NFL Combine Recap: Presbyterian’s Bethel Among Biggest Risers

By Josh Buchanan

NFL Columnist

College Sports Journal

 

PHILADELPHIA, PA. — With the NFL combine complete, it’s time to look at those who were helped, others who were hurt, and those that did what was expected at the annual pre-draft, televised extravaganza in Indianapolis in the past week.

 

RISING

Here is a look at at players who helped their stock:

Presbyterian CB Justin Bethel only ran a 4.58 in the 40-yard dash on some hand held clocks in the 4.53 range but tested very well across the board.

He measured in at 5-foot-11.1 and 196 pounds and led all cornerbacks in a deep class with a 39.5-inch vertical jump.

Bethel was second with a 10-foot, 11-inch broad jump, had a 6.79-second 3-cone drill time, and did an impressive 19 bench-press reps in the weight room.

Bethel could potentially land among the top 125 players drafted, especially if he can post 4.4s during his pro day.

If he sticks on his current time he should fall no farther than the sixth round because of his ability to contribute on special teams and play either safety or corner.

One player who helped himself quietly was Richmond quarterback Aaron Corp measured in at 6-3 1/2 and 215 pounds.  He finished fifth in the 40-yard dash with a 4.72 and was sixth in the 3-cone with a 7.03.

Corp, a former Southern Cal starter before transferring to Richmond, also had a 4.73 short-shuttle and beat out Chattanooga’s B. J. Coleman in the drills.

If not for injuries during his college career, Corp is a guy who could have landed in the mid rounds and could still be taken late due to his upside shown by his arm and athletic ability.

He has shown himself on tape to be an accurate, precision passer, who can fit balls into tight windows and an ability to read defenses and go through progressions well.

Samford safety Corey White measured in at 5-11.4 and 206 pounds. He posted impressive times all around finishing third in the broad jump (10-6), third with a 6.72 3-cone, and fifth with a 4.55 40-yard dash.

White was considered a borderline draft pick heading in but likely put himself into the sixth or seventh round with his workout, with a few people thinking he could late in the late fifth round.

FALLING

Chattanooga QB BJ Coleman measured in at 6-3.1 and 233 pounds. Coleman did not throw due to a broken throwing hand so he lost the momentum he gained from the East-West Shrine Game.

He will need a good pro day workout to guarantee he is drafted in the mid-rounds after a tough senior season and not being able to showcase his arm at the combine.

As the only running back from a small school and an early entry, we hoped to see Southern Illinois’ Jewel Hampton perform well but he only measured in at 5-8.6, 218 pounds and did not run. Without any workout numbers on him he will now need his pro day where the pressure is on instead of using the combine to give him two chances to impress scouts and show he is not a 4.6 speed guy.

One corner who could have potentially gone in the second round but might have cooled his stock and put himself more into the fourth-round range is Coastal Carolina CB Josh Norman. Norman ran a 4.66 40-yard dash, had 14 bench-press reps, a 7.09 3-cone, 4.23 short shuttle, 33-inch vertical, and jumped 124 inches in the broad jump.

Outside of his 40, Norman’s workout was not bad, but still left a lot to be desired for a player attracting talk of going as high as the second round. Combined with his off the field concerns it would be no surprise if Norman falls on draft day unless he can improve his 40-yard dash at his pro day on March 27.

Furman CB Ryan Steed did very well during interviews and tested fine in the other drills, but his 40-yard-dash times ranging from 4.68 to 4.72 hurt, especially after many expected a 4.50-4.55 in the 40.

He will run again at the Furman pro day as he will need to improve his times despite putting up decent numbers, especially solid results in the broad jump (10’1) and 3-cone (6.94).  Steed was considered a third or fourth-round pick coming in to the combine but is more likely to go in the fifth- or sixth-round unless he can improve his 40-yard dash time.

DID WHAT WAS EXPECTED

Most people see Appalachian State’s Brian Quick as a guy who did not help himself and while he did not blow it away he performed well. Measuring in at 6-3.6 and 220 pounds, he posted solid times with clocks as low as 4.48 and ranging to 4.55-4.57 on some hand helds.

Quick is a big target, who was described by league sources as someone who “is looking good” during the drills.  Expect him to be a second- or third-round pick. If he runs again and posts 4.4s at ASU then all bets are off and he could rise into the top 50.

NOTES

South Carolina State safety Christian Thompson led all safeties with a 4.50 40-yard dash.

Portland State tackle Dustin Waldron was the strongest of all small schoolers with 29 reps on the bench press.

Yale quarterback Patrick Witt is the lowest rated FCS player on my board at 47 overall.  His rating has more to do with his inconsistent season and the Rhodes Scholarship controversy than anything.

FCS TOP-100 PROSPECTS

Here is a look at how my FCS board looks after the combine workouts heading into pro days this month.

Rank Position Name School Height Weight 40-Times Class Projection

 

1. WR Brian Quick, Appalachian State, 6-3.6, 220, 4.48/4.55, Sr. 2nd

2. FS Trumaine Johnson, Montana, 6-1.7, 204, 4.53/4.61, Sr. 3rd-4th

3. CB Josh Norman, Coastal Carolina, 6-0.2, 197, 4.56/4.66, Sr. 4th

4. OT Tom Compton, South Dakota, 6-4.7, 314, 5.25/5.30, Sr. 5th

5. FS Justin Bethel, Presbyterian, 5-11.1, 196, 4.53/4.58, Sr. 5th

6. CB Ryan Steed, Furman, 5-10.4, 195, 4.68/4.72, Sr. 5th

7. FS Christian Thompson, South Carolina State, 6-0.2, 211, 4.47/4.50, Sr. 5th

8. CB Micah Pellerin, Hampton, 6-0.3, 194, 4.53/4.61, Sr. 5th-6th

9. FB/TE Emil Igwenagu, Massachusetts, 6-1.1, 245, 4.70/4.75, Sr. 5th-6th

10. DB Asa Jackson, Cal Poly, 5-10, 191, 4.49/4.52 Sr. 6th

11. SS Jerron McMillian, Maine, 5-11.1, 203, 4.45/4.56, Sr. 6th-7th

12. QB B.J. Coleman, Tennessee-Chattanooga, 6-3.1, 233, 4.90/4.95, Sr. 7th

13. TE Matt Veldman, North Dakota State, 6-6.7, 257, 4.75/4.82 Sr. 7th

14. OT Dustin Waldron, Portland State, 6-5, 305, 5.22/5.25 Sr. 7th-PFA

15. SS Corey White Samford, 5-11.4, 206, 4.47/4.55, Sr. 7th-PFA

16. WR Tim Benford, Tennessee Tech, 5-11.2, 205, 4.53/4.59, Sr. 7th-PFA

17. QB Aaron Corp, Richmond, 6-3.5, 215, 4.65/4.72 Sr. 7th-PFA

18. FS Janzen Jackson, McNeese State, 5-11.4, 188, 4.57/4.64, Jr. PFA

19. DT Ronnie Cameron, Old Dominion, 6-2, 299, 5.05/5.10, Sr. PFA

20. CB DeAndre Presley, Appalachian State, 5-9.7, 185, 4.56/4.64 Sr. PFA

21. WR Elvis Akpla, Montana State, 6-0.4, 181, 4.45/4.47, Sr., PFA

22. RB Jewel Hampton, Southern Illinois, 5-8.6, 218, 4.55/4.60, Jr. PFA

23. OG Paul Cornick, North Dakota State, 6-5.4, 310, 5.25/5.31, Sr. PFA

24. RB Jonathan Grimes, William & Mary, 5-9.4, 207, 4.55/4.60, Sr. PFA

25. ILB Caleb McSurdy, Montana, 6-1.2, 245, 4.88/4.97, Sr. PFA

26. OT Jeff Adams, Columbia, 6-6, 306, 5.00/5.03, Sr. PFA

27. DE Brian McNally, New Hampshire, 6-2.7, 261, 4.80/4.90, Sr. PFA

28. WR Chris Summers, Liberty, 6-4.2, 211, 4.60/4.65, Sr. PFA

29. OT Nate Doverspike, Sacramento State, 6-5.1, 295, 5.10/5.15, Sr. PFA

30. RB D.J. McNorton, North Dakota State, 5-9.7, 205, 4.55/4.60, Sr. PFA

31. TE Alex Gottlieb, William & Mary, 6-2.7, 250, 4.80/4.85, Sr. PFA

32. DE D.J. Bryant, James Madison, 6-3.2, 245, 4.80/4.83, Sr. PFA

33. ILB Ryan Davis, Bethune-Cookman, 6-2, 256, 4.77/4.81, Sr. PFA

34. SS DeShawn Shead, Portland State, 6-1.4, 216, 4.49/4.50, Sr. PFA

35. ILB, Adrian Hamilton, Prairie View, 6-2, 246, 4.72/4.75, Sr., PFA

36. WR Jermaine Saffold, Missouri State, 5-11.6, 190, 4.45/4.48, Sr. PFA

37. QB Patrick Witt, Yale, 6-3.4, 225, 4.85/4.90 Sr. PFA

38 OLB Donavan Robinson, Jackson State, 6-1.1, 247, 4.65/4.70, Sr. PFA

39. OLB John Jones, Tennessee State, 6-1.7, 219, 4.55/4.60, Sr. PFA

40. OLB Zack Nash, Sacramento State, 6-2.3, 252, 4.85/4.91, Sr. PFA

41. RB Mike Harris, Murray State, 5-8.7, 193, 4.57/4.66, Sr. PFA

42. RB Travaris Cadet, Appalachian State, 5-11.6, 209, 4.49/4.55, Sr. PFA

43. DT Ian Davidson, Hampton, 6-2.2 305, 5.10/5.15, Sr., PFA

44. WR Dale Moss, South Dakota State, 6-3.3, 220, 4.50/4.52, Sr. PFA

45. CB Jeremy Lane, Northwestern State, 5-11.6, 183, 4.47/4.50, Sr. PFA

46. WR Marcus Jackson, Lamar, 6-0.1, 194, 4.49/4.55, Sr. PFA

47. WR Tre Gray, Richmond, 5-10, 180, 4.44/4.45, Sr. PFA

48. WR Mike Brown, Liberty, 5-10.4, 202, 4.60/4.65, Sr. PFA

49. C George Bias, Stephen F. Austin, 6-2, 295, 5.20/5.25, Sr. PFA

50. SS Donovan Richard, South Carolina State, 5-11.7, 218, 4.49/4.53, Sr. PFA

51. QB Nathan Dick, Central Arkansas, 6-3.3, 219, 4.84/4.85, Sr. PFA

52. CB Jeremy Caldwell, Eastern Kentucky, 5-9, 185, 4.50/4.55, Sr. PFA

53. ILB Kadarron Anderson, Furman, 6-0.6, 235, 4.80/4.81, Sr. PFA

54. QB David Legree Hampton, 6-4, 244, 4.78/4.80, Sr. PFA

55. DT Renard Williams, Eastern Washington, 6-1, 302, 5.00/5.03, Sr. PFA

56. WR Brenton Bersin, Wofford, 6-2.6, 202, 4.54/4.57, Sr. PFA

57. CB Dontrell Johnson, Murray State, 5-8.7, 171, 4.45/4.49, Sr. PFA

58. OG Chuck Burton, Montana, 6-5.1, 323, 5.20/5.25, Sr. PFA

59. C D.J. Hall Texas State, 6-1, 300, 5.35/5.40, Sr. PFA

60. WR Terriun Crump, Western Illinois, 6-2.4, 219, 4.55/4.59, Sr. PFA

61. SS Jose Gumbs, Monmouth, 5-10.2, 208, 4.55/4.58 Sr. PFA

62. C Rodney Austin, Elon, 6-2.4, 310, 5.10/5.25, Sr. PFA

63. WR J.J. Hayes, Lamar, 6-2.2, 210, 4.60/4.65, Sr. PFA

64. CB/KR Laron Scott, Georgia Southern, 5-8.1, 173, 4.46/4.48, Sr. PFA/FA

65. WR B.J. Hayes, Liberty, 5-9.1, 195, 4.48/4.50, Sr. PFA/FA

66. RB Nate Eachus, Colgate, 5-10, 210, 4.50/4.53, Sr. PFA/FA

67. WR Chase Deadder, Sacramento State, 6-4, 213, 4.65/4.68, Sr. PFA/FA

68. DT Christo Bilukidi, Georgia State, 6-4, 307, 5.00/5.03, Sr. PFA/FA

69. DE Josue Ortiz, Harvard, 6-4.1, 257, 4.90/4.95, Sr. PFA/FA

70. WR LaQuinton Evans, Southern, 6-0.7, 198, 4.47/4.50, Sr. PFA/FA

71. WR Chris Forcier, Furman, 6-2.2, 215, 4.51/4.55, Sr. PFA/FA

72. OLB Erik Rask, Penn, 6-0.1, 222, 4.68/4.70, Sr. PFA/FA

73. WR Brandyn Reed, Sacramento State, 6-2, 190, 4.57/4.62, Sr. PFA/FA

74. QB Bo Levi Mitchell, Eastern Washington, 6-0.4, 199, 4.85/4.87, Sr. PFA/FA

75. OLB Monte Lewis, Jacksonville State, 6-2.4, 245, 4.75/4.76, Sr. PFA/FA

76. OLB L.J. Fort, Northern Iowa, 6-0.1, 232, 4.70/4.71, Sr., PFA/FA

77. SS Vidal Nelson, James Madison, 5-10.2, 208, 4.60/4.63, Sr. PFA/FA

78. SS Marcus Lott, Coastal Carolina, 6-0.7, 197, 4.53/4.58, Sr. PFA/FA

79. DE Chad King, Old Dominion, 6-2.2, 255, 4.70/4.75, Sr. PFA/FA

80. WR Jared Green, Southern, 6-1.4, 190, 4.40/4.49, Sr. PFA/FA

81. C Gino Gradkowski, Delaware, 6-2.4, 295, 5.30/5.35, Sr. PFA/FA

82. FS Daniel Eaves, North Dakota State, 6-0.1, 200, 4.49/4.50, Sr. PFA/FA

83. ILB Jake Trantin, William & Mary, 6-0.3, 234, 4.75/4.80, Sr. PFA/FA

84. DE Coulter Boyer, North Dakota State, 6-4.4, 245, 4.70/4.75, Sr., PFA/FA

85. SS Darrell Jenkins, McNeese State, 5-10.3, 205, 4.60/4.65, Sr. PFA/FA

86. RB Pushaun Brown, Maine, 5-9.4, 210, 4.52/4.54, Sr. PFA/FA

87. KR Tavoy Moore, Idaho State, 5-6, 193, 4.38/4.42, Sr. PFA/FA

88. OLB Corey Hart, Alabama A&M, 6-1.3, 229, 4.78/4.84, Sr. PFA/FA

89. OLB A.J. Storms, Idaho State, 6-0.2, 235, 4.72/4.75, Sr. PFA/FA

90. DT Edmon McClam, Old Dominion, 6-5.4, 280, 5.00/5.05, Sr. PFA/FA

91. LS Braedyn Eagle, Portland State, 6-2, 240, Sr. PFA/FA

92. DT Myles Wade, Portland State, 6-0.4, 300, 4.95/5.00, Sr. PFA/FA

93. DT Willie McGinnis, Rhode Island, 6-2, 303, 5.20/5.25, Sr. PFA/FA

94. NT Asa Chapman, Liberty, 6-5, 408, 5.40/5.45, Sr. PFA/FA

95. FS DeVonte Reynolds, Norfolk State, 6-2.1, 197, 4.66/4.75, Sr. PFA/FA

96. WR Willie Carter, Howard, 6-1.3, 202, 4.65/4.68, Sr. PFA/FA

97. TE Lamont Bryant, Morgan State, 6-4.2, 221, 4.50/4.57, Sr. PFA/FA

98. OLB Nigel Carr, Alabama State, 6-1.1, 214, 4.58/4.63, Sr., PFA/FA

99. OLB Tyler Osborne, Southern Utah, 6-1.4, 245, 4.80/4.85, Sr. PFA/FA

100. CB A.J. Davis, Jacksonville State, 5-11.3, 176, 4.55/4.56, Sr. PFA/FA

Editor’s Notes: The NFL measures heights down to the tenth of an inch, hence the decimal points for each player. Players at the combine were asked to run the 40-yard dash twice each. PFA stands for preferred free agent, while FA stands for a free agent that might be invited to a mini camp, or signed by a team to attend a training camp.