One of the underrated aspects to the NFL Combine is the media’s access to a large amount of NFL scouts.

Scouts rarely want to speak on the record, and when they do, it’s almost always under the shield of anonymity to avoid giving away any of the secrets held by the team for which they work.

That’s why this piece from the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel’s Bob McGinn is a fun read. It’s full of anonymous analysis from pro scouts on several of the top prospects for this year’s draft.

The profile on former Ole Miss DL Robert Nkemdiche is of particular interest to SEC fans:

Robert Nkemdiche*, DT, Mississippi: 6-3, 294. Kicked off team 10 days before Rebels’ bowl game after having his 15-foot fall from a hotel wall interrupted by a bush. “I was drunk,” he said Friday. “It was a blunder. I have changed. I have cleaned up a little bit.” Third-year junior started 34 games. “He’s really a different kid,” said one scout. “He may scare some people. He’s strange strange.” Finished with seven sacks. “He’s got as much ability as anybody, if not more,” another scout said. “Three-technique is his best position. He’s a little bit up and down, but his good plays are very, very good. But there’s some things that have to be answered and worked through.” Added a third scout: “His character will keep him off the board for us. He’s talented enough to be in the top 10. But holy (expletive), buyer beware on this one.”

So let’s break that down a little.

  • One scout calls him “different” and “strange”, indicating that his personality may scare some teams off.
  • Another scout praises his ability, but also criticizes his consistency. That’s something we heard throughout his career with the Rebels.
  • The third scout says his character is enough to keep him off his team’s board altogether, dropping the feared “buyer beware” tag on him.

Nkemdiche may be one of the most interesting players to follow on NFL Draft weekend.

Anytime you pair Top 10 talent with red flags, it becomes really tough to predict when that play may come off the board.

But as the saying goes, “it only takes one team” to fall in love with his abilities to make him a top draft pick.