A Combine-ation of Skills

Every year, 335 of the best draft-bound college football players are invited to Indianapolis to participate in the NFL Scouting Combine. When the athletes first arrive in Indy, they are sorted out by positions and then go on to do interviews with NFL personnel and drills such as the 40 yard dash, three-cone drill, vertical jump, position specific drills, and much more.

This year's combine had some small school guys that opened the eyes of NFL scouts and may have possibly moved up to become early-round picks.

Janoris Jenkins was recruited, by the University of Florida, but had been dismissed due to violation of team rules; he then went on to attend the University of Northern Alabama.  Jenkins has always been talked about as a great player, but scouts questioned him because of his character and because he didn't play against good competition at UNA. He exceeded projections and now could be seen as a top-10 pick. The earliest he could be drafted is #9 by the Carolina Panthers.

This cornerback exhibits great ball skills and is as quick as a cat; at the combine he ran a 4.46 in the 40-yard dash (which was a good enough for 6th among defensive backs), a 4.13 in the 20-yard shuttle and a 11.23 in the 60-yard shuttle. Scouts were in awe watching him in the cornerback drills; he just flew to the ball and he had fluid hips which is essential in scouting CB's. Before the combine, Jenkins was looked at as a third round pick, but now he could potentially go in the top-10.

Running back Robert Turbin is a powerful player. While attending Utah State, Turbin posted impressive numbers, but was never looked at as a great draft prospect because he was facing teams like Weber State as opposed to teams like Oklahoma. Listed at 222 lbs and 5'10," however, he runs like an elusive back and displayed great speed at the combine. With hands that are 9 1/4 inches, he was one of the better running backs in the receiving drills.

Across the board Turbin, did excellent.  He ran a 4.50 forty time (great for a large back), jumped 10'2" in the long jump and he squeezed out 28 reps in the bench press drill (225 lbs). There were questions as if Turbin would be drafted, but after the combine it looks like he solidified himself as a mid-round pick, and can really help an NFL team.

We are less than eight weeks away from the 2012 NFL Draft and these players (among many others) hope that their skills demonstrated in the combine will allow them to get drafted higher than analysts project.