2016 NFL Scouting Combine: Offensive Prospects Who Will Shine in Workouts
The 2016 NFL Scouting Combine officially began Tuesday, as the first group of players arrived in Indianapolis.
The real fun, however, begins Friday when the first on-field workouts take place.
All of the players on the offensive side of the ball have been placed in one of the first two groups, which will complete their workouts Friday and Saturday. NFLcombine.net has the full schedule of events for the week.
Heading into the combine, it's important to know which players are expected to perform well in the workout events.
The workouts can be helpful to NFL teams, but it's important not to overreact to expected results. For example, if a player looks fast on film, and then he's also fast at the combine, that skill shouldn't be counted twice.
To help set expectations heading into this week's events, here's a list of some notable offensive prospects who are expected to shine in Indianapolis.
Each of these prospects can certainly help himself at the combine, but in the events where strong performances are expected, be sure not to overinflate each player's draft stock if those expectations are met.
Will Fuller, Notre Dame Fighting Irish
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Will Fuller's game is all about speed, so his workout expectations are essentially limited to one event.
Fuller has a legitimate shot at being the fastest player in Indianapolis.
We already know he's fast, so it's important not to overreact to Fuller's time in the 40-yard dash. But if he's able to crack the 4.3 barrier, it will certainly generate headlines.
Fuller can also boost his draft stock with a strong showing in the vertical leap.
Competing for contested catches wasn't a strength of Fuller's at Notre Dame, but with an impressive vertical leap, he would at least show the potential for development in that area.
Ezekiel Elliott, Ohio State Buckeyes
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Ezekiel Elliott won't post the best overall numbers among the running backs, but when you factor in his size (6'0", 225 pounds), he may come away as the most impressive athlete at his position.
Bleacher Report NFL Insider Jason Cole recently reported Elliott is expected to be among the fastest of the bigger running backs in Indy.
Elliott has demonstrated his athleticism on the field in a number of other ways, most notably with his tendency to leap over defenders.
On the field, Elliott is one of the most complete running backs to enter the draft in recent years, and his well-rounded skill set should be evident at the combine.
Jerell Adams, South Carolina Gamecocks
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On any list of combine stars, you can safely pencil in a generic placeholder of the former basketball player turned tight end. This year that star appears to be South Carolina's Jerell Adams.
Adams isn't new to football—he played quarterback in high school—but with relatively limited experience at tight end, he still plays like a basketball player learning the position.
He's an impressive athlete at 6'5", 244 pounds who should rank among the top tight ends in nearly every event at the combine.
This is a down year for the tight end position, which will give Adams a chance to gain some serious momentum and rise up draft boards with a strong combine.
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Le'Raven Clark, Texas Tech Red Raiders
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Historically, NFL teams are willing to overlook all kinds of technical flaws if an offensive lineman has an elite combination of size and athleticism. The lineman benefiting most from that approach to the draft this year may be Texas Tech's Le'Raven Clark.
Clark is among the smoothest athletes at his position and should be able to demonstrate that fact in the agility drills at the combine.
In terms of his overall profile as a prospect, Clark compares to former Indianapolis Colts lineman Tony Ugoh.
Like Ugoh in 2007, Clark enters the draft with raw technique but the obvious size and athleticism of an NFL left tackle.
Ugoh never figured it out in the NFL and lasted just two full years as a starter for the Colts before being benched. But past failures will never stop teams from swinging for the fences in future drafts.
Cody Whitehair, Kansas State Wildcats
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Cody Whitehair played left tackle at Kansas State but is expected to shift inside to guard in the NFL, which is where he played early in his career with the Wildcats.
This is an important note, because it frames the expectations for him in Indianapolis. Compared to the rest of the interior linemen in this class, Whitehair will shine as one of the most impressive athletes at the position.
As an athlete, Whitehair compares favorably to Cleveland Browns guard Joel Bitonio, who was also a collegiate tackle before shifting inside in the pros.
Bitonio's draft stock generated some serious buzz after he ran a 4.97 40-yard dash and ranked among the top guards in nearly every combine category. Whitehair is capable of a similar performance.
Vernon Adams, Oregon Ducks
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Vernon Adams has a lot riding on the combine, as it could be his last chance to prove himself as a quarterback.
At just 5'11", the odds are stacked against Adams. But he should stand out as the only elite athlete among the quarterbacks in Indianapolis.
Adams struggled during practices at the East-West Shrine Game, but he showed enough during the game that some teams may be willing to give him one last look.
At the combine, Adams should be the fastest quarterback by a wide margin.
Obviously that doesn't translate to NFL success, but it will generate some positive buzz around his stock. If he looks good throwing the ball, some team could decide Adams is worth a look as a developmental quarterback, if only because he's the only prospect with elite mobility in this year's draft.
Braxton Miller, Ohio State Buckeyes
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Braxton Miller can do a little bit of everything, and it's going to show at the combine.
NFL.com's Daniel Jeremiah recently named Miller on his list of candidates to break Chris Johnson's combine record in the 40-yard dash.
Simply being listed among the fastest players in this draft class is remarkable, considering Miller is a former quarterback and also the tallest and heaviest player on Jeremiah's list.
If Miller runs in the 4.3 range, he would likely solidify himself as a first-round selection.
Obviously Miller is raw, having spent just one season as a wide receiver, but the opportunity to draft a 6'1", 204 pound receiver with Miller's speed and all-around athleticism doesn't come around often.
Demarcus Robinson, Florida Gators
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There are plenty of reasons to question Demarcus Robinson's future in the NFL—most notably his four suspensions while at Florida. But strictly from an athleticism standpoint, there's no doubt he can play at the next level.
Bleacher Report's Matt Miller recently speculated Robinson may actually be the most talented receiver in this year's class.
The interview process is the most important part of the week for Robinson, but he also has a chance to win over some fans with his workout performance.
When watching Robinson at Florida, it's immediately clear he will be among the faster receivers in Indianapolis. But he also appears to have the athleticism to allow him to excel in the other agility drills as well.
If Robinson is able to rank among the top athletes at his position in Indy, it will likely earn him a spot on Day 3 of the draft, despite the serious off-field concerns.
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