NFL Combine 2015: Full Schedule, Underrated Prospects to Watch in Indianapolis

Last year, few saw Aaron Donald coming in Indianapolis.

Leading up to the 2014 NFL Scouting Combine, folks heard whispers that this defensive tackle out of Pittsburgh was a pretty good athlete who reminded some of Cincinnati's Geno Atkins thanks to his ability to rush the passer from a tackle slot.

Then he ranked among the best at his position in the 40-yard dash, three-cone drill and bench press with a vertical jump of 32 inches—at 285 pounds. Flash-forward a bit—he's the No. 13 overall pick by the St. Louis Rams and an eater of worlds who finished as the No. 1 defensive tackle in the NFL at Pro Football Focus by season's end.

Donald is an anomaly, sure, but the point is simple—keep an eye out for those underrated names over the course of the next few weeks.

Many will raise their stocks, and one might just turn out to be the next big thing.

2015 NFL Scouting Combine Schedule

Date	Time (ET)	Event	TV
Wed., Feb. 18	2 p.m.	Press Conferences	NFLN
Thu., Feb. 19	2 p.m.	Press Conferences	NFLN
Fri., Feb. 20	9 a.m.	Workouts (OL, TE)	NFLN
Sat., Feb. 21	9 a.m.	Workouts (RB, QB, WR)	NFLN
Sun., Feb. 22	9 a.m.	Workouts (LB, DL)	NFLN
Mon., Feb. 23	9 a.m.	Workouts (DB)	NFLN

All combine dates and times courtesy of NFL.com.

Live Stream: NFL Now

Online Coverage: NFL.com

Mobile: NFL Mobile

Underrated Prospects to Watch

Denzel Perryman, ILB, Miami

Jared Wickerham/Getty Images

Many will point out that inside linebackers are going the way of the dinosaur when it comes to first-round chatter just as interior offensive linemen and running backs have in recent years. 

Two-down thumpers are becoming increasingly rare as they get swapped out for an extra defensive back in this pass-happy league, so an inside prospect needs elite athleticism to counteract this.

Denzel Perryman makes a great case to exemplify the requirements. 

While some may prefer Mississippi State's Benardrick McKinney, Perryman is an equal athlete and easily has a better football mind. This would explain why ESPN's Todd McShay mocks him in the first round to the Arizona Cardinals and why NFL Network's Mike Mayock believes a strong combine is key, as captured by Rotoworld's Josh Norris:

Expectations for inside linebackers at the combine are minimal these days, as most expect them to test in the second-round range.

Perryman can change this and solidify a first-round stock with a strong overall day. All it takes is his measurements in tandem with his film to convince one coaching staff he is not a liability on passing downs, and he'll have a short stay at the NFL draft.

Nelson Agholor, WR, USC

Harry How/Getty Images

Hear that? It was a huge amount of people collectively smacking their foreheads because they forgot all about Nelson Agholor.

It's a forgivable offense. The early draft chatter continues to only center on Amari Cooper, Kevin White, DeVante Parker and Dorial Green-Beckham—with a sporadic dash of Jaelen Strong and Sammie Coates for good measure.

Agholor is the type of player perfect for the underdog role, so don't be shocked when he climbs more than a few draft boards after his combine outing.

As his role increased over the course of the past few seasons, so, too, did the Tampa, Florida, native's production:

YEAR	REC	YDS	AVG	LNG	TD
2014	104	1313	12.6	87	12
2013	56	918	16.4	62	6

At 6'1" and 191 pounds, Agholor's silky smooth routes and sure hands will translate well to the NFL level right out of the gates.

As more and more folks spend time on the USC product, the more there is to like, as a comment by Mayock, via NFL.com's Patrick Crawley, illustrates:

All one has to do is flick on the film to see just how speedy Agholor is on the field. That simply needs to translate to drills in Indianapolis, and he will take a major jump in the stock department.

A sheer athlete who can create separation at the line of scrimmage, stretch defenses deep and contribute in other areas such as the return game presents teams with great value. Agholor has all of that and just needs to use the combine as his way to show it.

Eli Harold, OLB, Virginia

USA TODAY Sports

When it comes to the 2015 class, versatile players who can rush quarterbacks are just as crowded in the stock department as wideouts. 

Another forgivable offense, then, is not knowing the name Eli Harold.

The Virginia product comes in at 6'4" and 250 pounds and is already on the rise in the minds of many. McShay's mock explains why Harold is a name to watch while mocking him No. 29 overall to the Indianapolis Colts:

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He's raw but has the length, flexibility and closing burst to develop into a good all-around player, and he was productive at Virginia (15.5 sacks, four forced fumbles and two interceptions his last two years at Virginia). He'd help the Colts get more pressure on opposing quarterbacks -- something they need -- and would benefit from playing alongside veteran Robert Mathis. 

"

Simply put, Harold is a freak of an athlete who is a sure thing to test well in Indianapolis.

Norris really hits the nail on the head as he mentions Harold as one of the best overall athletes set to make it to the combine: 

At some point, the upside takes precedence, especially with those who specialize in getting to quarterbacks.

This is the value of the combine for a player such as Harold—he needs coaching on fundamentals, but it is impossible to teach the sort of athleticism he brings to the table. So long as that is on display in Indianapolis, his stock will hit first-round status.

Note: Stats courtesy of NFL.com as of Feb. 16 at 9 p.m. ET. All advanced metrics via Pro Football Focus.