UPDATE! didn't man a stopwatch in Indianapolis this past week or administer the Wonderlic to any of the prospects. But we do have the raw data and were surprised at who dominated. These guys may amount to nothing more than practice squad fodder come September, but here are six players fantasy owners should at least keep tabs on:
MICHAEL ALLEN
Whitworth TEComment: Forget the fact the guy played Division III football. Allen is a 6-7, 264-pound freak of nature. He posted a 4.71-second 40-yard dash, 10-foot, 3-inch broad jump and 36-inch vertical leap. Allen caught 53 passes for 1,100 yards and 9 touchdowns. And in 2005, he set a school record with 15 touchdown catches. Will his size and prolific numbers translate? He certainly acquitted himself well at the Combine.
CHRIS HENRY
Arizona RBComment: Henry earned raves at the Combine and no wonder. His numbers were on par with highly-touted Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson. Henry ran a 4.40-second 40-yard dash, registered a 10-foot, 7-inch broad jump and 36-inch vertical leap. The junior declared early for the NFL Draft after rushing for 581 yards on 165 carries and 7 touchdowns. Henry enjoyed a 191-yard rushing day against Oregon and managed minus-8 yards on two carries against Southern California. An intriguing prospect.
JASON HILL
Washington St. WRComment: After posting back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, Hill caught 41 passes for 600 yards and 7 touchdowns in 10 games. Already a highly-regarded receiver, the 6-1, 210-pound Hill helped his draft status by running the second-fastest time for a wideout. His 4.32-second 40-yard dash is better than Georgia Tech's Calvin Johnson. He also had a 10-foot, 3-inch broad jump and 37-inch vertical leap. Having starred in the PAC 10 gives him an edge. He's definitely a first-day draft pick.
MIKE MASON
Tennessee State WRComment: One of the most athletic receivers at the Combine proved to be the surprising Mason. He played just eight games and caught 31 passes for a pedestrian 322 yards, but he did average 31.3 yards on seven kickoff returns. The 5-11, 190-pound Mason injured a knee three games into the season and missed time. He transferred to Division I-AA Tennessee State after being dismissed from the North Carolina football team, where he played his first three seasons. ESPN's Tom Lemming ranked Mason as the nation's 11th best receiver coming out of high school. His Combine workout shows why, running a slow for him 4.40-second 40-yard dash. He posted a 10-foot, 9-inch broad jump and a 39 1/2-inch vertical leap. He's got the tools.
GREG OLSEN
Miami TEComment: OK, his performance isn't a surprise. But it was that much more impressive than everyone else. The Hurricanes suffered on offense in 2006 and so did Olsen. He led the team with 40 catches for 489 yards and 1 touchdown in 12 games. Even still, the 6-5, 252-pound junior declared early for the NFL Draft because he's a projected first-round pick. Olsen didn't disappoint at the Combine, running a 4.51-second 40-yard dash, much faster than the pack. His 35 1/2-inch vertical leap was impressive. He's since done even better at Miami's pro day.
LAURENT ROBINSON
Illinois State WRComment: Not only does the 6-2, 199-pound Robinson have tantalizing size, but he wowed scouts by running a 4.38-second 40-yard dash. He turned in 10-foot, 7-inch broad jump and 39-inch vertical leap, making him one of the most athletic prospects at the Combine. Robinson, a four-year starter, caught 40 passes for 718 yards and 7 touchdowns in nine games for Division I-AA Illinois State.
