooga pass-rusher Davis Tull has one more major challenge to check off the list before he enters the NFL. The three-time Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Year had 37 career sacks, 60 tackles for loss and 10 forced fumbles. But he must prove he's athletic enough for that type of production to translate into a viable NFL career.
Tull is a high-effort player who was a real playmaker for the Mocs defense. His pure speed and quickness pop off the screen on film, and he clearly was the best player on the field. The question is whether he would stand out that much at the FBS or NFL level.
The combine will be a big part of Tull's evaluation because teams have to know whether his playing style will translate. It's one thing to run around FCS offensive linemen, but to do so at the NFL level takes an elite skill set.
Tre McBride, WR, William & Mary
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Named one of the biggest winners of the East-West Shrine Game by NFL.com's Daniel Jeremiah, Tre McBride is a receiver who should garner a lot of attention at the combine. His 6'1", 205-pound frame and ability to cut cleanly in and out of breaks are major assets. He can continue his ascent up draft boards if he runs as well as he looks on tape.
Wide receiver has been a deep position in recent draft classes, and 2015 is shaping up to look the same. McBride will need to test well to create separation from the pack of mid-round receivers. A solid 40-yard dash, excellent three-cone agility time and consistent performance in catching drills can help accomplish just that.
Ian Wharton is a NFL Draft Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report, contributor for Optimum Scouting and analyst for eDraft.
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