September 30, 2023

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2023 NFL Scouting Combine: Day Four Recap

by Brian Bosarge0471
Combine

The running backs and offensive linemen hit the field on Sunday for the final day at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine.

They split the prospects into three groups today. The two groups were offensive linemen. The third group was the running backs.

Let’s look at the players performed in each group.

2023 NFL Scouting Combine: Day Four Recap

OFFENSIVE LINE GROUP 1

OFFENSIVE TACKLES
  • Blake Freeland (BYU) was the best-testing offensive lineman from this group. The former Cougar ran a 4.99 in the forty with a 1.74 10-yard split. Freeland then proceeded to have the highest vertical ever for an offensive lineman at the Combine (37″). He then broad jumped 10 feet. This was the best amongst this group. Freeland was inconsistent at the Senior Bowl. However, during three seasons in Provo, he only allowed one sack. Initial power rush dealing is the main concern for Freeland. 

  • Jaelyn Duncan (Maryland) kind of fell down my board with his subpar 2022 tape. Then even further with a poor showing in Mobile. After he jumped 31″ in the vertical, Duncan hurt his heel and didn’t participate in the field drills.
  • Oklahoma’s Anton Harrison didn’t wow with his testing and the style of offense he played in have some questioning how high he will go. You can’t argue with the upside of Harrison though.
  • Paris Johnson Jr. (Ohio State) looked tremendous in the field drills. He has great size (6’6″, 313, 36 1/8″ arms) and moves extremely well.
  • His fellow Buckeye, Dawand Jones, was already none to be a massive human being. He moves on the field and he tested exactly like you would think a man that is 6’8″ and 374 pounds would.
  • Broderick Jones (Georgia) looked like the best offensive tackle prospect on the field today. His wide base and movement skills are exactly what you are looking for in a franchise left tackle.

  • Matthew Bergeron of Syracuse didn’t run the forty. However, after having a great Senior Bowl week, he looked smooth as silk during the field drills.
  • Earl Bostick Jr. (Kansas) will be sending me running back to the tape after his performance today. His movement skills were fully on display during the field drills.
INTERIOR OFFENSIVE LINE
  • Braeden Daniels (Utah) played tackle for the Utes but will be kicking inside in the NFL. His 1.71 10-yard split is tremendous. Daniels also had elite jumps. He is a smooth mover on the field.

  • McClendon Curtis of Chattanooga can play all three interior offensive line positions. He really stood out during the screen drill.
  • Steve Avila (TCU) is ox strong and has sweet feet. Avila has set himself up to be a Top 75 selection.

OFFENSIVE LINE GROUP 2

OFFENSIVE TACKLES
  • Peter Skoronski (Northwestern) measuring in with 32 1/4″ arms likely means he will be seen as a guard in the NFL. He tested well and looked smooth on the field. Skoronski is a Top 15 talent and will be considered IOL1 for me.

  • Darnell Wright of Tennessee excelled in the field drills after testing like an elite athlete. Wright is going to be a plug-and-play right tackle from day one.

INTERIOR OFFENSIVE LINE
  • Southern Cal OL Andrew Voorhees went down with a non-contact leg injury that did not look great on TV. Hopefully, it isn’t serious but it looked like it might be. Voorhees is a potential Top 100 selection.
  • Cody Mauch (North Dakota State) is going to be an immediate starter 
  • Minnesota’s John Michael Schmitz was a high school wrestler and he plays exactly like that. Schmitz didn’t test overtly well but he showed in the drills that he can be a day-one interior starter.
  • Nick Saldiveri (Old Dominion) started at right tackle for the Monarchs. However, he lined up at all three interior positions during the Senior Bowl. Saldiveri came to the COmbine and posted elite testing numbers. Then he showed on the field during the drills that he could handle playing all five spots. Saldiveri jas starter upside with a floor of being able to back up all five spots.

  • Florida’s O’Cyrus Torrence has tremendous power but he isn’t very swift. He is a game-changer in the run game. But don’t think that he can’t pass block. That would be foolish. Torrence will be off the board before pick 40.
  • Sidy Sow (Eastern Michigan) was a fun prospect to watch on film. He looked great during the field drills and tested freakishly.

RUNNING BACKS GROUP 

BEST OF THE BEST
  • I set myself up for failure thinking Devon Achane (Texas A&M) would break the Combine 40 record of John Ross. Achane ran a blazing 4.32. It is the 4th fastest time by a running back in the last 20 years at the Combine. Achane can run between the tackles with power despite only weighing 188 pounds. He will be a game-changer in the NFL.
  • Bijan Robinson of Texas came into the Combine as a Top 10 talent. He will leave the same way. Robinson ran a 4.46 in the forty (1.52 split). He also vertical leaped 37″ and broad jumped 10’4″. Robinson can do it all and should be a Top 10 back in the NFL as a rookie (if not better).
  • Tyjae Spears (Tulane) was electric at the Senior Bowl as much as he was with the Green Wave. Spears didn’t run a 40 but tested with elite jumps. His cuts during the field drills were sudden.
  • After his brother Sydney tested two days ago, Chase Brown of Illinois hit the field today. Chase ran a 4.43 in the forty, had a 40″ vertical, and a 10’7″ broad jump. He struggled in pass pro down in Mobile so I still have that hanging over my final evaluation.
  • Zach Charbonnet (UCLA) is a physical back (6’0 214) with an upright running style. He catches the ball well enough and is an excellent blocker. Charbonnet ran an adequate 4.54 in the forty. Adding a 37″ vertical and 10’2″ broad jump.
  • Jahmyr Gibbs of Alabama has the best start-and-stop ability of any back in the class. he can gear down and then get back to top speed almost immediately. Gibbs weighed in at 5’9″ and 199 pounds. He ran a 4.36 in the 40. Gibbs is a natural pass catcher and creates separation with his routes.
  • K-State’s Deuce Vaughn measured 5’5″ tall. Obviously not ideal but we knew he was short in stature. Vaughn has some thick quads, however. He didn’t run his forty but vertically leaped 35.5″.
OTHER NOTES
  • Evan Hull (Northwestern) had the attention of Rich Eisen and the NFL Network crew during the Combine telecast. Hull finished every single run of his forty and every single drill by running through the endzone. 
  • East Carolina’s Keaton Mitchell is another home run hitter at the RB position. He is undersized (5’8″ 179). However, if Mitchell gets an inch he is taking a mile.
  • Sean Tucker (Syracuse) did not do any testing on the field or off. I have been a fan of his game and I hope we see him do something on his pro day.

This concludes my main coverage of the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine. I will return later in the week with my biggest risers from the event.

You can also see a sortable table with all of the testing results here at Draft Countdown!

 

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