Every year, the NFL Scouting Combine provides prospects the opportunity to wow scouts. Some players are underwhelming as they are unable to produce on the massive hype that they receive throughout the season. Other prospects turn scouts heads with some ridiculous numbers.
Here are the five players who improved their draft stock at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis the most.
Justice Hill, RB Oklahoma State
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bug12F6FCU3/
Entering the Combine, Hill was not seen as a player that was going to wow the scouts with his athleticism. The Oklahoma State product ran for 930 yards and nine touchdowns in his final season, failing to eclipse the 1,000-yard plateau in any season he played. Hill moved himself up the draft board in Indianapolis as he had the best showing at running back by far.
He only competed in four athletic drills at the combine but finished first in three of them. Hill ran a 4.4 second 40-yard dash, recorded a 40-inch vertical and jumped 130 inches in the broad jump. His 21 reps on the bench press were tied for 10th best at the combine, placing him in the top 10 in every drill he participated in. Hill’s performance at the scouting combine may not have moved him into the first round, but he will definitely hear his name within the first 100 picks.
D.K. Metcalf, WR Ole Miss
https://www.instagram.com/p/BuhPfyWl-OI/
Metcalf was making headlines before the combine even started when he released a shirtless picture of himself on Instagram. The former Rebel missed the last five games of the season due to a neck injury and needed a strong showing in Indianapolis to assuage the scouts’ concern. Metcalf definitely did that as he had one of the best combine performances in recent memory.
His blistering time of 4.33 seconds in the 40-yard dash is the fastest 40-time of any player weighing over 225 pounds. Metcalf also had 27 reps on the bench press and had a 40.5-inch vertical. The Ole Miss wide receiver was a first-round pick heading into the combine, but he’ll now be a lock to go in the top 10.
Montez Sweat, DE Mississippi State
https://www.instagram.com/p/Buj094XgWFf/
The second SEC player from a Mississippi school, Sweat had a stellar combine performance. He set the record for all edge defenders with a 4.41 second 40-yard dash, faster than New York Giants receiver Odell Beckham. Sweat weighed in at 260 pounds, making his 40-time even more impressive.
His work on the field drills was equally impressive as he was able to use his speed to gain leverage. Sweat also had a 4.29 20-yard shuttle, showing scouts that he also has good short area quickness. The Mississippi State product proved to scouts that he is worth taking with a top 10 pick in the 2019 Draft.
Rashan Gary, DL Michigan
https://www.instagram.com/p/BujyGFiB7KM/
Big things were expected from Gary at Michigan as he was rated as the top recruit in the country in the class of 2016. While his numbers do not jump off the page, Gary was seen as a first round pick due to his crazy athleticism. The 277-pound lineman put his athleticism on display at the combine with a 4.58 second 40-time.
Gary’s time is almost the same as All-Pro wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins and better than Le’Veon Bell and Zach Ertz. His short shuttle, broad jump and vertical jump were all among the top five at the position in Indianapolis, cementing his place as one of the draft’s top athletes. Gary is a lock to go in the top 10 and could maybe hear his name in the top five.
Miles Boykin, WR Notre Dame
https://www.instagram.com/p/BukMPe4ggIT/
Boykin entered the NFL Scouting Combine with little much hype around his name. He left Indianapolis with a lot of noise after a stellar combine. Boykin had a combine best 43.5-inch vertical at 6-foot-4, 220 pounds.
His 11-foot-8 broad jump was third best in the combine and had a solid 40-time at 4.42 seconds. Boykin’s 12 reps on the bench press leaves a lot to be desired, but he made up for it in the three-cone drill and short shuttle. The Notre Dame wide receiver may have risen his stock more than any other player in Indianapolis as Boykin proved he was one of the draft’s best athletes.
