NFL Combine news & notes: Defensive backs take center stage on final day

The 2015 NFL Combine wrapped up its seventh and final day of action Monday with the defensive backs undergoing drills before the dozens of pro scouts, coaches and front office executives in attendance.

Among the defensive backs participating in drills were eight former SEC stars, all hoping to continue the conference’s trend of producing capable NFL talents.

Two players seemed to help themselves more than the rest out of the group of eight former SECers: Ole Miss cornerback Senquez Golson and Alabama safety Landon Collins.

Collins is perceived by many to be the top safety prospect in the draft and a near-lock to be taken in the first round, and he helped his draft stock with a promising 40 time and some productive workouts. According to NFL.com’s Bryan Fischer and Chase Goodbread, Collins’ “draft stock couldn’t be helped much more” after his combine showing.

Fellow NFL Media reporter and top draft analyst Mike Mayock was just as complimentary when discussing Golson’s performance on Monday. The All-American cornerback ran a 4.46-second 40-yard dash after overcoming an illness late last week that some thought might have kept him from running today.

Not only did he run, he ran well, and then shined even brighter in drills.

“Golson tracks the ball as well as anyone I’ve seen in years,” Mayock said after the workouts were complete, although he also warned Golson’s 5-foot-9, 176-pound frame might be too small for some teams’ liking. It’s worth mentioning Golson led the SEC and was second in the nation in interceptions in 2014 with 10 in 13 games.

Jackson Clarion-Ledger Ole Miss beat reporter Hugh Kellenberger was just as impressed with Golson’s workout on Monday, and was less impressed with fellow Ole Miss All-American Cody Prewitt, who ran a 4.6-second 40-yard dash and was only able to complete 11 repetitions at 225 pounds on the bench press.

Senquez Golson quick, catches everything easily during the ball drill.

— Hugh Kellenberger (@KellenbergerGLF) February 23, 2015

Cody Prewitt's second 40 time a disappointing 4.7. Mike Mayock and Deion Sanders commenting on his form.

— Hugh Kellenberger (@KellenbergerGLF) February 23, 2015

(For what it’s worth, the second 40 time was dropped since it was the worse of the two trials, but it was still a chance for scouts to make a decision about Prewitt’s potential at the NFL level.)

Even at 4.6 seconds Prewitt’s 40 time was the slowest among the eight SEC defensive backs in action. The fastest was run by Mississippi State safety Justin Cox, who ran a 4.36-second 40-yard dash and was a full 0.1 seconds clear of his fellow SEC mates.

Here’s a complete rundown of the eight SEC players’ results in workouts on Monday in Indianapolis:

DEFENSIVE BACK WORKOUT RESULTS