NFL Combine results 2018: Winners and losers from the defensive linemen and linebackers’ drills Sunday

The 2018 NFL Scouting Combine started on Thursday, and we’re winding down to the end. Sunday, defensive linemen and linebackers went through their on-field workouts, and defensive backs got their turn on the bench press.

One of the biggest prospects in the entire draft is NC State pass rusher Bradley Chubb. SB Nation’s Dan Kadar had Chubb going No. 3 to the Colts in his latest mock draft:

If Barkley is gone and the Colts don’t trade back, they’ll likely be choosing between Chubb and Notre Dame guard Quenton Nelson. Chubb would give the Colts an NFL-ready pass rusher for defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus.

Chubb boosted his stock with a 4.66 40-yard dash, and he had a 10’1 broad jump and a 36” vertical.

We also saw players like Boston College’s Harold Landry, Washington defensive tackle Vita Vea, Virginia Tech linebacker Tremaine Edmunds, and Alabama’s Da’Ron Payne.

Of course, we were pulling for for UCF’s Shaquem Griffin. Griffin put up 20 bench press reps of 225 on Saturday, and excelled in the linebacker drills on Sunday.

Winners

Griffin is at the top of the list. Griffin, who had a hand amputated as a young child, won everyone over when he put up 20 bench press reps on Saturday with a prosthetic hand. Then he ran the fastest 40-yard dash we’ve seen from a linebacker since 2003. Griffin’s second attempt was much slower at 4.58, but he was experiencing some cramping. He still went ahead and finished all of the linebacker drills for the day.

Vita Vea tweaked his hamstring, but he made an impression with his 40-yard dash. The 6’4, 347-pound defensive tackle somehow managed to run a blistering 5.11. He wasn’t the only speedy big guy. Alabama’s Da’Ron Payne ran a sub-5.0 40 despite being 311 pounds.

Losers

There weren’t any really terrible performances, but there were several injuries. Vita Vea was out for the rest of the day after hurting his hamstring running the 40, but his stock won’t actually fall, especially after the way he ran. Georgia’s Roquan Smith also had to sit out everything after the 40 because of a calf injury.

Ohio State’s Sam Hubbard had to sit out for the 40 due to a knee injury, but he was able to showcase his skills in all of the other drills. Hubbard should be healthy enough to run at Ohio State’s pro day on March 22.

Updates

Shaquem Griffin is a star

So far, Griffin has put up 20 bench press reps with a prosthetic hand and he turned in an official time of 4.38 in the 40-yard dash. It’s the fastest time for a linebacker since 2003. That’s also faster than Richard Sherman, Ezekiel Elliott, and even Julio Jones.

Howdy, folks

Look at Sean McVay playing it cool while Wade Phillips absolutely does not.

Well, yes, this is technically true

The Browns are definitely still an NFL team.

Shalieve

Steelers scout Mark Gorscak invoked Ryan Shazier — his combine performance, his play as a pro, and his amazing progress in his recovery from a devastating spinal injury he suffered in December — in an inspirational pep talk to the linebackers before the 40-yard dash.

Oops

This happened yesterday, but we can’t wait to hear what the anonymous scouts will say about it.

Linebackers drills

Who helped themselves:

• Shaquem Griffin is just absolutely killing it. He ran a blazing-fast 4.38 40-yard dash.

Pete Carroll was as incredulous as the rest of us.

• Leon Jacobs out of Wisconsin ran a 4.48.
• Georgia’s Roquan Smith ran a 4.51, and his college teammate Lorenzo Carter ran a 4.5.
• Ohio State’s Jerome Baker kicked things off with a 4.53 on his first attempt.
• Oren Burks, a linebacker out of Vanderbilt, had an all-around solid day with a 4.59 40-yard dash, a 39.5 vertical, and he tied for the best broad jump of the day with 10’11.
• Matthew Thomas out of Florida State is the guy Burks tied with on the 10’11 vertical. Thomas also boosted his stock with a 41.5 vertical and a 4.58 40-yard dash.

Check out the full results here.

Defensive line drills

Who helped themselves:

• These big guys were really moving on Sunday. Alabama DT Da’Ron Payne is 311 pounds and ran a 4.91 40. It’s been over two decades since a player that size pulled off that time.

• Vita Vea is 6’4 and 347 pounds and he somehow ran a 5.11 40-yard dash. That’s frankly unbelievable.
• UTSA’s Marcus Davenport had to have gotten teams’ attention when he ran a 4.59 official. He added a 33.5 vertical. He’s almost 6’6 and weighs 264 pounds, which makes it even more remarkable. .
• Tulane’s Ade Aruna is projected as a late third-rounder at best. But his combine performance should elevate his stock. He ran a 4.61 40. He had the top vertical of the day with a leap of 38.5 inches and the best broad jump in the field, with 10’8.
• Bradley Chubb ran a 4.66 40. That’s well below the historical average of 4.81 for defensive ends. Chubb ran one of the quicker 20-yard shuttles of the day with a 4.41, and his 7.37 three-cone showed off his athleticism and change of direction skills. He had a 10’1 in the broad jump and a vertical of 36”, showcasing how explosive he is.
• UGA’s Trenton Thompson, who is 6’4 and 295 pounds, ran an impressive 5.05 40-yard dash.

Who didn’t help themselves:

• Unfortunately, Vita Vea hurt his hamstring running that extremely fast 40, and that’s the only drill he’ll be able to participate in on Sunday. But Vea also put up 41 bench press reps, which was the second-best number among all defensive linemen. Not being able to participate in other drills doesn’t help him, but it shouldn’t hurt him much, either.
• Bilal Nichols also injured his hamstring en route to a spectacular 4.96 40-yard dash.
• Maurice Hurst couldn’t participate after an irregular EKG, but he is optimistic he’ll be cleared for Michigan’s pro day on March 23.
• Sam Hubbard will participate in all of the other drills on Sunday, but he’ll sit out the 40. He’s rehabbing a knee injury and will plan to run the 40 at his pro day on March 22.

Check out the full results here.

Cornerback bench press

Who helped themselves:

• The historical average for corners on the bench press is 14.9 reps of 225 pounds. Davontae Harris out of Illinois State blew past that with 22 reps.
• Central Florida’s Mike Hughes had 20 bench press reps.

Who didn’t help themselves:

• J.T. Thomas from Oklahoma had just four reps. Henre’ Tolliver from Arkansas had six. The bench press isn’t terribly important for corners, but those are really low numbers.

Check out the full results here.