How Hurricanes fared in NFL combine
Here’s what some Miami Hurricanes draft hopefuls put on tape over the last week at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis:
Didn’t blaze through the 40 — 4.64, though some close to him thought he could run sub-4.6 — but Njoku performed the explosive-power drills well. His vertical leap (37.5 inches), broad jump (133) and three-cone drill (6.97 seconds) were top-five among tight ends at the combine. His broad jump was tied for sixth among all players. Good, but not quite the record-setting performance he wanted. He produced 21 bench reps and a 4. 34 20-yard shuttle. NFL.com’s analysis: “He is still growing into his body and has to add to his play strength, but his playmaking potential and elite traits should make him a first-round pick and a future Pro Bowler.”
Didn’t run the 40, which didn’t help those concerned about his athleticism. But K a ay a r e p o r t e d l y h a d a strong workout Saturday.
“I really love his mental makeup and want to like him more as a prospect,” an NFC director of pro personnel told NFL.com. “I just think someone is going to overdraft the person or the intangibles. At the end of the day, he has to throw with better accuracy and velocity or he’ll be just another guy.”
Coley tied for 12th among receivers in the 40 (4.45) and, as expected, didn’t produce eye-popping strength numbers (10 reps on bench). His vertical (34 inches) and broad jump (122) didn’t stand out. One scout talking to NFL. com had this assessment: “He needs a lot of work but I think he has enough talent to play in the league. I just have doubts that he loves the game. He is notorious over there for kind of coasting on his talent rather than putting in the work he should be.”
At Elder’s size — 5-10, 183 pounds — a fast 40 time could keep his stock high. His 4.55 clip won’t help him with some teams, but apparently some teams wouldn’t take him based on size alone. “I love the player, but he’s too small for what we are asked to look for,” one NFC North area scout told NFL.com. “But someone else is going to get a good player.”
Raise your hand if you thought Jenkins (4.51) would outrun Elder (4.54) at the combine. That’s a good result for Jenkins, who recorded nine interceptions, 15 passes defended and 201 tackles in 38 games at Miami. He was a top performer among safeties in the bench press (19 reps), jumped 37 inches and broad-jumped 128. “He’s not perfect, but come on. He’s big, fast and strong. I mean, if you don’t want that then I don’t know what to say,” an NFC East Coast area scout told NFL.com.
He was a step behind Jenkins in the 40 (4.64), vertical leap (35 inches) and broad jump (122) and tied him with 19 reps on the bench, but Carter’s rock-solid frame (6-1, 218) has always impressed.
A solid but unspectacular performer the last three ye a r s f or Miami, I s i dora helped himself at the combine. His 5.03 40 was fifth among offensive linemen, and 26 reps on the bench tied for seventh.