Center Humphrey’s pro day ‘ like watching Frankenstein’

Centers don’t get to show off their natural athleticism all too often.

Therefore, when Oklahoma center Creed Humphrey went through each of his pro day drills last Friday, those watching him virtually were astonished at the numbers he put up. He hit a vertical jump of 33 inches. His broad jump totaled 112 inches. He repped 225 pounds 29 times on the bench press. His three- cone drill was timed at 7.54 seconds. He posted a time of 4.46 seconds in the 5- 10- 5 shuttle.

All of those marks would have ranked in the top fifive of the 2020 NFL combine.

Even Humphrey’s 40- yard dash was good for an offensive lineman, at 5.09 seconds.

For an interior lineman looking for a way to elevate his draft stock, Humphrey’s performance just might have accomplished that feat.

“At Oklahoma, I ’ m not asked to do a ton athletically. We’re a heavy gap scheme team,” Humphrey said. “I’m blocking back a ton. It was different for me to be able to go out there to show my athleticism. I was pretty happy with how I did. There were a couple of things I could’ve done better but I was pretty happy overall.”

Humphrey was already considered the top center in this year’s draft class. It will be interesting to see if his newfound status as a workout warrior could catapult him from a projected second- rounder to the latter part of the fifirst round. Due to the NFL’S influx of quality pass- rushing defensive tackles, the market for good interior offensive linemen has greatly increased over the years.

Some of those who know Humphrey well were awestruck with what they witnessed Friday.

“If you look at Creed, he can do stuffff like a skill guy but he’s a 300- pound center,” defensive end Ronnie Perkins said. “But he’s probably more flflexible than more skill guys. Watching him is like watching Frankenstein. He’s a freak really.”

Said Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley: “It’s pretty unique. Being in there, it was one of the more impressive individual pro day workouts I’ve seen. He’s a great athlete, he really is. … It’s kind of hard to believe he’s a center, honestly, when watching him.”

Oklahoma offffffffffffensive tackle Adrian Ealy wasn’t too surprised with Humphrey’s outing, however. Having played with him on the line, Ealy fifififigured Humphrey would put on a show. “People don’t understand how explosive he is,” Ealy said. “The numbers he put up are really unbelievable for not just an offffffffffffensive lineman but for his position ( at center). Of course, I got a chance to show my athleticism getting out on some screens and whatnot. Creed didn’t get that chance. At the end of the day I knew coming in that Creed was going to put up some numbers.”

Humphrey said he molds his game after three centers who retired in recent years — Travis Frederick, Maurkice Pouncey and Nick Mangold. He also noted his leadership traits make him an ideal candidate to be taken early, since he was voted to be a team captain by his peers over the past two years.

While Humphrey views himself as a center, he’s willing to play guard if the situation presents itself. The Falcons could use additional help on the offffffffffffensive line, specififically at left guard since they recently released James Carpenter for salary cap reasons. Although Alex Mack, the Falcons’ center for the past fifive years, is expected to hit free agency, last year’s third- round pick Matt Hennessy was taken to fifill that role in the long term.

However, with a new front office and coaching st aff, ideas may be difffffffffffferent in this area, which could open up possibilities to look at other options on the offffffffffffensive line.

If the Falcons are interested in Humphrey, he still won’t be an option at fourth overall. Even if the Falcons trade back to the middle of the fifirst round, the likelihood of taking an interior lineman in that range is slim to none. But with his pro day performance, coinciding with the tape he put together as a three- year starter at Oklahoma, Humphrey could be someone to keep an eye on if he’s available in the early second round at the 35th selection.

JOHN BAZEMORE/ AP Ronald Acuna Jr. has four hits in his past four games, including the three homers. “Good takes. He’s not chasing. You can tell, seeing the at- bats, that he’s getting locked in a little bit,” manager Brian Snitker said.