Biggest Winners in the NFL Combine by George Johnston IV

The NFL Combine has ended, and some players’ draft stock have extremely increased, and some have fallen. Today, I’ll be focusing on the players who performed very well at the combine, and what it could mean to them on draft day.

1. Bhayshul Tuten, RB

Tuten led all RBs in the 40 yard dash, Vertical Jump, and 10 yard Split, as well as being tied for 2nd in broad jump. It would be safe to say all eyes have been on Heisman Trophy candidate Ashton Jeanty as the 1st running back across the board, and other stellar Rbs like Omarion Hampton. But Tuten’s wowing combine may improve his draft stock heavily, as it seems like the NFL is starting to gear back towards utilising and paying running backs more. Tuten was a member of the 2nd All-ACC Team for the past 2 years, and ran for 1,159 yards and 15 touchdowns in his last season as a Virginia Tech Hokie.

2. Shemar Stewart, EDGE

According to Next Gen Stats, Stewart was one of the Top 5 most athletic D-ends at the NFL Combine, and had a perfect 10/10 Relative Athletic Score (RAS). I saw a video where Saints defensive end Cam Jordan talked about how sacks are overrated because they don’t show a player's full impact on the game, and shouldn’t define if a player is good or not. Shemar Steward never got more than 1.5 sacks in his collegiate career for Texas A&M. But after watching his performance, he could be a force in the NFL.

3. Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, DT

In recent years, the Georgia Bulldogs have been known for producing elite front 7s, and pumping out premier NFL defensive talent, especially if said talent goes to the Eagles. Ingram-Dawkins led D-Tackles in Vertical Jump, Broad Jump, and 3-Cone Drill, as well as placing high in other categories. This D-Line class has some strengths, but apart from Mason Graham, Walter Nolen, Derrick Harmon, and Kenneth Grant, there isn’t much depth. Ingram-Dawkins’ draft stock could definitely improve from this.

4. Darien Porter, CB

Porter ran the 3rd fastest 40 yard dash this year, and if I know anything about being a CB, you have to match the WR you’re guarding in stride. And with people like Xavier Worthy running unbelievable speeds, teams need CBs like Darien Porter who can stay contested with him. Porter had 3 interceptions last year, so he could definitely be a ball hawk this year. This DB class is deep, so he could rise up to being a 2nd-3rd round pick.

I can’t wait to see these players perform out on the field, not only on pro days, but on Sunday afternoons in the fall.