WR Dezmon Briscoe Kansas- DOWN
He’s a talented physical receiver, but receivers who run 4.61 40s normally have a lot of trouble gaining separation in the NFL. I was afraid his time would be bad, but I didn’t expect this bad.
RB/WR Antonio Brown- Central Michigan DOWN
When you’re trying to pass yourself off as the next great speed guy, that running back/wide receiver who can be an explosive playmaker on special teams as well, the type of guy who can score whenever the ball is in his hands, it’s best not to run a 4.50.
WR Marcus Easley- Connecticut UP
An amazing story that doesn’t get told, Easley is a former walk on turned star receiver. He had 48 catches for 893 yards and 8 scores this year and now he is showing some very impressive athleticism at the combine by running a 4.46 at 6-3 210. He’s a tremendous athlete with a great work ethic and you can do a lot worse than that in the late rounds.
WR Jacoby Ford- Clemson UP
Ford currently holds the record for fastest 40 time at the 2010 combine by running a blazing 4.28. He didn’t produce much on the field last year, but speed thrills. He should be a solid slot receiver, who can help on special teams, at the next level.
WR Marshawn Gilyard– Cincinnati DOWN
I have a feeling Gilyard was just having a bad day, he looked WAY faster this season than the 4.56 he ran today. However, I’m moving him down my board a little until he runs a faster time at his Pro Day.
WR Brandon LaFell– LSU DOWN
He wasn’t supposed to be a speed demon, but a 4.59 hurts a lot. He’s not going to get a lot of separation at the next level. He also measured in at 6-2 this week instead of 6-4 so his stock could be taking a drop this week.
WR Jordan Shipley– Texas DOWN
Again, maybe another guy who has having a bad day, but a 4.57 hurts his stock until he proves himself to be faster than that at his pro day. This is a guy who needs to be fast at the next level to succeed.
WR Golden Tate– Notre Dame UP
He’s got more speed than I thought. I was expecting 4.4-4.45 and he ran 4.36 on a day where some receivers have been running slower than expected. I still have concerns about his ability to be a #1 option at 5-10, but this kind of speed helps.
WR Stephen Williams- Toledo UP
A bit of an unknown to most this week, but a 4.48 40 at 6-4 210 will get you noticed, as will his 10-5 broad jump.
RB Jahvid Best – California UP
Jahvid Best just ran faster than CJ Spiller (4.35 compared to 4.37). Now what is Spiller better at? Best is the more complete back of the two, the only thing that Spiller could really say was that his speed was on another level. Now that doesn’t appear to be the case. Best is a better between the tackles runner, he’s more explosive. The only real thing Spiller does better is catch passes. I have compared Spiller to a gimmick weapon type guy like Reggie Bush all along and Best to a speed feature back like Jamaal Charles. In a few years, when Best is the better runner, you heard it here. Yet despite all this, Spiller is getting more hype because of his “unofficial” 4.27. It’s unofficial for a reason.
RB Andre Dixon- Connecticut DOWN
A 4.64 at 6-1 205 doesn’t help his stock. Dixon was never a dominant performer on the field and he does have a history of character issues and legal problems. He’ll find it hard to get drafted.
RB Jonathan Dwyer– Georgia Tech DOWN
Dwyer’s workout today proved what his weigh in showed and what people all around the NFL have been saying all week. He’s out of shape. At 5-11 229, Dwyer ran a 4.59, which isn’t awful, but when you consider his second time was 4.69, it looks a lot worse. He also only benched 15 reps, 3rd fewest of all RBs.
RB/FB Toby Gerhart– Stanford UP
Gerhart proved that just because he’s white, doesn’t mean he’s not athletic. Gerhart ran a very impressive 4.53 at 6-0 231 and also had a 38 inch vertical and 22 reps of 225 pounds. He likely shot himself ahead of a plummeting Jonathan Dwyer.
RB Montario Hardesty- Tennessee UP
Hardesty is a favorite sleeper of mine. He could be that mid round running back who takes over a starting job in the NFL. He has good hands as a pass catcher and as a pass blocker and a good combination of size and speed. He has all the things you look for in a feature back. He just needs to put them together. On a day of slow 40s, a 4.49 at 6-0 225 is great. He also led all running backs in broad jump, 10 feet 4 inches, and vertical leap, 41 inches and had 21 reps of 225 pounds.
RB Ryan Matthews– Fresno State UP
Matthews would have moved up anyway given Jonathan Dwyer’s stink bomb because the two are compared often because both are considered future feature backs. However, that’s not the only reason he’s moving up. A 4.41 40 at 6-0 218 turned a lot of heads. He’s a good pass catcher and a great pass blocker for his age and he also runs extremely well. He could go 28th to San Diego because he has everything they look for in a back.
RB/WR Dexter McCluster– Mississippi DOWN
Surprisingly, his 4.55 40 at 5-9 173 doesn’t hurt him that much in my book, but it has to hurt him some considering we were expecting a high 4.3, maybe low 4.4 at worse. However, this is one of those guys who is faster in pads than he is timed and stronger than his size. He should still catch on somewhere in the NFL as that Percy Harvin type player.
RB James Starks– Buffalo UP
He lost his 2009 season due to a shoulder injury, but before that he had two straight season of 1000 yards, 3000 career yards, and 53 catches in 2008. He looked very healthy today running a very impressive 4.48 at 6-2 218. He’s a big back that runs well and can catch passes and reminds me a lot of a Tim Hightower type guy.
RB Ben Tate- Auburn UP
Quietly had a very impressive day with a 4.45 40 at 5-11 220, along with a 40.5 inch vertical, a 10 foot 4 inch broad jump and a position leading 26 reps of 225 pounds. He’s always had the athleticism, but he’s been plagued by inconsistencies in the past so it’ll be interesting to see if he puts it together at the next level because if he does, he’s going to be a good player.
RB Keith Totson- Oklahoma State DOWN
When he woke up this morning, running a 4.70 at 6-0 213 was probably not on his to do list. That’s pretty ugly.
WR Chris Long- Louisville UP
Certainly filled up his measurables chart in a big way with a 4.46 40 at 6-2 216, along with a 41.5 inch vertical and a 10 foot 3 inch broad jump. I still have questions about what kind of football player he is, but the athleticism is there.
WR Emmanuel Sanders- SMU UP
He ran a very impressive 4.41 at 5-11 186 to go with a 39.5 inch vertical and a 10 foot 6 inch broad jump, highest of any prospect all day. He’s a solid kick returner who can help in the receiving game as well and you can do a lot worse than that in the 6th round range.
QB/RB Jarrett Brown– West Virginia UP
40 times don’t matter a ton to quarterbacks, but a 4.54 will get you noticed, especially when you’re someone who may have to play another position at the NFL level. He’s a project, but he has upside at multiple positions including quarterback and running back.
Football Fan Spot 