With the start of the NFL Scouting Combine this week, a breathtaking show is expected in Indianapolis. The combine also serves as a great place to look back at our annual college student geeks list.
In recent years, some under-the-radar players from the roster have made a splash. UTSA corner Tariq Woolen (No. 6 on the 2021 Freaks list) ran a 4.26 40-yard dash and recorded a 42-inch vertical jump after weighing over 6-4 and 205 pounds. Woolen would make the Pro Bowl as a rookie.
Last year, Michigan cornerback DJ Turner (No. 31 on the 2022 Freaks list), who I reported posted a 4.28-second 40 in a two-point stance, posted a time at the combine of 4.26. Pitt defensive tackle Calijah Kancey became a top-20 pick after beating his Freaks List 40 of 4.69 seconds by 4.67 seconds.
Northwestern defensive lineman Adetomiwa Adebawore (No. 30 on the Freaks list) weighed 282 pounds in Indy and ran a 4.49 40, had a vertical jump of 37 1/2 inches and managed 10 feet, 5 inches in the broad jump. Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson (No. 50 on the Freaks list) wowed scouts with 4.43 speed and a 40-inch vertical from the finish line, along with a rocket arm that helped him become the fourth overall pick of the year to become drafts.
Louisville edge rusher YaYa Diaby (No. 85 on the Freaks list) topped his numbers with a 37-inch vertical jump, a 10-foot broad jump and a 40 of 4.51. The 6-3, 275-pounder went in the third round to Tampa Bay and made a big impact, producing 7.5 sacks as a rookie.
While there is an impressive roster of talent ready for the Combine, there are some freaks worth noting who won't be there but are expected to put up impressive numbers in their pro years. FAU wideout Je'Quan Burton, a two-time Freaks List honoree, went 11-5 in the long jump and over 46 inches in the vertical jump. Miami's Tyler Harrell consistently hit 24 MPH on the GPS early in his career as a wide receiver for Louisville. Then-Louisville coach Scott Satterfield said he was the fastest player he had ever measured, having him at 4.19 in the 40 on his stopwatch and 4.24 on the Laser.
I also heard that LSU star Malik Nabers may not practice. He would have been in the top 20 of this list. The same goes for Iowa DB Cooper DeJean, who is still dealing with a season-ending leg injury and won't test out until his pro day. DeJean's trainer told The Athletic last summer that he “has the ability to break 4.3 (in the 40) at 210 pounds.”
Here are the 40 players The Athletic is most interested in for testing and time in Indianapolis. As you will see, the selection of wideouts in this draft class is outstanding.
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2023 college football freak list: Bruce Feldman's rankings with a true freshman at No. 1
The Nittany Lions are producing a ton of players to star in Indy. I think Robinson, a 6-3, 254-pound junior, will be next. In 10 games in 2023, he had 7.5 tackles for a loss and 4.5 sacks. There has been some skepticism in the draft chatter about whether Robinson actually deserves a first-round consideration. Robinson is increasingly polarizing in draft analyst circles. The Athletic recently had him going No. 35 to the Cardinals, up from No. 14 in a mock draft in August. Robinson is ranked 26th on Dane Brugler's big board.
At Penn State he performed better than current Cowboys star Micah Parsons, and coaches there thought he might be just as fast, although matching Parsons' 4.39/40 in Indy will be a tall order. Robinson managed a time of 4.47 last year, but actually ran a faster shuttle, 4.22 compared to Parsons' 4.40. He also has a 10-7 broad jump and a 400-pound bench press. A source who saw him in practice this month predicted Robinson will “go off at the combine” and put up “absurd” numbers.
As the dominant DB in the MAC, he once had four interceptions and two pick sixes in a game. He's a solid 6-0, weighs 195 pounds and bench-pressed 225 pounds 21 times last offseason. Last summer he also had a top speed of 23.58 miles per hour on the GPS. Last spring he ran twice in the 4.3 and 40 for NFL scouts. I expect him to run mid-range 4.3 in Indy and excel at everything he does there. Mitchell is a great talent.
He doesn't have the weight of teammate T'Vondre Sweat, but the 6-1, 308-pounder is more disruptive and caused more problems for opposing coaches. Murphy is super strong and explosive. I heard there's a good chance he can do the 40 in the 4.8 class.
4. Payton Wilson, LB, NC State
He is one of the best players in the draft. The 6-4, 235-pounder, a former lacrosse standout and state wrestling champion, won the 2023 Butkus and Bednarik awards. At NC State, Wilson was clocked at 4.49 in the 40 and most recently ran a 4.21 in the pro agility shuttle offseason. He managed 390 on the bench press, 35 1/2 inches on the vertical jump and 9-8 1/2 on the broad jump. Don’t be surprised if he surpasses many of those numbers at the combine.
Payton Wilson (11) is one of the top prospects this year. (Rob Kinnan/USA Today)
The son of a Pro Football Hall of Fame receiver checks every box. At 6-4 and weighing 208 pounds, he has it all. Harrison performs exceptionally well in interviews and tests. Despite his lanky frame, he benched nearly 400 pounds and did 20 reps at 225. He managed a long jump of 10-8 and a ball throw of 3.94 – it's impressive to be that tall and have that kind of agility. Harrison told The Athletic that he will top out at 4.3 in the 40. This may surprise some, but last year he reached 23.5 MPH. So depending on his start, it seems realistic for a player to become a top player. three picks.
Here's our latest two-point stance streaker from the Wolverines. Wilson managed 4.33 out of 40 points last offseason. Even more impressive, Wilson completed a fast-paced 3-cone routine in 6.20 seconds, besting everyone else at Michigan with a shuttle time of 3.77. Those two times were met with some disbelief in combine training circles, so Michigan's top receiver will be turning a lot of heads. Wilson, who also flew up the Wolverines' reactive plyo stairs in 2.22 seconds (best time in the program), had a fantastic few days at the Senior Bowl.
The 20-year-old junior ran for 1,000 yards this season and some scouts predicted this week that he would be one of the three fastest players in Indianapolis. The 5-11, 210-pounder, No. 24 on the Freaks list in 2022, has plenty of juice. He reached a speed of 23.6 miles per hour in training, jumped 44 inches vertically and managed 10-8 in the long jump last year. In high school, he ran a hand-timed 4.28 40.
Last year, BYU's Blake Freeland turned heads at the Combine when the 6-8, 302-pound left tackle ran a 4.98 40 and set a Combine offensive tackle record with a 37-inch vertical jump. BYU coaches say the 6-6, 325-pound Suamataia is more athletic.
“Kingsley is off the charts,” BYU sports scientist Skyler Mayne told me last summer. “He’s faster than our linebackers. He’s just a freak in the weight room. What sets it apart from Blake is that Kingsley just makes it look a little more effortless. Blake was a better jumper, but Kingsley was by far our fastest lineman.”
Suamataia hit 21.5 mph last year as a 318-pound freshman. Mayne believes Suamataia could run in the 4.8s and is “definitely a sub-5 guy (in the 40s).”
The Tigers DB has good reach at 6-2, 185 pounds and tremendous acceleration. A good note about Wiggins: He was responsible for two of North Carolina QB Drake Maye's 16 career interceptions. Wiggins' breakout was best illustrated when he rushed UNC star running back Omarion Hampton on a 64-yard run and forced a fumble at the 1-yard line. Wiggins reached a speed of 22.6 miles per hour in the game.
Oh man, look at the speed at which Nate Wiggins chases down RB Hampton and knocks the ball out. Turned a TD into a turnover and a Clemson ball.
Made a similar play in the Miami game. Speed, speed, speed. pic.twitter.com/kqVT8F8rNN
— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) November 18, 2023
The son of the former star NFL D-lineman of the same name was described by Jim Harbaugh as “the mutant of all mutants.” Some of the crazy things Jenkins can do that earned him the No. 1 spot on the Freaks list in 2023 won't matter at the combine. Weighing in at 307 pounds, Jenkins performed a Turkish lift with a 170-pound dumbbell — the heaviest former Michigan strength coach Ben Herbert has ever seen. Jenkins also does pull-ups with a 100-pound weight at his waist and could do 330 kilograms on the combo twist.
What will show with Indy is his agility and explosiveness. Last offseason, Jenkins ran a 7.16 3-cone, a 4.33 shuttle, a 9-8 broad jump and a 34-inch vertical jump. He also did 32 reps with 225 pounds. All of these numbers would be among the best for his position if he could achieve them, especially the mobility times.
Thomas, one of the biggest breakout stars of the 2023 season, shined with 68 catches for 1,177 yards and 17 TDs, virtually doubling his output from the previous two seasons combined. The 6-4, 205-pound Thomas is expected to shine in Indy, possibly running the 40 in 4.3 seconds and jumping 38 inches plus vertically.
12. Olu Fashanu, OT, Penn State
The 6-6, 320-pounder from Washington, D.C. has a chance to solidify his status as a top O-lineman by displaying the same agility he showed last offseason when he was a Shuttle time of 4.97 40 and a shuttle time of 4.63 ran. That 40th time would have been the best time for any offensive linemen at last year's Combine.
Franklin tore up Pac-12 defenses last year, catching 81 passes for 1,383 yards and 14 touchdowns. In 2023, he had 15 catches of 30 yards or more. Only LSU's Malik Nabers (17) had more. At 6-3, 187 pounds, Franklin is lean and very explosive. Expect it to cross the 40 mark in the mid-4.3 range. Maybe even faster.
I expect the former high school track star's stock to continue to rise after a good performance at the Senior Bowl. The 242-pound linebacker who once jumped 23-4 1/4 inches to break a school record that stood for 44 years and also won the state weightlifting title with a 335-pound power clean in Kentucky a GPS speed of 22 MPH and also jumped 38.5 inches vertically.
He could easily work his way into the top 10 and should thrive in this situation. He was a great high school sprinter for Las Vegas powerhouse Bishop Gorman. He won the 4A state title in the 200 meters (21.25) and the 4×100 meter relay (41.36). Last offseason, the 6-2, 216-pound Odunze ran a 4.34 40, a 4.19 Pro Agility Shuttle and also managed 37.1 inches in the vertical and 10-1 in the broad jump.
At 6-2 and 205 pounds, Owens is something of a flashy talent who could become an elite player on special teams. He's a big, explosive safety who should shine in Indy. Last offseason he jumped over 40 inches vertically. He also reached a speed of more than 23 miles per hour in one game.
He began his college career as a defensive back at Tennessee and then transferred to Louisiana Tech, where he developed into a big-play receiver. He transferred again and ended up at Pitt, where he averaged 18 yards per catch that season. The medium has excellent size and speed at 6-2,215 pounds. Last offseason he managed a 4.36 40 time and jumped 39 inches vertically. I expect him to come back in Indy and possibly even surpass those numbers.
The former two-star recruit reminds many scouts of Deebo Samuel because he is so strong and has such good control of the ball. In 2022, he led the country in yards after the catch with 975 and in missed tackles with 40 forced tackles. The 5-11, 220-pounder clocked 23 MPH on the GPS and clocked a 4.43 40 with a shuttle time of 4.08.
At 6-2 1/2, 204 pounds, Hart has great size for a corner but also exceptional metrics. Last offseason, he managed an 11-2 long jump, a 38-inch vertical jump and reached a speed of 23.01 mph on the GPS.
The Beavers may have had the fastest wideout tandem in college football last year with Gould and Silas Bolden. Neither is particularly large, but both can fly at full throttle. Bolden is still in college, but Gould (44 catches for 711 yards and two TDs) is in the draft and he was one of our scout's favorites to win the Fastest Man in Indy title this year. He showed that explosiveness in the Shrine Bowl on an 80-yard punt return for a touchdown. The 5-8, 165-pound Gould, a 2022 All-American returnee, was a high school sprint champion who could run in the 4.2.
Oregon State wide receiver Anthony Gould could be one of the fastest prospects in Indy. (Troy Wayrynen/USA Today)
He hasn't been as productive as Alabama products Will Anderson Jr. or Dallas Turner, but Braswell will likely do better. At Alabama, Braswell jumped 38 1/2 inches vertically and reached speeds of nearly 22 mph while weighing 256 pounds, according to GPS. He is also extremely strong.
A bright spot for the Gators in a dismal 2023: The Arizona State transfer had nearly 1,000 yards rushing, 66 catches and two rushing TDs on three carries, averaging 21 yards per rush. Not bad. The 6-1, 193-pounder was one of the fastest Gators, and I heard he performed very well in practice. Don't be shocked if he breaks 4.4 inches in the 40-yard dash and tops 40 inches in the vertical jump.
The Ohio State transfer made a big impact at Notre Dame in 2023, producing a team-best 10.5 TFLs with five sacks. The 6-4 1/2, 260-pound long jumper jumped 10-5 and jumped 35 inches vertically last offseason. He also reached a speed of 20.4 miles per hour on the GPS. He should be one of the most impressive D-linemen in Indy.
Last year, the Red Raiders drafted long D-lineman Tyree Wilson (6-6, 271 pounds with 35 5/8-inch arms), who went No. 7 overall to the Raiders. Cole is even larger and longer, with a wingspan of 87 inches. He hasn't been as much of a problem offensively as Wilson, but he's an intriguing candidate. His top speed at Texas Tech was 20.3 MPH, a range he really improved upon after transferring from Louisiana-Monroe.
With a wiry 6-foot corner, Johnson is the second-fastest senior bowler since data collection began in Mobile, behind only Tariq Woolen. Earlier this year, Johnson posted a speed of 22.17 mph at the Senior Bowl. He is expected to run very fast in Indy.
Kneeland, a former 400-meter runner and all-conference high jumper in high school, is now a sought-after 6-3, 270-pound D-lineman with 34-inch arms who ran nearly 20 miles in a game last season per hour as he chased a player downfield. His stock is increasing in this draft process and the numbers will increase with his training in Indy.
Wilson is an intriguing talent, standing nearly 6-foot-5 and weighing 240 pounds. He has 36-inch arms, 10 1/4-inch hands and a standing reach of 8-10. Last offseason, he managed a 35 1/2-inch vertical jump and a 10-5 broad jump. Impressive numbers, especially for a guy who is almost tight end size. He has reached a top speed of over 21.2 MPH in games.
A former two-star prospect, the 6-2, 250-pounder emerged as a star for one of the top Group 5 programs in the country. The chiseled Salomon has just seven percent body fat. He should do well on the bench press as he has maxed out at 425 pounds. Expect it to run well as it has reached the top speed of 21.63 MPH.
The 6-5, 296-pound Hall, who has 34-inch arms, flashed early at the Senior Bowl. He should make a splash in Indy. He benches 500 pounds and has hit 19.9 mph on the GPS.
30. Ryan Flournoy, WR, Southeast Missouri State
He received no Division I offers after high school and began his career at Division II Central Missouri, where he suffered a torn ACL. At FCS Southeast Missouri State, Flournoy, a student with a 3.9 GPA, impressed coaches with his work ethic. Last offseason, the 6-2, 205-pounder jumped 41 inches vertically, jumped 10-10 1/2 and ran a laser-guided 4.40 in the 40 with a hand time of 4.35. His shuttle time was 4.22 and his L-drill was 6.66; That's less than a tenth of a second shy of Jaxon Smith-Njigba's 6.57, the fastest time ever at the 2023 combine. He's a name to know.
The 6-4, 240-pounder has great film and should test very well. Last offseason, he managed a 10-2 broad jump and a 36-inch vertical jump. I've heard he's run a time of 4.4 seconds in the 40s in the past. I've heard he may save his training for his pro day, but whenever he goes, you can expect his athleticism to back up the film of a natural playmaker who was a dominant weapon for the Dawgs.
Few players look more impressive live. After transferring from Georgia, he had a strong year at Texas, catching 55 passes for 845 yards and 11 touchdowns. Its potential is enticing. At 6-4, 200 pounds, he can really roll and I expect him to give his best in Indy. To have that kind of build, he could crack 4.4 in the 40s, jump about 40 inches vertically, and be in the 11-foot range in the long jump.
Brenden, the son of the greatest receiver of all time, Jerry Rice, had a strong 2023 season. Rice is very strong at 6-3, 215 pounds and did 17 reps of 225. He also hit 23 MPH on the GPS and had an impressive 10-yard split of 1.43. Last offseason, Rice had a vertical jump of 38 inches.
The Tigers have produced a number of excellent D-linemen in recent years, and the 6-2, 302-pounder is an underrated talent. Davis is a powerhouse on the field and in the weight room, completing 30 reps of 225. Davis also moves well for his size. His time last offseason was 4.95 in the 40.
As a high school sophomore in California, Worthy managed a time of 10.55 in the 100 meters. At 6-1 and 175 he's still very wiry, but he's gotten a lot stronger and I've heard a lot of positive feedback about his training sessions over the last two months. Worthy was clocked at 22.7 MPH on a punt return against Iowa State last season, faster than any other FBS player in 2023. Can he reach 4.2 seconds in Indy?
How fast will Longhorns receiver Xavier Worthy be at the combine? (Scott Sewell/USA Today)
At around 5-10, 180, Griffin will be one of the smallest guys in Indy, but he just might be the fastest. A few NFL scouts told me last week that Griffin, MSU's leader in catches (50), receiving yards (658) and receiving TDs (4), was one of their favorites among the three fastest players and is capable of running 40 in 4.2 seconds.
37. Sione Vaki, safety-RB, Utah
The 6-0, 207-pound sophomore probably could have used another year off the season, but he definitely made a big impression on the Utes. Vaki had 51 tackles with 8.5 TFLs and also ran for 317 yards to go with 11 catches for 203 yards and five touchdowns, sparking Utah's offense when it really needed it. He is incredibly explosive and nervous. He made the Freaks list last summer after jumping 400 pounds in the bench press, 39 inches in the vertical jump and 10-5 1/2 in the long jump.
The transfer to Western Michigan proved to be an ideal complement to the Seminoles' strong defense. The 6-3 1/2, 295-pound Fiske is relentless and has a great shot. He recorded nine TFLs and six sacks. Scouts told me this month that they expect him to be one of the most impressive D-linemen in practice.
An intriguing talent with outstanding size at 6-3, 227, Legette posted one of the fastest bursts of any college player in 2023 when he reached 22.3 MPH on a 76-yard touchdown against Mississippi State.
The 6-foot-2, 220-pound Floridian had an eventful college career. He finished Tennessee on a high note, throwing 30 touchdowns and five INTs in his final two seasons with the Vols. While there are some questions about his consistency and accuracy, there is no doubt about his arm strength. At the combine, Milton will have plenty of opportunities to vent and let his jaw drop to the floor. Throwing a ball 300 feet might be out of the question.
(Top photo: Matthew O'Haren, Joseph Maiorana and Jerome Miron / USA Today)