Itโs combine time, the male version of a swimsuit calendar shoot. But donโt get too high or too low about this stuff. Like my friend Bill Smith says, โbeware the workout warrior.โ The site of the past Super Bowl, Indianapolis is also hosting the 2012 NFL Draft Scouting Combine. Letโs take a look at whoโs draft stock is trading higher and whoโs trading lower after the workouts.
Harrison Smith, Notre Dame
It’s rare for safeties to go very high, but Smith could go as high as any safety in this draft. Mark Barron is probably the only one who might go ahead of him. One of the biggest and tallest DBs at the combine, Smith measured well, and ran a 4.56. Had a nice bench press too. His former backfield mate Robert Blanton, now listed as R.J. Blanton, did not do as well. But it begs the question: what was up with the Irish pass defense this season being so bad, given how they had two DBs in the combine? I know covering for Gary Gray’s blown assignments is difficult, as Gray was one of the worst defensive backs in all of college football, but still.
Janoris Jenkins, North Alabama
The Florida Gators cast-off comes with a ton of baggage. His off-the-field history will keep him out of the first round probably, but he did have a great combine. Jenkins posted a 4.44 forty and the fastest ten yard split of any DB.
Josh Robinson, Central Florida
Ran a 4.29, making him the 40 yard dash champion of the 2012 NFL Draft Scouting Combine. From obscurity to up the DB charts.
HOLD
Morris Claiborne, LSU
Was a top 5 pick heading in, and he performed like a top 5 pick in Indy
SELLING
Mark Barron, Alabama
He did the weigh-in and the arm measurements- that’s it. HOW EXCITING! Why even go to the combine at that point? Barron’s agent must believe he’s the defensive version of Trent Richardson, no need to risk anything by running the drills. Of course, after the Crimson Tide pro day, I may be buying his stock again!
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.
