Former Maryland and Dunbar High star Vernon Davis entered the NFL Scouting Combine last year as a tight end scouts wanted to see. He exited as a tight end teams wanted to have.
And it was all because of his speed: When he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.37 seconds, the Maryland tight end went from intriguing to intoxicating. He cashed in his showing with San Francisco, which selected him with the sixth pick in the first round. His combine showing likely earned him an extra several million dollars in bonus money.
The combine begins today and runs through Wednesday.
Here are five locals hoping to do what Davis did last year:
» Tanard Jackson • CB • Syracuse (Bullis): He enters as a borderline second-round pick. Scouts want to see a good time in the 40, but he proved at the Senior Bowl that he could also play safety.
» Josh Wilson • CB • Maryland (DeMatha): He has already run a 4.29. But Wilson’s size (5-foot-9) works against him; he’s the shortest among the top 30 corners. Most early draft boards have him rated between 10-15 among cornerbacks.
» Tony Hunt • RB • Penn state (T.C. Williams High): A strong bowl game vs. Tennessee and MVP performance in the Senior Bowl helped elevate Hunt’s stature. He is projected to be a second-round pick, with questions surrounding his speed.
» Chad Nkang • LB • ELON (Northwestern High): Size is an issue for the 5-foot-11, 219-pound Nkang. But he had an excellent showing in the Hula Bowl and he runs well, already timed at 4.45.
» Thomas Clayton • RB • Kansas State (Mount Vernon High): At season’s end, he was an unlikely prospect. But he was a mid-week fill-in at the Senior Bowl, where he impressed coaches. Still, at 5-foot-9, he’s considered small.
» Adam Podlesh • P • Maryland: He is considered the top punting prospect, projected to go somewhere in the middle rounds in April.
Prospect perusal
First, players are measured to the eighth of an inch and weighed. Then they are measured for hand-span, reach and flexibility. Then come the drills.
» 40-yard dash. Players also timed at 10 and 20 yards during their runs to test explosiveness. • Last year’s best: Tye Hill, DB, Clemson/ Rams and Tim Jennings, DB, Georgia/Colts, 4.3 seconds.
» Bench press. Players bench 225 pounds as many times as they can. Repetitions not completed to the satisfaction of the coaches running the drill aren’t counted. • Last year’s best: Mike Kudla, DL, Ohio State/ undrafted, 45 repetitions (tied record).
» Vertical jump. Players get two chances to show how high their fingers touch at the peak of their jump. The difference between a player’s reach standing and at the top of his leap is the figure used. • Last year’s best: Gerrick McPhearson, DB, Maryland/Giants, 44 1/2 inches.
» Broad jump. Players jump from a standing position. • Last year’s best: Will Blackmon, WR, Boston College/Packers and Pat Watkins, DB, Florida State/Cowboys, 11 feet, 1 inch.
» Three-cone drill. Titans scout C.O. Brocato usually is given credit for thinking up this staple. A test of speed and change of direction as a player makes his way through three cones set in an L shape with 5 yards between each cone. • Last year’s best: Tye Hill, DB, Clemson/Rams, 6.63 seconds.
» Shuttle drills. A measure of conditioning and explosiveness. For the first (20 yards), players are timed how fast they go 5 yards to the left, 10 yards to the right and 5 yards back to the left. For the second (60 yards), players are timed going 10, 20, 20 and 10 yards. • Last year’s best (20 yards): A.J. Hawk, LB, Ohio State/Packers and Michael Huff, DB, Texas/Raiders, 3.96 seconds. • Last year’s best (60 yards): Derrick Martin, DB, Wyoming/Ravens, 10.69 seconds.
» Position drills. Players go through an on-field football workout geared for their particular position.
