Area players excel at NFL Combine, let’s chat Tuesday at noon

Clemson Tigers wide receiver Mike Williams catches a pass during the 2017 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. A vertical jump of 44 inches was just icing on the cake.

Look at me, instantly contradicting myself by picking the three fastest 40 times among Friday’s running back group, but I can explain this seeming inconsistency by telling you this simple fact; before the combine there was a real chance that none of these guys get drafted at all.

Davis perhaps did more to raise his draft stock than anyone who’s competed in the combine thus far with 4.44-second 40, 6.82-second 3-cone, 41-inch vertical leap and 11-foot, 4-inch broad jump. So, if they do draft one, it very well could be one of these four players.

Even among those efforts, Hodges’ showing certainly drew the attention of those in attendance. I didn’t think it’ll hurt me.

The final group of the day was the tight ends.

At a position that needs speed he ran a 4.61, he finished 15th out 18, the leader being Obi Melifonwu of UConn who finished with a 4.4.

It wasn’t all praise for Hodges.

There no faster riser among wide receivers than Godwin.

The analysts were able to look past that, though. “He’s not as good as (Brian) Cushing, but that’s the same kind of mentality he plays with”.

Garcia isn’t as agile as most Patriots offensive tackles, but he has the speed and explosion they usually desire.

An athletic player being athletic at the combine gets overblown, but not with Hodges. Mayock noted Evans’ uneasiness with doing a standard drop back during passing drills, a result of him having spent nearly all of his career from the shotgun.

But that’s not to say some men were better at exercising in front of people than others. “I just took the chance”. Johnson was timed at 4.24 seconds in 2008, but Ross surpassed him by running a 4.22 at this year’s Combine. Many of these are names from big time college football programs you will recognize, while some will be new to all but the most dedicated followers of the sport. All he has to do is replicate his performance at the Rebels’ Pro Day.

LB Haason Reddick (Temple) – It’s hard to find any prospective draft pick who has had a better 2017.

WR Chris Godwin (Penn State) – Projected as a third-round pick before the week, Godwin tested as well as any receiver, posting an impressive 40-yard dash time (4.42 seconds) and leading all of the players at his position in the 20-yard shuttle. “He does a little bit of everything”.