SEC Stars Who Will Shine at the NFL Combine
Former SEC stars will head to Indianapolis this week for the biggest job interview of their lives.
The NFL Scouting Combine will kick off on Tuesday, with a loaded list of participants that includes players who have dominated on Saturday around the South for the last three to four years.
Which players will dazzle scouts at Lucas Oil Stadium?
Our picks based on athleticism, potential and the skills scouts test at the event are in this slideshow.
Brandon Allen, Arkansas
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Brandon Allen was more of a game manager for the majority of his Arkansas career but hit his stride in 2015 when he finished the season with 30 touchdown passes and brought much-needed balance to the once-conservative Arkansas offense.
"Brandon Allen had seen a lot of things," head coach Bret Bielema told Bleacher Report Radio earlier this month. "It finally just became crystal clear [for him] last year."
As the NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah told Bo Mattingly of Sports Talk with Bo in Arkansas last week, the buzz is building for Allen: "Brandon Allen has a live arm. Those games against the Mississippi schools really got me excited about what he can do."
Allen has a firm grasp of the pro-style offense Arkansas employs under Bielema, can push the ball sideline-to-sideline, has excelled against some of the best defenses college football has to offer and plays a position of need in a draft class that doesn't exactly boast a ton of top-tier quarterbacks.
Scouts will want to fall in love with a quarterback, and Allen has everything they desire.
"Allen has a chance to make himself some money and move into that QB6 spot with a good combine," said Bleacher Report NFL draft lead writer Matt Miller. "He didn't have the best Senior Bowl week, but this stage is better suited for rhythm-based, touch passers like Allen. In an iffy quarterback class, he has a chance to emerge as a starter."
Demarcus Robinson, Florida
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To be as blunt as possible, Demarcus Robinson was a really good receiver on a team that struggled to pass while Robinson struggled with maturity.
The 6'1", 204-pounder with long arms had 1,355 receiving yards and nine touchdowns in three seasons at Florida but was suspended four times and never could find the consistency to become the superstar he was touted to be coming out of high school.
As Miller noted on Twitter, he's likely to impress the masses this week: "I expect to hear a lot of talk about Florida WR DeMarcus Robinson this week. One of the best athletes at the position in this class."
The character questions exist with Robinson and certainly will be brought up in one-on-one interviews as the draft process continues. On the field, though, he's a dynamic athlete whose potential will make scouts' jaws drop when they see him perform.
Chris Jones, Mississippi State
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Chris Jones never really lived up to the 5-star hype that followed him to Mississippi State, but that potential might be realized this week when the scouts get a look at him.
The 6'6", 308-pounder is quick off the ball, strong enough to take on double-teams inside and can find a role in either a 4-3 or a 3-4 system at the next level.
Miller sees potential: "Miss. State DL Chris Jones would have a late 1st round grade if I could sign off on the off-field stuff. Really talented pass rusher."
His heart always seemed to be at defensive end while at Mississippi State, despite having the size to be a monster in the middle of the Bulldogs defensive line. That played a part in his inconsistency at defensive tackle, which relegated him more to a rotational player for his first two seasons in Starkville prior to a junior campaign in which he notched 44 tackles and 7.5 tackles for loss.
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Leonard Floyd, Georgia
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When it comes to athleticism, former Georgia linebacker Leonard Floyd is one of the best.
The 6'4", 234-pounder is a monster off the edge, has long arms that help him shed blocks quickly and is underrated against the run.
"Unique combination of length and athleticism," wrote NFL.com's Lance Zierlein. "Extremely rangy with great chase speed from sideline to sideline. Good change of direction for taller player. Long limbs and twitch to spring into a tackle from a mile away. If unblocked, will chase down line of scrimmage from backside and foil run plans."
He's a little lean for his frame, which will certainly become an issue when "anonymous scout" (who nobody likes) decides to speak publicly in an attempt to sway other teams away from drafting him. At the combine, though, it won't matter all that much.
You'll see the quickness, deceptive strength and ability to get to the quarterback often, and Floyd will become one of the most discussed names of the draft process moving forward.
Peyton Barber, Auburn
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Peyton Barber raised some eyebrows when he declared for the NFL draft following a redshirt sophomore campaign that saw the Milton, Georgia, native rush for 1,016 yards and 13 touchdowns in Auburn's one-dimensional offense but take a backseat to Jovon Robinson down the stretch.
That shouldn't bother Barber, though.
He's been the underdog ever since high school, so his position as one of the "what was he thinking" players heading into the combine will only fuel his competitive fire.
"He's a kid in high school who power-cleaned 340 pounds—more than [Milton and Auburn] teammate Carl Lawson," Milton high school head coach Howie DeCristofaro told Bleacher Report in September. "That's how strong he was. Cleaned 340 and benched 385. In a weightlifting meet, he back-squatted 585 below parallel and won a state title."
Barber has always been the underdog but used the stage that presented itself in 2015 to rip off a 1,000-yard campaign. Expect him to take advantage of the bright lights of Lucas Oil Stadium at the combine.
"A surprise entry into the draft class, Barber is a really exciting runner. He might be this year's Matt Jones," said Miller. "He gets his pads low and has better speed in the open field than you expect for 225 pounds."
A'Shawn Robinson, Alabama
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A'Shawn Robinson didn't get the glory that other members of the Alabama defense, such as star linebacker Reggie Ragland, got in 2015. Make no mistake, though—he was the most important piece of the puzzle on his side of the ball.
The 6'4", 312-pound monster recorded 46 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks, recovered a fumble and notched 10 quarterback hurries during the Crimson Tide's national title run in 2015, establishing himself as not just a space-eater but a difference-maker up front.
He also did this, courtesy of SB Nation CFB.
Robinson will undoubtedly be a high draft selection, but the combine is more about freak athletes than it is players solidifying their spots. He is one of the biggest freaks in the game, and that should be on display this week.
Dak Prescott, Mississippi State
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Don't be tricked into thinking that former Mississippi State quarterback Dak Prescott is a system quarterback.
He isn't.
The 6'2", 226-pounder handled a bulk of the Bulldogs' running-game responsibilities over the last two seasons but has impressed NFL folks with his ability to stretch the field so far during the draft process.
"As close to Russell Wilson as you're going to get in terms of athleticism, leadership and intelligence," said Miller. "He's a special person but needs work cleaning up years of bad habits in his mechanics. His development and improvement from the pocket in 2015 is encouraging."
He's as tough as nails, clearly progressing as a passer, can provide the running threat that some NFL teams desire and is in a less than stellar draft class for quarterbacks.
All signs point toward Prescott rocketing up the charts.
Robert Nkemdiche, Ole Miss
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Yes, the character questions for former Ole Miss defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche are real and pressing, and they could swing his draft position in a big way.
After all, not only did he get popped for marijuana in December but did so after climbing out of a fourth-story hotel room window and falling to the ground.
On the field, though, Nkemdiche is a monster.
The 6'4", 296-pounder demands double-teams, is quick enough to move outside when needed in specific packages and was the catalyst that made the Rebels defense click for three seasons in Oxford.
No, his stats never were stellar. His seven career sacks don't exactly fit what is expected from No. 1 overall prospects. But his presence made the entire Ole Miss front seven better, and that won't be lost on scouts who will be wowed by his athleticism in Indianapolis.
Malcolm Mitchell, Georgia
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Malcolm Mitchell came to Georgia with a ton of hype and established himself as one of the most reliable targets for Bulldogs quarterbacks over his four years in Athens.
Unfortunately, that's not enough to solidify him as a surefire stud at the next level.
Several injuries and an offense that didn't exactly put wide receivers in positions to be game-changers have landed Mitchell as one of the most mysterious wide receivers in this year's draft class.
At 5'11", 194 pounds, he is built to shine in the drills he'll run at the combine. He's quick, stronger than he appears and a freak athlete who temporarily moved over to defensive back to start his sophomore season when injuries and suspensions ravaged the Bulldogs secondary.
"Smooth. That's the best way to describe Mitchell," said Miller. "He had a very good Senior Bowl week and showed what he can do with better quarterback play around him. I don't think he's a No. 1 receiver in the NFL, but with his speed and instincts, he can have an impact in the slot."
Jonathan Bullard, Florida
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Jonathan Bullard came back to Florida last year wanting to improve as a pass-rusher, and his decision paid off big time.
The 6'2", 283-pounder finished his senior season with 6.5 sacks and 17.5 tackles for loss, and he routinely found his way into the opposition's backfield.
Here's just a small sample of what people saw this year with Bullard, courtesy of Draft Scout 24/7.
He's incredibly strong, his quickness is apparent, and his versatility will make him attractive to teams that run different defensive schemes.
Quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Statistics are courtesy of CFBStats.com, and recruiting information is courtesy of 247Sports.
Barrett Sallee is the lead SEC college football writer and national college football video analyst for Bleacher Report as well as a host on Bleacher Report Radio on SiriusXM 83. Follow Barrett on Twitter @BarrettSallee.
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