The NFL Combine is a spot for prospects to actually get away and enhance their draft inventory. In some instances, it’s merely a matter of the media catching as much as the knowledge to which groups are already privy. Here are among the lesser identified prospects that would enhance their respective inventory in Indianapolis:
Andre Carter II, EDGE, Army
Carter is a protracted edge rusher with an athletic construct. The Texas native strikes nicely for his measurement. He amassed 15.5 sacks as a junior final season. He is competing to be the primary service academy prospect drafted within the top-50 since Navy sort out Bob Reifsnyder was taken No. 45 general as a part of the 1959 NFL Draft. The trigger for concern has been his competency as a run defender setting the sting and becoming run gaps.
Army coaching will not be essentially conducive to including and sustaining mass. Inside of an expert soccer setting, can Carter turn into a extra well-rounded participant able to being an each down defender?
Jacob Copeland, WR Maryland
Shrine Bowl director of soccer operations Eric Galko believes that Copeland might run sub-4.3 seconds in Indianapolis. Copeland, a Florida switch, has had modest manufacturing throughout his profession. Film exhibits a large receiver with an understanding of how one can sink his hips into his breaks. If he can carry out extra persistently, whereas sustaining his observe caliber pace, then the sky is the restrict in his profession.
Blake Freeland, OT, BYU
Freeland can be one of many longer offensive linemen standing at 6-foot-7 with a formidable wingspan. A fast dive into the lineman’s background tells the story of his athleticism. He was a three-time captain on the soccer staff, two-time captain on the basketball staff six-time all-state member in observe and area. The Utah native ought to stand out throughout the on-field portion of the exercises.
Freeland has already been mentioned a possible top-50 prospect however a robust displaying on the Combine might enhance his identify into the first-round dialog.
Andrei Iosivas, WR, Princeton
A 12 months in the past, North Dakota State’s Christian Watson was a draft darling as a participant with nice pace and a boundary receiver’s body. Iosivas is making the same leap in competitors stage however has had high quality manufacturing over the previous two seasons (107 receptions for 1,646 yards and 12 touchdowns). The buzz has not inbuilt the identical method because it did for Watson however groups can be captivated by his athletic body and traits.
Terell Smith, CB, Minnesota
Smith has been lightly-discussed throughout the pre-draft course of however the tape tells the story of a participant to not be missed. He gained the Georgia State Championship within the 100 meter sprint with a time of 10.39 seconds. He can flip his hips and keep in-phase up the boundary with ease. One concern from his junior to senior seasons was his over aggression downfield. It was not unusual to see Smith in protection carrying boxing gloves at Minnesota practices this fall.
Brenton Strange, TE, Penn State
Strange is extra within the mildew of an F-tight finish, like Maryland’s Chig Okonkwo a 12 months in the past. He has not had eye-opening manufacturing however he’s a fluid athlete that blocks with good leverage and seals the nook. Perhaps there’s a little bit of bias in play as Strange grew up about quarter-hour away from my hometown in Parkersburg, West Virginia. Penn State prospects all the time run quick throughout the pre-draft course of and Strange is predicted to proceed that legacy.
Tuli Tuipulotu, DL, USC
Tuipulotu spent most of his remaining season in Los Angeles enjoying on the sting regardless of his 6-foot-4, 290-pound body. His work speeding the arc has given him a possibility to develop his go rush strikes and turn into a extra fluid athlete; that ought to serve him nicely testing alongside greater gamers with out that publicity. However, the early phases of his NFL profession will seemingly carry carry frustration as he furthers his improvement as an inside defender.
Carrington Valentine, CB, Kentucky
Valentine has good measurement and aggressive toughness to be a person protection cornerback within the NFL. He has to turn into a extra constant tackler however this can be a participant that has reworked his physique for the reason that faculty season concluded and will run within the 4.4s.
The Cincinnati native has not been a standard identify in draft protection however that ought to change with a robust outing in Indianapolis this week.
