The goal of the NFL combine for all players in attendance is simple: improve your draft stock despite dealing with the pressure of having the eyes of the entire NFL upon you. Consider that mission accomplished for former Tennessee running back Alvin Kamara.

Following a standout career on Rocky Top, Kamara entered the pre-draft process with as much hype as any running back prospect this offseason. The clamoring for the versatile running back was coming from many prominent voices leading up to the combine, ranging from NFL media to draft experts.

Check out where Kamara’s measured numbers rank against some of the top running backs (Dalvin Cook, Leonard Fournette, Christian McCaffrey) in the 2017 NFL Draft. His vertical and broad jumps were best of the bunch.

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The 40-yard dash is a crucial measurable for every potential NFL running back prospect and Kamara passed that test, as well. The former Tennessee back ran his first 40-yard dash in 4.53 seconds.

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Further displaying his versatility out of the backfield, Kamara showcased his receiving ability while transitioning out to the slot receiver position. His smooth presence outside of the backfield seemed to catch the eye of the former NFL scout and now NFL Media’s Bucky Brooks.

NFL Media draft expert Mike Mayock claimed he knew little about Kamara entering the pre-draft process. After watching tape of the Tennessee-Texas A&M game, Mayock claimed he nearly fell out of his chair. In that game, Kamara rushed 18 times for 127 yards and two touchdowns. He also caught eight passes for 161 yards and another score.

“As far as a guy moving laterally with quickness and explosion, Alvin Kamara is special,” Mayock said during the NFL Network’s live combine broadcast. “I watched his tape against Texas A&M, and I nearly fell over. I think he has first-round talent.”

Although Mayock did bring up the big question surrounding Kamara, why didn’t he play more at the college level?

“Why did he not start? Why did he leave Alabama?” Mayock wondered. “You can ask some questions about him.”

For his entire two-year career at Tennessee, he arrived via junior college after initially starting his career at Alabama – he left the Tide after redshirting his freshman season, Kamara only carried the ball 210 times. Despite his low number of carries, Kamara still managed to get into the end zone 23 times and piled up 1,977 total yards from scrimmage.

During his interview session with the media at the combine, Kamara spun his lack of college touches into a positive – in his own unique way.

To go along with all his impressive feats of athleticism this week in Indianapolis, Kamara even appeared to ace his interview session with NFL teams.

Hard to argue that any one prospect has raised his stock more than Kamara this week at the combine. With the NFL’s growing trend of adding significance back to the running back position, Kamara looks poised to have climbed his way firmly into the first round consideration heading into the draft.

Follow Michael Wayne Bratton / SEC Mike on Twitter.