The on-field drills for the 2022 Scouting Combine are less than a week away. Draft Countdown will have you covered with live streams each and every night and previews and recaps leading up to and after.
Today, we are going to look at the defensive players that are taking part during the event. The defensive linemen and linebackers will take the field on Saturday, March 5th. The defensive backs workout on Sunday, March 6th.
2022 SCOUTING COMBINE PREVIEW: DEFENSE
EDGE RUSHERS
| Aidan Hutchinson | Michigan |
| Amare Barno | Virginia Tech |
| Arnold Ebiketie | Penn State |
| Boye Mafe | Minnesota |
| Cameron Thomas | San Diego State |
| Christopher Allen | Alabama |
| David Ojabo | Michigan |
| DeAngelo Malone | Western Kentucky |
| Dominique Robinson | Miami (OH) |
| Drake Jackson | Southern Cal |
| Esezi Otomewo | Minnesota |
| George Karlaftis | Purdue |
| Jeffrey Gunter | Coastal Carolina |
| Jeremiah Moon | Florida |
| Jermaine Johnson II | Florida State |
| Josh Paschal | Kentucky |
| Kayvon Thibodeaux | Oregon |
| Kingsley Enagbare | South Carolina |
| Logan Hall | Houston |
| Myjai Sanders | Cincinnati |
| Nik Bonitto | Oklahoma |
| Sam Williams | Mississippi |
| Tre Williams | Arkansas |
| Tyree Johnson | Texas A&M |
| Tyreke Smith | Ohio State |
This is a position group where the show is put on. Aidan Hutchinson, Kayvon Thibodeaux, George Karlaftis, and Boye Mafe are all expected to put on a show. Some players that are lower down the trough, Arnold Ebiketie and Dominique Robinson, should also help themselves by testing well.
For players like Drake Jackson, Jeremiah Moon, and Christopher Allen, the medical evaluations may be more important than the on-field drills and testing.
DEFENSIVE LINE
| Alex Wright | UAB |
| Christopher Hinton | Michigan |
| Demarvin Leal | Texas A&M |
| Devonte Wyatt | Georgia |
| DJ Davidson | Arizona State |
| Eyioma Uwazurike | Iowa State |
| Haskell Garrett | Ohio State |
| Isaiah Thomas | Oklahoma |
| Jayden Peevy | Texas A&M |
| John Ridgeway | Arkansas |
| Jonathan Ford | Miami (FL) |
| Jordan Davis | Georgia |
| Jordan Jackson | Air Force |
| Kalia Davis | UCF |
| LaBryan Ray | Alabama |
| Marquan McCall | Kentucky |
| Matthew Butler | Tennessee |
| Michael Clemons | Texas A&M |
| Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa | Notre Dame |
| Neil Farrell Jr. | LSU |
| Noah Elliss | Idaho |
| Otito Ogbonnia | UCLA |
| Perrion Winfrey | Oklahoma |
| Phidarian Mathis | Alabama |
| Thomas Booker | Stanford |
| Travis Jones | UConn |
| Travon Walker | Georgia |
| Zachary Carter |
Florida |
Are the Georgia players as athletic as they are rumored to be? That is the biggest question facing Jordan Davis, Devonte Wyatt, and Travon Walker. If they do test as well as expected then lookout.
I am anxious to see how Senior Bowl stars Perrion Winfrey and Travis Jones perform.
Demarvin Leal has fallen out of favor lately. is this the day he bounces back?
Academy players aren’t generally thought about much in the draft process but keep an eye out for Air Force Academy defensive lineman Jordan Jackson.
LINEBACKERS
| Aaron Hansford | Texas A&M |
| Baylon Spector | Clemson |
| Brandon Smith | Penn State |
| Brian Asamoah | Oklahoma |
| Chad Muma | Wyoming |
| Chance Campbell | Mississippi |
| Channing Tindall | Georgia |
| Christian Harris | Alabama |
| D’Marco Jackson | Appalachian State |
| Damone Clark | LSU |
| Darien Butler | Arizona State |
| Darrian Beavers | Cincinnati |
| Devin Lloyd | Utah |
| Isaiah Graham-Mobley | Boston College |
| Jack Sanborn | Wisconsin |
| Jake Hansen | Illinois |
| Jeremiah Gemmel | North Carolina |
| Jesse Luketa | Penn State |
| Jojo Domann | Nebraska |
| Josh Ross | Michigan |
| Leo Chenal | Wisconsin |
| Malcolm Rodriguez | Oklahoma State |
| Micah McFadden | Indiana |
| Mike Rose | Iowa State |
| Nakobe Dean | Georgia |
| Nate Landman | Colorado |
| Nephi Sewell | Utah |
| Quay Walker | Georgia |
| Terrel Bernard | Baylor |
| Troy Anderson | Montana State |
| Zakoby McClain | Auburn |
Stop me if you have heard this already. How will the Georgia players look? Nakobe Dean is in contention to be LB1. However, his teammate Channing Tindall may test better.
Montana State LB Troy Andersen should shine during the on-field drills.
Look out for crazy numbers from a pair of Penn State backers, Jesse Luketa and Brandon Smith.
CORNERBACKS
| Ahmad Gardner | Cincinnati |
| Akayleb Evans | Missouri |
| Alontae Taylor | Tennessee |
| Andrew Booth Jr. | Clemson |
| Cam Taylor-Britt | Nebraska |
| Chase Lucas | Arizona State |
| Chris Steele | Southern Cal |
| Coby Bryant | Cincinnati |
| Cordale Flott | LSU |
| Damarion Williams | Houston |
| Damarri Mathis | Pittsburgh |
| Decobie Durant | South Carolina State |
| Demarcus Fields | Texas Tech |
| Derek Stingley Jr. | LSU |
| Derion Kendrick | Georgia |
| Isaac Taylor-Stuart | Southern Cal |
| J.T. Woods | Baylor |
| Jack Jones | Arizona State |
| Jalyn Armour-Davis | Alabama |
| Jaylen Watson | Washington State |
| Jermaine Waller | Virginia Tech |
| Josh Jobe | Alabama |
| Joshua Thompson | Texas |
| Joshua Williams | Fayetteville State |
| Kaiir Elam | Florida |
| Kalon Barnes | Baylor |
| Kyler Gordon | Washington |
| Marcus Jones | Houston |
| Mario Goodrich | Clemson |
| Martin Emerson | Mississippi State |
| Montaric Brown | Arkansas |
| Mykael Wright | Oregon |
| Qwynnterrio Cole | Louisville |
| Roger McCreary | Auburn |
| Sam Webb | Missouri Western |
| Tariq Castro-Fields | Penn State |
| Tariq Woolen | UTSA |
| Trent McDuffie | Washington |
| Vincent Gray | Michigan |
| Zyon McCollum | Sam Houston State |
Who will be the fastest corner? My money may be on UTSA’s Tariq Woolen.
Is this where we see the bounce-back of Derek Stingley Jr.? Stingley has fallen out of favor on draft boards recently. A strong combine performance may bring everyone back in. Stingley has seemingly fallen behind both Sauce Gardner and now Washington’s Trent McDuffie.
Will we see a surprise name elevate after the DBs perform? Keep an eye on Mississippi State CB Martin Emerson.
SAFETIES
| Bryan Cook | Cincinnati |
| Bubba Bolden | Miami (FL) |
| Dane Belton | Iowa |
| Daxton Hill | Michigan |
| Delarrin Turner-Yell | Oklahoma |
| Jalen Pitre | Baylor |
| Jaquan Brisker | Penn State |
| Juanyeh Thomas | Georgia Tech |
| Kerby Joseph | Illinois |
| Kolby Harvell-Peel | Oklahoma State |
| Kyle Hamilton | Notre Dame |
| Leon O’Neal | Texas A&M |
| Lewis Cine | Georgia |
| Markquese Bell | Florida A&M |
| Nick Cross | Maryland |
| Percy Butler | Louisiana |
| Quentin Lake | UCLA |
| Smoke Monday | Auburn |
| Tycen Anderson | Toledo |
| Verone McKinley III | Oregon |
| Yusuf Corker | Kentucky |
The safety class at the top isn’t as bad as once perceived. It is expected that top prospects Kyle Hamilton and Daxton Hill are going to have eyebrow-raising performances. I expect Jaquan Brisker too as well.
Jalen Pitre shot up my board after the Senior Bowl. Will he have the combine to match that?
Lewis Cine closes fast on the field but does he run fast in a straight line?
Who is a surprise name to keep an eye out for? look no further than Nick Cross o
The 2022 NFL Scouting Combine begins on Thursday, March 3rd at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.