NFL Combine Superstars - 2010 Edition
Baltimore, Maryland - As the first group of place kickers, special teams, offensive linemen, and tight ends arrive at Lucas Oil Stadium so too has the 2010 NFL Combine. It also marks the beginning of the endless prognosticating from everyone from Mel Kiper to the guy with a blog, including myself. One reoccurring debate that's been almost nonstop since the final ticks of the Sugar Bowl is how will Tim Tebow fair as an NFL quarterback, H-Back, running back, or tight end. Unfortunately, that question will only be partially answered this week as Tebow retools his throwing mechanics and drops. He will, however, give teams a glimpse into if he has a skill set that'd allow him to transition to another position.
Without fail every year there are a handful of collegiate players that excel in the combine that suddenly catapults them into earlier rounds of the NFL Draft. There is are definitely mixed results when selecting a workout warrior, for every Chris Johnson, a little known running back from East Carolina whose been one of the league's best in Tennessee, to Mike Mamula, the Boston College standout who failed to live up to being the number seven pick in the draft for the Philadelphia Eagles.
Jacoby Ford WR Clemson Ford will absolutely have GMs and coaches salivating when he runs his 40s this weekend. Besides being a starting wide receiver for the Clemson Tigers Ford was also the NCAA's 60 meter sprint champion. Teams looking for a difference maker will be hard pressed to find an athlete at the combine this year who has Ford's elite speed. A caution flag may be raised over slight size, 5'-9", or that he only had modest statistics during his career at Clemson.
Bruce Campbell OT Maryland The Terrapins have become known for sending impressive athletes to the combine with the likes of Shawn Merriman and Vernon Davis turning heads. Campbell will impresses teams with his freakish athleticism for a player of his size, 6'-6" and 310 pounds. He should clearly make up on Okung (Oklahoma State) and Davis (Rutgers) over the weekend but the fact remains that Campbell does not have the game tape to compare to either.
Taylor Mays S USC The combine was made for a player like Mays. Mays is an incredible athlete that possesses size, 6'-3" and 230 pounds, and speed. Mays could very likely grade out at the top of every circuit this week for his position. Unfortunately teams will find very little game tape that shows Mays utilizing his talents. A very similar player that awed people with their physicality but lacked ballhawking skills is Tebucky Jones who was drafted in the first round by the New England Patriots in 1998.
By Scott Shinskie
