It’s combine time, the male version of a swimsuit calendar shoot. But don’t get too high or too low about this stuff. Like my friend Bill Smith says, “beware the workout warrior.” The site of the past Super Bowl, Indianapolis is also hosting the 2012 NFL Draft Scouting Combine. Let’s take a look at who’s draft stock is trading higher and who’s trading lower after the workouts.
BUYING
Jeff Allen, Illinois Fighting Illini
The big OT put up good numbers on the bench press and the 40, and resurrected his draft stock. The Illini OL just fell off the map in the second half of the 2011 season, and Allen was one of their leaders, so some of that falls on him. But individually he is finding his groove and could be a round 2-4 pick.
From Walter Football:
Praised by Mike Mayock during the NFL Network telecast, the Illinois product also had a quality Senior Bowl, so he should be rising up draft boards.
Kelechi Osemele, Iowa State
An OG prospect who’s long arm length and bench press reps propelled him from obscurity to a second day guy
Michael Egnew, Missouri
The tight end’s measurables looked good, then again you could say the same for former Mizzou TE Chase Coffman (not to be confused with Chase Daniel that was the QB) and that didn’t work out too well
HOLD
Colby Fleener, Stanford
Didn’t run, so you’d call it a hold, but his stock price increased because the other top tight ends ran the drills and hurt their stock. He’s like Mitt Romney in the GOP primaries, all you got to do is keep quiet, let all the freak shows shoot their mouths off and you improve yourself by not doing anything.
SELLING
Dwayne Allen, Clemson
You can’t be a first round prospect anymore when you run a 4.89, unless you’re a QB, DL, or OL. And that’s a problem because Allen plays tight end. Welcome to the Saturday club, Mr. Allen.
Ohio State Buckeyes named Mike who play OL
Michael Brewster, C and Mike Adams, OT
Brewster needed to redeem himself from his mediocre Senior Bowl. He did not, with another pedestrian showing across the board. Adams had a weak bench press, and poor 40 time, and that’s another red flag for him on top of the suspension. Why? Because scouts would optimally hope that a prospect uses his down time to hit the weight room/gym.
Other combine stock reports:
Paul M. Banks is CEO of The Sports Bank.net, an official Google News site generating millions of unique visitors. Heโs also a regular contributor to Chicago Now, Walter Football.com, Yardbarker, and Fox Sports
A Fulbright scholar and MBA, Banks has appeared on live radio all over the world; and he’s a member of the Football Writers Association of America, U.S. Basketball Writers Association, and Society of Professional Journalists. The President of the United States follows him on Twitter (@Paul_M_BanksTSB) You should too.
