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2022 Scouting Combine Preview: Defense

2022 Scouting Combine

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.

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