NFL Combine 2015: Underrated Prospects to Watch in Indianapolis This Weekend

Offensive linemen and tight ends rule the 2015 NFL Scouting Combine Friday. 

Things snowball into a must-see affair over the weekend.

There, quarterbacks and the most notable skill positions take center stage before the freakiest athletes of all on the defensive side of things steal the spotlight.

While fun and a huge event in comparison to past years, it is important to keep the combine in perspective—the main function is to ensure a prospect's measurements match up to what professionals see on film.

This can either hurt or help prospects, but it's not some final barometer of a prospect's stock.

There are, however, a few names to keep an eye on as things progress in Indianapolis. Sometimes the right measurement pushes the right prospect over the top, and a few candidates immediately come to mind given the positions that take the field over the weekend.

2015 NFL Scouting Combine Schedule

Date	Time (ET)	Event	TV
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

Names to Watch 

Bryce Petty, QB, Baylor

LM Otoro/Associated Press

The quarterback hierarchy in this year's class does not allow a lot of wiggle room for a surprise entry into the top three. 

Marcus Mariota and Jameis Winston lead the way, with UCLA's Brett Hundley figuring to lock up the third spot due to his scheme-versatile athleticism and tremendous upside.

It doesn't help Baylor's Bryce Petty that he hails from an offense that is conducive to whopping statistics, either. His senior numbers are also a tad down compared to 2013:

YEAR	CMP	ATT	PCT	YDS	TD	INT
2014	270	428	63.1	3855	29	7
2013	250	403	62.0	4200	32	3

Now the good news for Petty—success in one scheme does not prohibit success in a different one, a common misconception about quarterbacks as they make the transition to the next level.

Some of this will come down to how Petty measures and performs at the combine. Better speed and an ability to be accurate in a controlled environment with the globe as spectators will do much to help Petty remain in the hunt for the third slot.

Petty actually faces similar challenges that confront Mariota, too, as he helped to hint at the combine's press conferences, per ESPN's Rich Cimini:

In a weak quarterback class, Petty is a few strong performances away from securing the top spot so long as he overcomes similar hurdles faced by other top prospects.

Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona State

Rick Scuteri/Associated Press

In recent weeks, Arizona State's Jaelen Strong is the victim of getting lost in the shuffle at wideout.

In a way, it makes sense. Amari Cooper, Kevin White and DeVante Parker are consistently rated ahead of him. Dorial Green-Beckham, Sammie Coates and hybrid Devin Funchess enter and leave the fray as quality second-round options.

As NFL Network's Mike Mayock says, though, Strong remains on the outskirts of the first round, via NFL Media PR:

Believe the hype, too. Strong has size, weighing in at 6'2" and 217 pounds at the combine, per Rotoworld's Josh Norris. His numbers over the course of two seasons speak for themselves:

YEAR	REC	YDS	AVG	LNG	TD
2014	82	1165	14.2	77	10
2013	75	1122	15.0	69	7

If Strong can shake a bit of a reputation as a possession receiver who does not separate enough to get deep down the field, his stock will shoot way up boards.

Not that there is anything wrong with being a physical, move-the-chains receiver, which has Strong to this point so far. If he can show more than what is on his film, though, a first-round slot figures to be his.

Carl Davis, DT, Iowa

Hannah Foslien/Associated Press

Defensive tackle is as crowded as any position this year. 

Leonard Williams and Danny Shelton are two of the better prospects to come out in quite some time and might just be on par with Aaron Donald from last season. Texas' Malcom Brown is a late riser who may come off the board in the top 15 picks, too.

Iowa's Carl Davis, meanwhile, rests in a duel with names such as Eddie Goldman and Michael Bennett for fringe first-round status. At 6'5" and 315 pounds, he has a blend of run-stuffing ability and pass-rush explosion that make him a scheme-versatile player.

There is a reason ESPN's Mel Kiper mocks Davis No. 27 overall to the Dallas Cowboys, citing his performance at the Senior Bowl and versatility as major pluses:

"

I'm not sure there was a player who did more to gain appeal as a potential first-round pick at the Senior Bowl. Davis brings a coveted ability to be disruptive as a pass-rusher from the inside, as he won't just push the pocket with strength, but also can win with quickness and get into the backfield.

"

It can be quite difficult at times to get a read on defensive tackles who have the ability to do it all.

Look at Davis, who may look worse off than he actually is on film because the Iowa scheme asked him to do more controlling than disrupting. 

If that turns out to be the case, the logjam at defensive tackle will only become more crowded.

Note: Stats courtesy of NFL.com as of Feb. 19 at 9 p.m. ET. All advanced metrics via Pro Football Focus.