The NFL Draft season has officially arrived again this week with the start of the scouting combine in Indianapolis.
With the draft itself just two months away, the team is already putting in a lot of legwork to assess prospects in their upcoming class. However, testing, field work, interviews and medical evaluations result in a closed-room sealed process as the four-day drill is broadcast on national television.
Not all top participants will participate in every part of the event. Colorado quarterback Chedure Sanders is already set to step down from his field job. However, while the impact of player performance is rarely readily obvious, there are always some standouts that build a fair amount of talk for themselves, especially given that medical checks and interviews are not open to the public.
With that in mind, there are 10 players who could become the biggest stars of this year’s Combine.
QB Jalen Milroe, Alabama
From an athletic perspective, Millow could be in his own class in this year’s quarterback group. The 6-foot-1, 220-pounder rips into tight windows and easily pushes the ball down and displays a quick release. He also forces his defense to explain the speed of his game-breaking, a major threat in both his designed run and scramble. He still struggles to throw with hope and doesn’t work in the rhythm of his pocket, so finer points of position often run away from him. However, the combine should serve as a showcase for his advantages, and there are few questions he should test very well.
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RB Bhayshul Tuten, Virginia Tech
Even in the deep class for running backs, Chuten stands out as a big play threat. The 5-11, 209 pounder averaged 6.3 yards per carry last season, allowing him to reach two levels by utilizing contact balance and toughness before unlocking long speeds. A 40-yard dash and vertical jump should enhance how explosive the previous track’s outstandingness is, but it can also show fluidity as a runner during a drill.
WR Sabion Williams, TCU
At 6-5 pounds and 225 pounds in an explosive burst, Williams offers a package of impressive traits as he is likened to the ultra-elevated Cordarrelle Patterson. However, the comparison highlights that the all-purpose threat hasn’t put it all together as a receiver as he struggles with drops and improves his route running. However, in the test, Williams should have no problem showing off his advantages. His unusual blend of strength and accumulation rate should be evident to spectators. However, the gauntlet drill becomes an important part of his work on the field.
Isaiah Bond, Texas
On his move from Alabama, Bond caused many comparisons to Xavier’s worthy of the Longhorns as the next smallest speedster. However, the Texas offense gave him a limited opportunity to showcase his downfield ability as the 5-11, 180-pounder notched just 34 catches for 580 yards in 2024. -meter Dash – Place in one of the fastest 40 yards of 40 yards seems like a long shot despite threatening a Worthy record of 4.21 seconds.
Arian Smith, Georgia
This year’s fastest 40-hour search at the combine may start and end with Smith. The 6-0, 185 pound target competed in the 2021 NCAA Athletics Championships and ran a ferocious 10.10 runs in the 100 metres before deciding to focus on football full-time. After he averaged 17 yards per 17 yards in his much-anticipated breakout campaign last season, the team is certainly drawn to the prospect of taking him as a threat to the next big play.
G Donovan Jackson, Ohio
Offensive line performance at the combine can often be overlooked, but Jackson may be the exception. The previous five-star recruit inevitably moved to the left tackle during the Buckeyes national title run, and he has been rising ever since. The 6-4, 320-pounder is a smooth mover that should show off his impressive strength and fluidity, which should help him further push into the first round.
Dechemer Stewart, Texas A&M
6-5, 281 pounder already enjoys pre-draft ascension after displaying a singular blend of physical tools during senior bowl practice. His rise should continue with a combine that could post one of the best weight-adjusted 40-yard dashes of all participants. With its rare explosiveness, Stewart was also able to post top marks on vertical leaps and wide jumps.
DT Kenneth Grant, Michigan
Nose tackles don’t usually command the Indianapolis spotlight, but Grant is certainly an outlier in his position. The 6-3, 342-pounder is Jordan Davis this year, and could be a massive defensive lineman with a speedy, chasing ball carriers on open fields. It has sex. Like Davis, he is inconsistent and has not reached his potential as a pass rush, but this event should allow him to show off his abilities.
CB/WR Travis Hunter, Colorado
The list that identifies potential top performers in the combine must include Heisman Trophy winners. Hunter’s skill set, whether cornerback or receiver, is listed in the former for training, but it doesn’t really shine outside of game settings, so it’s not entirely capturing in this forum. However, the 6-1, 185-pounder should be able to take part in the show with his finest speed and jumping ability.
Nick Emanwy, South Carolina
His physical features are 6-3, 227 pounds of safety and recovery speed of 627 pounds can handle any number of coverage allocations, making him nearly ideal for positions. He is an ongoing job against execution and still learning to become a more instinctive defender, but he is a strong candidate who posts one of the top-wide test profiles a week. This could be his ticket to solidify the spot somewhere in the first round.
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