USC Football: Tracking 2015 NFL Combine Results for Former Trojans Stars
The road between USC's Los Angeles campus and Chicago, home of this spring's NFL draft, takes a detour to Indianapolis.
Seven former USC football stars converge on Indianapolis for this week's NFL combine. For defensive lineman Leonard Williams, the combine is an opportunity to solidify his place as potential top-five pick.
For a sleeper like running back Javorius "Buck" Allen, this week is a chance to turn the heads of team scouts and general managers.
Keep tabs here on the progress of USC's combine participants throughout the week.
Nelson Agholor
1 of 7
The Pac-12's leading receiver and a record-setter for USC in 2014, Nelson Agholor can show NFL personnel what his opponents already know. He's the complete package at wide receiver.
Bleacher Report NFL draft lead writer Matt Miller ranks Agholor the No. 7 wide receiver in the 2015 draft class and No. 42 overall. Agholor has room to potentially break into a first-round selection with a strong few months leading up to April 30.
Agholor's combine was cut short due to injury.
Results
40-Yard Dash: 4.42 seconds
Bench Press: 12 reps
Vertical Jump: DNP
Broad Jump: DNP
Three-Cone Drill: DNP
20-Yard Shuttle: DNP
60-Yard Shuttle: DNP
Javorius "Buck" Allen
2 of 7
Javorius "Buck" Allen was buried deep on USC's depth chart midway through the 2013 season. But after breaking out as the Trojans' leading rusher each of the last two campaigns, he can culminate a whirlwind year and a half by having his name called on NFL draft weekend.
Allen is a dual-threat ball-carrier and pass-catcher, and he's a proven commodity as a workhorse back. Those qualities should make him attractive for teams seeking a running back in the middle rounds.
Miller ranks Allen No. 11 among running backs and No. 122 overall. However, if there's anything to take away from Allen's USC tenure, it's that he should not be underestimated.
Results
40-Yard Dash: 4.53 seconds
Bench Press: 11 reps
Vertical Jump: 35.5 inches
Broad Jump: 121 inches
Three-Cone Drill: 6.96 seconds
20-Yard Shuttle: 4.28 seconds
60-Yard Shuttle: DNP
Hayes Pullard
3 of 7
Linebacker Hayes Pullard held off pursuing his NFL dream for a senior season at USC in which he chased the program's career tackles record.
Pullard led the Trojans in tackles each of the last two seasons. Of all the impressions he can make at the combine, the greatest will probably be his natural leadership qualities.
Pullard was the undisputed vocal leader of the USC defense in 2014.
Miller ranks Pullard No. 6 among inside linebackers and No. 138 overall.
Results
40-Yard Dash: 4.78 seconds
Bench Press: 19 reps
Vertical Jump: 31 inches
Broad Jump: 110 inches
Three-Cone Drill: 7.07 seconds
20-Yard Shuttle: 4.39 seconds
60-Yard Shuttle: DNP
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Josh Shaw
4 of 7
Josh Shaw has the most to gain of any Trojan participating in the combine. After an excellent 2013 in which he was USC's shutdown cornerback, Shaw missed 10 games in 2014 due to suspension for lying about an off-field injury.
Shaw returned to action for the final two regular-season games and the Holiday Bowl win over Nebraska, but the sample size is too limited to give a full indication of his readiness after the long layoff.
His performance at the combine should help plug in the holes his 2014 absence left in his NFL resume—positively or negatively.
Results
40-Yard Dash: 4.44 seconds
Bench Press: 26 reps
Vertical Jump: 37.5 inches
Broad Jump: 130 inches
Three-Cone Drill: 7.01 seconds
20-Yard Shuttle: 4.12 seconds
60-Yard Shuttle: 11.65 seconds
J.R. Tavai
5 of 7
A late-season injury slowed J.R. Tavai somewhat in 2014, which makes his showing at the combine of particular importance.
Tavai is an intriguing prospect because he leaves USC having played both linebacker and on the defensive line, and he could fit into either role at the pro level.
His most promising option might be as a linebacker. Miller ranks Tavai among outside linebackers at No. 13 and No. 198 overall.
Results
40-Yard Dash: 4.91 seconds
Bench Press: 20 reps
Vertical Jump: 30.5 inches
Broad Jump: 112 inches
Three-Cone Drill: DNP
20-Yard Shuttle: DNP
60-Yard Shuttle: DNP
Randall Telfer
6 of 7
In an era of tight ends operating almost like wide receivers, Randall Telfer is a throwback. His pass-catching numbers in 2014—21 receptions for 197 yards with two touchdowns—do not speak to Telfer's value to the Trojans offense.
His contributions were primarily as a blocker, an element of the game in which Telfer excelled. This may not be an attribute that shines through on combine weekend, but Telfer certainly has a chance to boost his stock in the coming days.
Miller ranks Telfer as the No. 8 tight end and No. 156 prospect overall.
Results
40-Yard Dash: DNP
Bench Press: 20 reps
Vertical Jump: DNP
Broad Jump: DNP
Three-Cone Drill: DNP
20-Yard Shuttle: DNP
60-Yard Shuttle: DNP
Leonard Williams
7 of 7
Leonard Williams has hovered at or near the top of NFL draft projections for months now, and nothing that transpires at the combine should change that.
On the contrary, Williams' weekend is more about locking down one of the top spots, if not No. 1 overall. Miller currently tabs Williams as the No. 2 overall prospect and tops among defensive tackles.
Results
40-Yard Dash: 4.97 seconds
Bench Press: DNP
Vertical Jump: 29.5 inches
Broad Jump: 106 inches
Three-Cone Drill: 7.59 seconds
20-Yard Shuttle: 4.53 seconds
60-Yard Shuttle: DNP
Statistics courtesy CFBStats.com.
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