There's a lot of debate about how well the 40-yard dash and other tests that measure speed, agility and strength at the NFL Scouting Combine translate into production on the football field.
But one thing for certain is that the nation's top draft-eligible college prospects delivered some very impressive performances at this year's annual event at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
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Defensive backs gather after completing position drills Tuesday at the Combine in Indianapolis. |
According to NFL.com, Moe finished first in the 60-yard shuttle (10.87), second in the three-cone drill (6.53) and third in the 20-yard shuttle (3.96). The other four Combine events are the 40-yard dash, the bench press, the vertical jump and the broad jump.
Moe caught 92 passes for 1,045 yards and six touchdowns as a sophomore in 2010, but his production decreased to 54-649-4 as a junior and went down again to 40-399-1 as a senior.
Pro Football Weekly's 2013 Draft Guide describes Moe as a "tough, urgent, sure-handed, highly competitive slot receiver with enough agility and wiggle to earn a living moving the sticks."
Another prospect who would have "medaled" in multiple events at the Combine was William & Mary cornerback B.W. Webb, who finished first in the 20-yard shuttle (3.84) and second in the 60-yard shuttle (11.06).
Webb was a four-year starter at William & Mary, where he recorded 151 career tackles, 27 pass breakups and 11 interceptions while starting all 48 games he played. Eight of his picks came in 2009 when he was a freshman.
A third prospect who finished in the top three in two events was Southern Miss outside linebacker Jamie Collins, who set a Combine record in winning the broad jump (11'7") and finished second in the vertical jump (41.5").
The fastest time in the 40 was produced by Texas receiver Marquise Goodwin, who ran a blazing 4.27. A finalist in the long jump at the 2012 Olympics in London, Goodwin had 26 receptions for 340 yards and three touchdowns last season for the Longhorns.
Pro Football Weekly describes Goodwin as a better athlete than football player who is "relatively raw but shows the ability to take the top off a defense and has been building momentum since season's end."
West Virginia receiver Tavon Austin, Auburn running back Onterio McCalebb and Texas A&M receiver Ryan Swope tied for second in the 40 at 4.34.
The top performers in the bench press were SMU defensive end Margus Hunt and Missouri Southern defensive tackle Brandon Williams, who each produced 38 reps. Illinois defensive tackle Akeem Spence was third with 37.
Hunt may be the most intriguing prospect in the draft. He was a track-and-field star while growing up in Estonia and didn't begin playing football until after arriving at SMU as a shot putter and discus thrower. The 6-8, 275-pounder blocked 17 kicks during his career with the Mustangs.
Texas A&M running back Christine Michael won the "gold" in the vertical jump (43'0'). The 5-10, 221-pounder rushed for 2,791 yards and 34 touchdowns in four seasons for the Aggies while appearing in 40 games with 18 starts.
Pro Football Weekly describes Michael as "a compactly built, powerful inside runner with starter-caliber, first-round physical traits and a free-agent make-up." The publication notes that "immaturity landed Michael in the coaches' doghouse and made his senior year the worst" and he "needs to figure out what it means to be a pro to make it."