NFL Sleepers Who Boosted Their Draft Stock at the Combine
This past week, the entirety of the NFL world descended upon Indianapolis as the NFL Scouting Combine took over the city. More than 300 NFL hopefuls spent the last week being poked, prodded, timed and tested as part of the league’s evaluation process. These young men laced them up and gave maximum effort in an attempt to boost their draft stock.
What is the real value of the combine? That varies from player to player and team to team. For some athletes, it was a clean medical check, while others aced their interview. Some athletes are already known commodities that simply go out and set the bar even higher.
The final group includes those lesser-known prospects who showed up and wowed the league with some dynamic measurables and ridiculous displays of athleticism. These are the young men who force the league to go back to the film and find out if there’s enough there that can be married with those numbers and make an NFL football player.
So with that, let’s take a closer look at some of these high-energy prospects who made themselves a little money this week. This list is less about rank order and more about just bringing attention to these exciting young players.
Chris Conley, WR, Georgia
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If there was an award for combine MVP, it might go to Georgia wide receiver Chris Conley. He had a rather nondescript career at Georgia with 117 receptions in four years. However, it seemed that every week he flashed a little of what everyone saw at the combine.
Conley came to Indianapolis at a ripped 6’2”, 213 pounds, and then proceeded to destroy the drills. He was at or near the top in four different drills. This included a 4.35 40-yard dash and an amazing 45-inch vertical jump. These are the kinds of numbers you typically see out of smaller, leaner wide receivers, but Conley came prepared to impress.
He already had the SEC resume but never had the production to make a dent in this crowded wide receiver class. However, this combine performance is going to entice teams that want this sort of speed/size combo, especially in the middle rounds.
Stephone Anthony, LB, Clemson
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Finding a great inside linebacker is a challenge. So many are plodding thumpers who can work downhill but have to come off the field when athleticism is in need. Fortunately for Clemson linebacker Stephone Anthony, athletic ability is not in short supply. He ripped off a blazing 4.56 second 40-yard dash at 243 pounds and then followed it up with a 4.03 second 20-yard shuttle.
To put that in some perspective, Kansas State wide receiver Tyler Lockett, one of the most agile players in all of college football last year, ran a 4.07 in the shuttle at 182 pounds. Anthony took those times and carried them into the drills, where he looked smooth in his change of direction and displayed impressive range.
This draft class is dying to have some more talent at inside linebacker. With the proliferation of 3-4 base defenses, the NFL needs these thick linebackers who can attack half the field whether it is in run support or in coverage. You can bet teams are going to go find some Clemson football to see if what Anthony did at the combine carries over to the field.
Ali Marpet, OL, Hobart
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There seems to always be a player or two who literally come out of nowhere. This year, that nowhere is Geneva, New York, and tiny Hobart College. The fact that Ali Marpet was even invited to the combine really shows how the league does its due diligence when it comes to giving prospects a stage.
Marpet did not squander that opportunity. The Division III star went out and ran the best 40-yard time of any offensive lineman (4.98 seconds) and followed it up with top performances in the three-cone and 20-yard shuttle drills as well.
If that wasn’t enough to get your attention, Marpet then went to the drills and aced them. He has impressive footwork, exceptional lateral agility and a high-energy style of play that teams will eat up. Obviously, there will be concerns about level of competition, but Marpet has all the physical gifts an offensive line coach wants to build around.
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Byron Jones, CB, UConn
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Can one drill really be enough to elevate a player to elite status? Perhaps not, but if you are Connecticut cornerback Byron Jones, you are going to remind everyone about the time you had that 147-inch long jump at the combine.
Now, not everyone considered what Jones did a surprise. NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah already had Jones in his top 50 prospects, but you can bet that this performance will boost his draft stock in the eyes of the general public.
From a football perspective, Jones has all the makings of an exceptional zone cornerback. He is long and rangy but not overly physical. Jones doesn’t always show the explosion on the field that his long jump would indicate, so a move to free safety might be a better way to maximize his skills.
Ben Heeney, LB, Kansas
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Much like Anthony earlier on this list, Kansas linebacker Ben Heeney used the combine as an opportunity to separate himself in an otherwise lackluster group. Heeney ran faster than Florida’s Dante Fowler Jr., Virginia’s Eli Harold and UCLA’s Eric Kendricks.
Obviously, these three are first-round prospects, whereas Heeney is more of a late-round pick. However, for the abomination that was the Jayhawks season, some team is going to go back and see if there is anything to salvage in Heeney’s game.
Unfortunately, he struggles with his on-field instincts and misses far too many plays. You combine that with being undersized (6'0", 231 lbs) and his best hope is to parlay his combine performance into a role on special teams. Heeney was likely an undrafted free agent prior to the combine, but some team should take a flier on him at this point.
Brandon Bridge, QB, South Alabama
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Everyone is looking to see which quarterback outside of the big two can emerge as a potential starter at the next level. This is a motley crew of throwers with flaws all over their games. That’s why it was nice to see South Alabama quarterback Brandon Bridge put together a solid workout at the combine.
Bridge definitely passes the eyeball test at 6’4” and 229 pounds. However, it was the zippy arm and nice accuracy that he showed in Indianapolis that will help his case. Bridge also looked like he had improved his throwing mechanics since the end of the season and was doing a better job coming over the top on his throws.
Bridge’s career has been a mixed bag of great plays and terrible ones. Any team that takes a shot on him is banking on being able to develop his mechanics and reap the benefits of the improved accuracy that should accompany it.
Josh Shaw, CB, USC
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When we talk about prospects who boosted their draft stock, you have to think about where they start. For USC cornerback Josh Shaw, he went into the combine looking to climb back from what had been a nightmare of a season. If you need an update, Bill Plashke of the Los Angeles Times gets the story straight from Shaw in this interview.
After losing the year, Shaw needed a big combine to get himself back on the radar in a deep cornerback class. And while you might not hear his name among those who lit up the combine, make no mistake about it: Shaw helped himself in a big way.
Not only does he pass the eyeball test for an NFL cornerback at 6'0", 201 pounds, but he put up good numbers including a position-best 26 reps on the bench press. However, as much as the drills were important for Shaw (and he was rock solid), Shaw benefited from the less obvious aspects of the combine much more.
Shaw went through medical checks on his injured ankles and faced tough questions about the past season. If we see a big bump in where he is drafted over what the perception is now, that will be due in part to how he cleared the air about his 2014 season.
Tre McBride, WR, William & Mary
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Last season, NFL fans everywhere got to see the coming-out party of now Arizona Cardinals wide receiver John Brown at the combine. Brown lit up the track and saw his draft stock skyrocket. This season, William & Mary wide receiver Tre McBride did his best for a repeat performance.
McBride put up solid numbers across the board including a 4.41 40-yard dash and position-best 4.08-second 20-yard shuttle. However, it was McBride’s drills that really opened eyes. He showed excellent concentration and active hands along with the catch radius he was known for coming into the combine.
As with Conley, McBride is trying to break into a congested group of wide receivers. Fortunately, his film really does match his combine performance, and he should find an excellent fit in the NFL.
MyCole Pruitt, TE, Southern Illinois
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The last guy on this list is Southern Illinois tight end MyCole Pruitt. On film, he is an incredibly productive player with a lot of plus skills. In particular, his hands are impressive—soft but active, snatching the football out of the air. However, one thing that doesn’t show up on film is plus athleticism.
Pruitt addressed that issue at the combine. He not only ran the fastest 40 of any tight end (4.58 seconds) but posted the best vertical as well (38 inches). Pruitt is squatty and strong and could find himself in a hybrid fullback/tight end role on the right team.
A team like the Pittsburgh Steelers that loves to bring multiple blockers on the field and use them in the passing game could find ways to use Pruitt’s soft hands and open-field speed.
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