Mike Mayock talk-wrapping P-Funk live on NFL Network may have been the highlight of Sunday’s Combine action from Indianapolis.
The on-field drills produced mixed results. Led by Clemson defensive end/outside linebacker prospect Vic Beasley, this group of defensive linemen seemed to impress the scouting community in positional drills and in athletic testing.
LSU defensive end Danielle Hunter led all defensive linemen with a 40-yard dash time of 4.57 seconds. He was one of two speedy players from LSU’s front seven, as linebacker Kwon Alexander finished second among linebackers at 4.55.
Kentucky’s Bud Dupree (4.56), Florida’s Dante Fowler Jr. (4.60) and Mississippi State’s Preston Smith (4.74) also ran well and could’ve helped their draft stock.
Preston Smith made money at the combine. Ran .04 slower than Josh Robinson, matched Benardrick McKinney in broad jump http://t.co/fzpUmoyjef
— Michael Bonner (@michaelbbonner) February 22, 2015
Meanwhile, Mississippi State linebacker Benardrick McKinney didn’t test particularly well and had the NFL Network analysts talking about how he didn’t look as good on film the more they watched.
NFL Network analysts calling McKinney a "flash player." Said he was around the ball but didn't make enough plays.
— Michael Bonner (@michaelbbonner) February 22, 2015
Benardrick McKinney's official 40-time is 4.66. A good time. But scouts also so the slower 4.78 unofficial. Pro Day will be interesting
— Michael Bonner (@michaelbbonner) February 22, 2015
More surprising than his 40, McKinney put up 16 reps in the bench press. That tied for the worst of any LB.
— Michael Bonner (@michaelbbonner) February 22, 2015
Alabama linebacker Trey DePriest had knee surgery after the season and will work out at Alabama’s pro day in March. Missouri defensive end Shane Ray, an outside linebacker prospect, also will delay on-field workouts until Missouri’s pro day due to a toe injury. DePriest is thought to be too slow and limited to be a great pro prospect, while Ray potentially could have produced one of the most outstanding days of the 2015 Combine.
The linebackers in general did not look good in positional drills Sunday, with the NFL Network broadcast openly questioning their pre-Combine training and preparation for those drills.
Slow 40 guy not to write off: Arkansas' @MartrellSpaight. Ran 4.88. Plays faster. SEC asst. coach told me he had better year than McKinney.
— Chase Goodbread (@ChaseGoodbread) February 22, 2015
Here’s the full list of Combine testing from SEC linebackers and defensive linemen on Sunday.
| Player | College | Position | 40 | Reps | Vertical | Broad |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kwon Alexander | LSU | LB | 4.55 | 24 | 36 | 10-1 |
| Neiron Ball | Florida | LB | — | 22 | — | — |
| Angelo Blackson | Auburn | DL | 5.02 | 20 | 31 | 8-5 |
| Xzavier Dickson | Alabama | LB | 4.74 | 19 | 29.5 | 8-4 |
| Bud Dupree | Kentucky | LB | 4.56 | — | 42 | 11-6 |
| Trey Flowers | Arkansas | DL | 4.93 | 28 | 36.5 | 10-1 |
| Dante Fowler Jr. | Florida | LB | 4.60 | 19 | 32.5 | 9-4 |
| Markus Golden | Missouri | DL | 4.90 | — | — | — |
| Amarlo Herrera | Georgia | LB | 4.83 | 23 | 32 | 9-3 |
| Danielle Hunter | LSU | DL | 4.57 | 25 | — | — |
| Benardrick McKinney | Miss. State | LB | 4.66 | 16 | 40.5 | 10-1 |
| Leon Orr | Florida | DL | 5.16 | — | 28 | 9-4 |
| Darius Philon | Arkansas | DL | 5.00 | 26 | 31 | 8-11 |
| Shane Ray | Missouri | DL | — | 21 | — | — |
| Preston Smith | Miss. State | DL | 4.74 | 24 | 34 | 10-1 |
| Za’Darius Smith | Kentucky | DL | 4.83 | 23 | 29 | 9-5 |
| Martrell Spaight | Arkansas | LB | 4.88 | 25 | 35 | 10-0 |
| J.T. Surratt | South Carolina | DL | 5.19 | 29 | 30 | 8-10 |
| Ramik Wilson | Georgia | LB | 4.77 | 23 | 35 | 9-3 |
| Gabe Wright | Auburn | DL | 5.07 | 34 | 26.5 | 9-4 |
An itinerant journalist, Christopher has moved between states 11 times in seven years. Formally an injury-prone Division I 800-meter specialist, he now wanders the Rockies in search of high peaks.
