NFL Combine 2015: Underrated Prospects Who Boosted Stock over Weekend

Over the weekend, the proverbial cat left the bag on several top prospects at the 2015 NFL Scouting Combine. 

The usual names dominated the headlines. Marcus Mariota and Jameis Winston put on a show. So did the top wideouts. Vic Beasley and Dante Fowler Jr. are marble-chiseled statues and posted numbers befit of video game creations.

Teams understood what the top names would do in Indianapolis, though. They were more concerned with the lesser-known names who post strong performances, which gives personnel an idea as to which bits of film to go back and focus on in the coming months.

Be sure to know the top prospects on the rise thanks to these performances, as it may take a while for mock drafts and the like to catch up. On draft day, teams won't be behind on the following names.

J.J. Nelson, WR, UAB

Prepare to hear a lot about UAB wideout J.J. Nelson on the path to the draft. 

Nelson is an intriguing storyline considering the college he hails from, but even more so because he has become polarizing after an electric performance in Indianapolis.

He ran a ludicrous 4.28 40-yard dash, but detractors are quick to point out that he only weighed in at 5'10" and 156 pounds.

The UAB product is much more than simple numbers, though. Even NFL Network's Mike Mayock admits that Nelson's performance in drills helped him stand out, per CollegeFootball 24/7:

For Dion Caputi of NationalFootballPost.com, Nelson exhibits plenty of the traits that help bigger receivers excel at the next level:

No longer off the draft radar, Nelson is one of the top prospects to monitor moving forward, as a likely bid to put on more weight will be something pro teams watch to see if it impacts his blazing speed.

Regardless, Nelson is much higher on draft boards now than before the combine.

Danielle Hunter, DE/LB, LSU

LSU is one of the more intriguing defender producers each year, so the NFL realm understood to keep an eye on Danielle Hunter over the weekend.

Hunter put on a show, to say the least.

At 6'5" and 252 pounds, Hunter touts impressive size that makes his 4.57 40-yard dash only more impressive.

As NFL.com's Bryan Fischer points out, Hunter always figured to put on a solid show:

As an LSU coach tells NFL.com's Lance Zierlein on Hunter's combine profile page, though, the key moving forward is his ability to put it all together on the field:

"

If he walked into your living room, your eyes would pop out of your head. He looks that good on the hoof. He's going to blow up the combine, and then ace all of the interviews and NFL teams are going to fall in love with him. He still needs someone to unlock all that talent, though.

"

Remember that it only takes one team to fall in love. Hunter certainly has the athleticism to contribute as a rotational player right away, so a team sold on his combine performance over the weekend may pull the trigger earlier than most would imagine.

Hunter plays at a crowded spot this year, but immense upside has his stock on a steady rise.

Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona State

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

Before the combine, Arizona State's Jaelen Strong was not one of the names observers usually counted among the best of the best at wideout.

Now they don't have a choice.

Going into Indianapolis, the NFL knew Strong touted good size and solid production over two years in a rather pass-happy Sun Devils offense:

YEAR	REC	YDS	AVG	LNG	TD
2014	82	1,165	14.2	77	10
2013	75	1,122	15.0	69	7

Strong did himself well in Indianapolis, weighing in at 6'2" and 217 pounds before a solid 4.44 40-yard dash and a head-turning 42-inch vertical.

Again, the combine is about matching numbers with tape. To that end, Strong checks out in the most important way possible, as ESPN's Todd McShay notes:

Strong put on a show as a receiver, too, meaning there is no doubt he is a, well, strong candidate for the first round.

At a position bogged down by superb depth and recognizable names, Strong is now one of the top to know with his stock on a major upswing out of the realm of purgatory.

Eli Harold, DE/OLB, Virginia

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

Like Hunter, Eli Harold needed a major performance in Indianapolis to become a household name to watch in the first two rounds of the draft.

As Yahoo Sports' Rand Getlin illustrates, the Virginia product did just that in a notable manner:

This isn't a case of Harold being undersized either considering he came in at 6'3" and 247 pounds.

Add in a 35-inch vertical jump and a 123-inch broad jump, and it is easy to see why Harold is one of the names buzzing after a weekend of action. Coaches cannot teach that sort of lower-body explosiveness but can mold it over time into a productive pass-rusher at the next level.

Harold's stock is on the rise, and his tape will be in even higher demand after the weekend.

Like the others on the list, Harold's not one to forget on draft day.

Note: Stats courtesy of NFL.com as of Feb. 23 at 9 a.m. ET. All advanced metrics via Pro Football Focus.