Tuesday was the final day of the combine and it was the defensive backs there were some big winners and a few guys who did not help out their stock.
Winners:
Jamel Fleming, Oklahoma
Fleming is a guy who looks like a Safety, but runs like a cornerback. Fleming ran a 4.53 second 40 yard dash, put up 23 reps on the bench press and flashed in many of the other drills. He has a 125 inch broad jump. He’s a player that has good technique and down the final stretch of the 2011 College Football season played like a first round prospect. Fleming is fluid and just had a good day over-all.
Justin Bethel CB Presbyterian
I’d be lying if I said I’d seen Bethle play at Presbyterian and I’ll try to get footage of him now, but if he plays like he tested he could be drafted on day two. He had one of The most impressive testing of all the cornerbacks at the combine. Bethel is 6’0 200 pounds with long arms (32 3/8) he had a 39.5 inch vertical and a 10 feet 11 inch board jump. His 4.58 second forty yard dash is not bad for a guy who weighs 200 pounds.
Josh Robinson, CB, Central Florida
The blazing 4.33 forty-yard dash was the best of all players at the combine. And he followed that up with a 38.5 inch vertical, and had the best broad jump off all the cornerbacks. He looked fluid in drills as well.
Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina
I’m a big Gilmore fan so he didn’t surprise me, but he did surprise others. He isn’t always consistent with his technique, but seems to be a hard worker and intelligent based off interviews I’ve read and has plenty of talent to exceed at the N.F.L. level. He, to me is right behind Kirkpatrick and Morris Claiborne
Jayron Hosley, CB, Virgina Tech
Hosley was a player who had a terrific 2012 season and had drafniks declaring him a first round pick heading into this 2011 College Football season, but he didn’t have the same kind of season. He’s still a good player though and more than improved his stock kept him from plummeting. Hosley is NOT good in a press-man system. He’s a rangy zone coverage with excellent ball skills.
Dwight Bentley, CB, Louisiana Lafeytte
Another guy I haven’t seen play a million times (three times), but he was impressive today and put himself on the radar of casual draft followers. A 4.43 official 40 yard dash and looked fluid in drills. An intriguing day three option.
Harrison Smith, SS, Norte Dame
Smith showed more athleticism then I thought he had, couple that with his tremendous play-making ability and size and you have an intriguing prospect. I think he solidified himself as a top four safety and possibly the second best safety drafted in the class.
Losers:
The Entire Safety class!
Well not really, the entire safety class, but it’s really a weak safety class overall. George Illoka looked really athletic and huge. But there just aren’t great safeties in this class. I expected Winston Guy Jr. to test a little better, still like him as a prospect though.
But Janzen Jackson had a bad combine. The safety class was about what you’d expect based off the film.
Cliff Harris, CB, Oregon
Harris has character concerns, but he was supposed to be a super fast cornerback and dynamic playmaker. He ran a disappointing 4.64 forty yard dash, he also weighed in at 175 pounds. Harris will probably get drafted, but not anytime early.
Leonard Johnson, CB, Iowa State
Johnson headed into the combine as one of the most over-rated players out there. I continue to feel that even though he plays tough and uses the sideline well that he just does not possess NFL athleticism. I think today he confirmed my suspicions.
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