After a year of absence due to the pandemic, the NFL Scouting Combine is back in a big way. Several prospects put all their effort into athletic testing and on-field practice to improve their stock ahead of draft night. Here are our winners and losers from the week in Indianapolis:
Winners
Lewis Xing, C, Georgia
Unsurprisingly, the winners will be led by a Georgia bulldog (calm down, because he won’t be the last). The last two nights have been dominated by the national champions. Cine tested off the charts with a 40-yard dash in 4.37 seconds, a 36.5-inch vertical jump, and a 133-inch long jump. His impressive night continued, showing fluid movement in bag exercises. As Notre Dame’s Kyle Hamilton didn’t test as well as expected, Cine became the Sunday night star.
Jordan Davis, DT, Georgia
Davis ruined it for everyone else. His 32-inch vertical jump equals (with Kenrick Ellis) the best in combine history with a 340-pound DE/DT. His 10-foot 3-inch long jump is the best in combine history at 340-plus pounds DE/DT… by 15 inches. His 4.78-second 40-yard dash would be the fastest for any 310-plus-pound prospect, and he carries an extra 31 pounds. It was 100% testing all day long.
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Ikem Ekwonu, OT, NC State
Ekwon is measured at 6-4, 310 pounds. His hands measured 34 inches, well above the generally accepted threshold. His athleticism was beyond praise, and he started with a 40-yard dash in 4.93 seconds. The most impressive part of the night was when the NC state product took to the field for the exercise. He easily glided through the exercises, demonstrating the ability to quickly change direction.
Brice Hall, RB, Iowa
Ken Walker III of Michigan State was my top runner back this week because Hall didn’t quite show the breakaway speed on film. Needless to say, his 40-yard dash in 4.39 seconds took me and others by surprise. Given his combination of size (5-11, 217 pounds) and speed, it would be a shame if he didn’t become the first running back selected in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Desmond Ridder QB Cincinnati
Because Liberty’s Malik Willis withdrew from athletic testing, Ridder outperformed all other quarterbacks who were tested. When the field work began, the Cincinnati product continued to look impressive. There have been accuracy issues this season, but some believe this can be fixed with more consistent footwork in the pocket. If that’s the case, then there’s no reason to believe the team might feel uncomfortable taking him in the first round. He definitely showed the strength of his hands, able to push the ball around the field. Ridder doesn’t have the most commanding voice, but he was very supportive of the other quarterback members.
Travon Walker, EDGE, Georgia
Walker has been tested as an elite athlete. Impressive during the weigh-in of 6-5, 272 lbs with a wingspan of 84 1/4 inches, the Georgia product ran 40 yards in 4.51 seconds and had a very good 3-cone exercise in 6.89 seconds. His explosive strength and agility were tested all night long. His movement skills were smooth throughout the night on the pitch. Given his size and athleticism, I could understand why the team would be inclined to take risks with him rather than Michigan’s Aidan Hutchinson or any other forward in his class. I don’t think he will come out of the top 10 in the 2022 NFL Draft.
To keep the list short, defensemen Devonte Wyatt, linebackers Channing Tindall and Quay Walker, and wide receiver George Pickens were excluded from the list. Each of these bulldogs delivered remarkable results.
Christian Watson, WR, ND State
Watson weighs 6-4, 208 pounds, so he opened a lot of eyes when he ran 40 yards in 4.36 seconds. His athleticism continued to shine with a 38.5″ vertical jump and a 133″ long jump.
Losers
Trailon Burks, WR, Arkansas
Burks is a promising player whose shares may be affected not by his result, but by the results of others. Overall the wide reception group was fast and impressive. His 40-yard dash in 4.55 seconds was a decent time, but his 33-inch vertical jump, 122-inch long jump and three-cone drill in 7.28 seconds were disappointing. It will always vary in size and, frankly, it will play faster on tape, but those numbers don’t really help.
Matt Corral, QB, Ole Miss
Quarterback performances seem so long ago, but while Liberty’s Malik Willis, North Carolina’s Sam Howell, Ridder and others showed off their arm strength, Corral was on the sidelines. He did nothing to hurt his stock, but if Howell and Ridder outrank him, it would cost him a lot of money.
Kingsley Enagbare, EDGE, SC
Talking about Enagbar is like talking about Burks. Although his results fell short of expectations, the rest of the group did well. His vertical jump of 36.5 inches was impressive, but that was where the positives ended. His 4.89-second rush for 40 yards was slower than several defensemen, including Davis, who has 83 pounds on the edge rush from South Carolina. Enagbare will be beaten by Boy Meif of Minnesota and other players.
Evan Neal, OT, Alabama
Neil did not participate in sports testing and field training. His decision makes sense given that Alabama ended the season later than most other teams. At the same time, Crimson Tide running back Brian Robinson Jr., linebacker Christian Harris and others took part in the celebration. Overall, Neil’s stock would not suffer, but the performances of Mississippi State offensive tackles Charles Cross and Ekwonu may have allowed them to close the gap on Neil, who had a chance of becoming the overall favorite. Indianapolis.