Thursday’s NFL Scouting Combine performances created a baseline. Friday’s efforts upped the ante.
The defensive backs and tight ends took the field, and the Lucas Oil Stadium track saw multiple impressive times along with outstanding overall workouts.
Clemson cornerback Nate Wiggins set the bar with an impressive 4.28-second 40-yard-dash. But the day wasn’t all positive for the highly regarded prospect.
Elsewhere, Texas Tech safety Tyler Owens posted the second-best broad jump ever with an 12’2″ effort. South Dakota’s Myles Harden registered a 3.98-second short shuttle. Eleven different prospects managed a 40-inch vertical or better, with Boston College’s Elijah Jones and Penn State’s Daequan Hardy leading the way at 42.5 inches.
Those numbers proved to be the most impressive of the day. Others showed out during the on-field portion of the positional workouts.
Bleacher Report scouts Cory Giddings and Derrik Klassen were in the building to assess and highlight the day’s best and possibly most worrisome performances.
Nate Wiggins, Clemson
Wiggins was one of the biggest winners and losers from the DB group.
He paired explosive jumps of 36 inches in the vertical jump and 10’7″ in the broad jump. Unfortunately, he pulled up during end of his initial 40-yard attempt run and was later seen with an ice pack wrapped on his hip.
Also weighing in lighter than expected at 173 pounds, Wiggins will have to show that he can run with added weight at his pro day.
Terrion Arnold, Alabama
Arnold posted somewhat underwhelming 40 times, both of which came within the 4.5 range.
While those times might be considered average or even slow, B/R’s CB1 looked smooth and explosive during on-field drills. He flashed his short-area quickness and fluidity out of breaks. His ball skills and soft hands were on display when snagging balls away from his body, with enough body control to stay inbounds along the sideline.
All Arnold has to do at his pro day is shave his 40 time down somewhere within the 4.4 range and he should be able to solidify his previous standing. But the cornerback rankings are currently in a holding pattern.
Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo
Quinyon Mitchell has entered the chat.
Mitchell continues to improve and cement his draft stock throughout the draft cycle. An explosive athlete, Mitchell ran both of his 40-yard attempts within the 4.3-second range.
Along with his twitchiness, he showed excellent fluidity and body control. He crushed his position drills, with quick feet and ball skills to pluck the ball away from his body.
Since Arnold didn’t entirely put the argument to bed, Mitchell’s continued impressive predraft regime brings him into the conversation as CB1.
Cole Bishop, Utah
Bishop is one of the class’ most versatile safeties. He flashed his straight-line speed with an impressive 4.45-second effort. During the on-field portion of the workout, his athletic ability was evident, as he showed his quick footwork and short-area quickness.
Bishop simultaneously proved he has elite athletic traits and standout skills as a football player. Unfortunately, he limped off the field towards the end of the workout. It only looked like some kind of tweak, though.
Kamren Kinchens, Miami
Kinchens has been graded as B/R’s top-ranked safety. So, slightly slower 40-yard-dash times at 4.65 and 4.68 seconds came across as disappointing.
Though the talented defensive back ran on the slower side, he was extremely impressive during the on-field segment. His fluidity and ball skills when catching the ball emerged as the biggest takeaway.
Kinchens displayed soft hands and flashed outstanding body control on misplaced balls. Also, his athleticism and twitch in space showed up when working in and out of breaks.
Kitan Oladapo, Oregon State
Oladapo is one of the bigger and most versatile safeties in the draft. He’s an imposing prospect. He’s also rather athletic.
At 6’2″ and 216 pounds, a 4.58-second 40-yard dash is rather good. He moved well throughout the day and flashed some range as a deep defender. His long strides covered a lot of ground, with the ability to high-point the ball and enough body control to tightrope along the sideline.
If Oladapo can shave some time off his 40-yard dash at the Beavers’ pro day, he may be able to climb the board even more than he already has as B/R’s No. 2 safety.
Ben Sinnott, Kansas State
Talk about jumping out of the gym.
Sinnott cleared the competition with both jumps on Friday, notching a 40-inch vertical and a 10’6″ broad jump. Both marks were the best in the class and cemented Sinnott’s explosive ability in the short-to-intermediate area.
Sinnott’s 4.68-second 40-yard dash wasn’t as exciting, but it was more than good enough to prove he’s got some juice when working in the open field.
Theo Johnson, Penn State
Johnson just barely fell into the shadow of Sinnott. While Sinnott led the class in both vertical and broad jump, Johnson was hot on his trail. Johnson hit 39.5″ in the vertical and 10’5″ in the broad.
Johnson also ran a sweet 4.58 in the 40-yard dash. His speed and body control showed up in every drill, from specific route drills to gauntlet drills.
There are going to be questions about Johnson’s college production (77 career catches) and incomplete skill set when watching him on film. But his athletic tools are undeniable.
Ja’Tavion Sanders, Texas
Small and fast is a workable combo. There’s a place for those guys as underneath YAC weapons. Small and not-that-fast? Not so much.
Sanders is supposed to be the small, fast guy.
At just under 6’4″ and weighing 245 pounds, Sanders isn’t built like a true Y-tight end, but he showed flashes of speed at Texas, primarily on screens and play-action shots. However, Sanders only clocked a 4.69-second 40-yard dash on Friday. That’s decent number in a vacuum, but not great for someone whose game theoretically revolved around speed.
Tip Reiman, Illinois
Reiman was the easiest tight end to fall in love with during Friday’s combine session.
At a muscular 6’5″ and 271 pounds, Reiman flew during the 40-yard dash with a 4.64-second effort. The run looked easy, too. Reiman breezed through the drill with a clean stride.
Reiman set the tone in the blocking shed drill as well. Almost every other tight him before him barely knocked the sled back, but Reiman moved it a good 10 yards. A parade of tight ends trying to live up to that rep immediately afterward, and nobody could match it.
Sometimes “big, strong man who can run fast” is all a team needs to take a shot on a tight end prospect.
