By Nick de la Torre
The NFL Combine is an annual event held by the NFL that spans six days and plays host to over 300 of the best college football players in the country. Over the past six days, players were poked, prodded, interviewed and put through a series of drills that could very well make-or-break their future in the NFL.
This year, Florida had 10 players invited to Lucas Oil Field in Indianapolis to participate. Only LSU and Florida State had more players (13) attend the event. While some players were limited in their participation due to lingering medical issues, all 10 players still were run through the gauntlet of measurements and interviews that NFL coaches, scouts and general managers will use to decide each players fate.
Sharrif Floyd
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 297 lbs.
Arm Length: 31 3/4”
Hand Length: 10 1/8”
40-yard Dash: 4.92 (fastest among interior linemen)
Vertical Jump: 30”
Broad Jump: 8’10’’
3-cone Drill: 7.40
20-yard Shuttle: 4.75
Bench Press: DNP
Floyd saw his stock rise more than any other player at the combine. Considered a lock to go in the first round, Floyd’s fast 40-yard dash time along with the way he performed in his positional drills has vaulted him into the conversation as a top-5 pick in the upcoming NFL Draft.
NFL analyst, Mike Mayock, raved about Floyd’s combine and what he has seen on tape from the player. “Sharrif Floyd might be one of the best two or three players in this draft from where you can line him up.”
Newly minted Hall of Famer, Warren Sapp also had glowing remarks for Floyd. “His ability to move, his fluidness, get off the ground, doing almost everything. And then he played defensive end and defensive tackle in college, stout in the run, I love this kid all day long.”
Players can make or lose millions of dollars depending on what they say or do at the combine. In Floyd’s case, he may have just made himself a very wealthy man.
Matt Elam
Height: 5-foot-10
Weight: 208
Arm Length: 32 5/8”
Hand Length: 9”
40-yard Dash: 4.54 (t-5th fastest among safeties)
Vertical Jump: 35 1/2″
Broad Jump: 9’10”
3-cone Drill: DNP
20-yard Shuttle: DNP
Bench Press: 17 reps (t-7th best among safeties)
Rated as one of the top safety prospects in the NFL Draft, Matt Elam did what most expected him to do at the combine. While Elam checked in a little smaller than what is ideal for the position, he performed near the top at his position in every test.
Elam became known at Florida as a big-hitter, something that many analysts and scouts have taken notice of. “He won’t tackle you, he’ll knock you out,” said Mike Mayock of NFL Network.
Elam’s already healthy draft stock got a boost when he ran a 4.54 40-yard dash and he could hear his name called as early as the first round. With Ed Reed’s future uncertain, the Baltimore Ravens are a team that could be interested in adding a player like Elam.
Jon Bostic
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 245
Arm Length: 33”
Hand Length: 9 5/8”
40-yard Dash: 4.61 (3rd among linebackers)
Vertical Jump: 32 1/2”
Broad Jump: 9’10”
3-cone Drill: 6.99 (3rd among linebackers)
20-yard Shuttle: 4.24 (4th among linebackers)
Bench Press: 22 reps
Bostic opened eyes when he was timed at 4.61 in the 40-yard dash. Bostic has a reputation as a run-stopping middle linebacker but that time showed scouts that he has the potential to become a three down linebacker at the next level. While the national media has put on a Manti Te’o blitz the past two months, Bostic quietly outperformed Te’o in every test and looked smoother and more natural in positional drills.
Bostic did a lot to help his stock at the combine and could hear his name called somewhere between the third and fourth rounds.
Josh Evans
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 207
Arm Length: 31 7/8”
Hand Length: 10”
40-yard Dash: 4.58 (9th among safeties)
Vertical Jump: 34 1/2″
Broad Jump: 10’3” (t-9th among safeties)
3-cone Drill: 6.64 (3rd fastest at the combine, 1st among safeties)
20-yard Shuttle: 4.10 (5th among safeties)
Bench Press: DNP
The three-cone drill is designed to test an athlete’s quickness, agility and fluidity in a player’s hips. Having fluid hips allows a defensive back to turn and run with receivers and mirror them throughout their route. Evans was not just the fastest in the drill among safeties but he posted the third fastest time of any player at the combine.
With the exception of the vertical jump, Evans was among the top ten in every drill he participated in and looked fluid and natural during positional drills.
Evans is considered a mid-round prospect but his combine performance could force teams to go back and take a second look.
Mike Gillislee
Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 208
Arm Length: 31 1/8”
Hand Length: 9 3/8”
40-yard Dash: 4.55 (t-11th among running backs)
Vertical Jump: 30 1/2″
Broad Jump: 9’11”
3-cone Drill: 7.12
60-yard Shuttle: 12.02 (12th among running backs)
Bench Press: 15 reps
Rule changes have turned the NFL into a pass-first league and devalued the running back position. Couple that with some more high-profile names in this draft class like Wisconsin’s Montee Ball and Alabama’s Eddie Lacy and Gillislee’s draft stock takes a hit.
Gillislee ran a solid 40-yard dash time and has ideal size for the position at the next level. He will need to show NFL scouts that he can be an asset in pass-protection and could possibly improve his 40 time at Florida’s pro day on March 12.
Gillislee is projected to be drafted in rounds 4-5 and his performance at the combine shouldn’t change that.
Caleb Sturgis
Height: 5-foot-10
Weight: 188
Arm Length: 31 1/8”
Hand Length: 9 3/8”
40-yard Dash: DNP
Vertical Jump: DNP
Broad Jump: DNP
3-cone Drill: DNP
20-yard Shuttle: DNP
Bench Press: DNP
Two years removed from a back injury that cost him most of the 2010 season, Sturgis has emerged as one of the most talented kickers in the draft class.
The National Football Post spoke highly of Sturgis saying: “On a day where many of the place kickers and punters struggled with consistency, Sturgis stood out as the most impressive specialist today.”
There was some concern about his ability to consistently create touchbacks on kickoffs in college but at the combine Sturgis showed great hang time and drove the ball through the endzone on most of his kicks. Sturgis also connected on all three of his 50-yard field goal attempts on the day.
Most teams don’t like using a draft pick on a kicker, but Sturgis is deserving and could be drafted in the later rounds.
Jordan Reed
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 236
Arm Length: 33”
Hand Length: 10”
40-yard Dash: 4.72 (8th among tight ends)
Vertical Jump: DNP
Broad Jump: DNP
3-cone Drill: DNP
20-yard Shuttle: DNP
Bench Press: 16 reps (14th among tight ends)
Reed only participated in the 40-yard dash, bench press and positional drills at the combine. His 16 reps on the bench press fall right in line with his tape and how he struggles as a blocker.
Reed would have liked to run faster in the 40-yard dash but will have another opportunity to run at Florida’s pro-day.
Reed has drawn comparisons to Aaron Hernandez. Those comparisons have helped his draft stock and Reed could hear his name called as high as round two.
Jelani Jenkins
Height: 6-foot
Weight: 243
Arm Length: 32 1/4″
Hand Length: 9 3/8”
40-yard Dash: DNP
Vertical Jump: DNP
Broad Jump: DNP
3-cone Drill: DNP
20-yard Shuttle: DNP
Bench Press: 27 reps (t-3rd among linebackers)
Jenkins was limited in what he could do at the combine but will participate in all of these drills at Florida’s pro day. However, he did weigh in at 243 after being listed at 237 at Florida and his 27 reps on the bench press were very impressive. Jenkins was Florida’s best cover-linebacker but putting up that many reps on the bench should show NFL teams that he could be a physical player, as well.
Jenkins currently is projected a high as a third round selection in the upcoming NFL draft.
Lerentee McCray
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 250
Arm Length: 33 3/8”
Hand Length: 10”
40-yard Dash: DNP
Vertical Jump: DNP
Broad Jump: DNP
3-cone Drill: DNP
20-yard Shuttle: DNP
Bench Press: DNP
McCray was at the combine mainly to meet with teams and go through the interview process. He should be a more active participant at Florida’s pro day.
Xavier Nixon
Height: 6-foot-6
Weight: 321
Arm Length: 33 3/8”
Hand Length: 10”
40-yard Dash: DNP
Vertical Jump: DNP
Broad Jump: DNP
3-cone Drill: DNP
20-yard Shuttle: DNP
Bench Press: DNP
While Nixon didn’t participate in any drills at the combine, simply showing up at 321 pounds is a good start. Nixon struggled to maintain his weight at Florida but if he can still be agile and move his feet at 321 pounds, some team will surely spend a pick on him.
Nixon will participate at Florida’s pro day on March 12.