INDIANAPOLIS — Players can be made or broken at the NFL Scouting Combine, and these five players handled the pressure and left Lucas Oil Field as first-round prospects:
Bruce Campbell, LT, Maryland
He has a superb body and backed that up with a sparkling workout. Can all the teams that need a left tackle pass on Campbell in the first round? Don’t think so, although he remains a risky pick.
"I’ve never seen a guy that looks that good in a pair of shorts as far as what a tackle should be—long arms, unbelievable shape, tested unbelievably well," NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock said. "But he’s a junior with 17 starts. There’s a lot of average tape on him. I’m not trying to kill him; I’m trying to be honest. If you tell me he’s a top-10 or -15 pick, that’s too rich for my blood. I gave him a second-round grade based on upside, but somebody’s going to get carried away with what he did this weekend."
Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma
After missing last season with a knee injury, Gresham looked healthy and underwent intense medical testing at the Combine. "I’ve been yanked and tugged on, and not one doctor said anything bad," Gresham said. He is the only tight end worthy of a first-round pick, making it difficult for teams like the Bengals and Ravens to pass on him.
Sergio Kindle, OLB, Texas
His skills suit a 3-4 scheme, and more teams are switching to that defense. The Dolphins (No. 12) need help at linebacker, but if Kindle slips past them he will not go much further.
"He’s every bit as good as, if not better than, (the Redskins’ Brian) Orakpo, who had a very good year," Mayock said.
Taylor Mays, S, Southern Cal
He left mouths agape Tuesday after running a 4.43-second 40-yard dash—the fastest time among all defensive backs. A 6-3, 230-pound thumper, Mays now could be a top-20 pick.
Jared Odrick, DT, Penn State
He had a strong Senior Bowl and showed surprising quickness, agility and athleticism at the Combine. He also could break into the top 20.
This story appears in March 3’s edition of Sporting News Today. If you are not receiving Sporting News Today, the only daily digital sports newspaper, sign up today.
Senior writer Clifton Brown covers the NFL for Sporting News. E-mail him at cliftonbrown@sportingnews.com.