Winners:

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Bhaystul Tuten- RB

The Virginia Tech running back solidified his status as a mid-round draft pick after being relatively unknown before the draft. Tuten had a 4.32 40-yard dash, which was best among running backs, and faster than Jamhyr Gibbs and Saquon Barkley. Tuten also led all running backs with a 40.5 inch vertical and a 1.49 10-yard split. His senior season stats were respectable at Virginia Tech, with 1,159 rushing yards, 6.3 yards per rush, and 17 total touchdowns. 

Nick Emmanwori- S

Emmanwori was listed in the 89th percentile for weight, and led all safeties in the 10-yard split, vertical jump, broad jump, and bench press. In addition, Emmanwori also ran a 4.38 40-yard dash, which was second among all safeties. He vaulted up in first round pick status, and his freaky athletic traits were on full display at the combine. 

Shemar Stewart- EDGE

Stewart may have vaulted into top-10 status after an elite combine performance. Stewart had a 40-inch vertical, 10 ft 11-inch broad jump, and a 4.60 40-yard dash. He also weighed in at 267 pounds at the combine, a stark difference from the 280-290 listed at Texas A&M. Stewart’s combine performance was extremely similar to Myles Garrett’s, but Stewart only had 4.5 sacks in college, compared to Garrett’s 32.5

Jahdae Barron- CB

Barron’s game tape at Texas showed his prowess for versatility, football IQ, and ball skills, but most teams were concerned about his physicals. He ran a 4.39 40-yard dash, which is in the top 10 for cornerbacks, and answered questions about his speed, although his frame is a bit small at 5’11, 194 pounds. Barron’s physicals and game tape make him a good candidate to be one of the first three cornerbacks off the board in round 1. 

Armand Membou-OL 

Membou’s mix of size and athletic traits were on display in Indianapolis, as he posted a 4.91 40-yard dash, good for second among offensive lineman. Also, Membou posted a 34-inch vertical jump, good for top four among offensive lineman, and posted a 9ft, 7 inch broad jump, first among all offensive lineman. Paired with 33.5 arms and a frame of 6’4 332 pounds, Membou proved to teams he can be a top 15 pick and may be able to play tackle in the NFL. 

Honorable Mentions:

Landon Jackson- EDGE, Matthew Golden- WR, Brady Cook/Jaxson Dart- QB, Maxwell Hairston-CB

Losers:

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Isaiah Bond- WR

Let’s be honest: I’m sure you all knew this was coming. Bond talked about how he would break the 40-yard dash record, only to run it in 4.39 seconds, which was 9th for receivers. Concerns about Bond’s consistency after his last year with Texas were not answered, and he didn’t even test well in the area he is known for: game-breaking speed. His fellow teammate, Matthew Golden, outperformed him and is probably going to be a first-rounder. 

Adbul Carter- EDGE

Even though Carter didn’t test at the Combine, the news of his new foot injury, which may need surgery, decreases his chances of becoming the No.1 pick in the draft. In addition, Carter’s entire medical history may present a red flag to teams, as he played through a shoulder injury in Penn State’s college football playoff run. There is no doubt that Carter has the talent, but his medicals may cause him to drop a few spots in the draft. 

Will Howard/Dillion Gabriel- QB

I grouped both quarterbacks because they were simply outperformed by their peers at the Combine. Howard and Gabriel both struggled with their accuracy during the throwing drills, and Gabriel’s long windup made it difficult for him to complete the deep passes. Howard also struggled with deep passes and did not test well enough athletically to break away from the stereotype that he was a product of his surroundings at Ohio State. According to Chris Trapasso, Will Howard’s performance at the combine was “ugly.” As a result, both he Dillon Gabriel will likely be 3rd-5th round picks with limited upside. 

Will Campbell- OL

Even though Campbell tested extremely well at the Combine, teams are going to be wary about his hand size of 32 ⅝ inches, which is well below the average size of 34 inches that NFL teams look for. Campbell’s measurements with teams before the draft and at his Pro Day will play a huge role going forward in the draft process. 

Tez Johnson- WR

Johnson measured in at 5’10 and only 154 pounds, the lightest weight for a skill position player since 1999. Johnson’s 4.51 40-yard dash was unimpressive for a player that showcased elite speed during his time at Oregon. Teams will be concerned about Johnson’s separation ability against stronger, physical cornerbacks in the NFL, and he may need to put on 20-30 pounds of weight. 

Honorable Mentions:

Malaki Starks-S, Jack Sawyer-EDGE, Harold Fannin Jr.-TE, Shedeur Sanders- QB