Today marks the beginning of the on-the-field portion of 2018 NFL Combine, starting at 9:00 a.m. Eastern. You can view it live on the NFL Network or at NFL.com’s combine hub, starting with the 40-yard dash. Today we’ll see the offensive linemen, running backs and special-teamers perform.
Similar to last year, this year’s class of running backs is considered by many analysts to be quite deep. Expect to hear a lot about the top prospects at those positions like Derrius Guice, Sony Michel, Saquon Barkley, and Ronald Jones today. Also expect a handful of players to put in remarkable speed times or on-field drill performances.
The offensive line class is also considered to be above-average, with players like Kolton Miller, Orlando Brown, and Quenton Nelson offering ideal size and strength for their positions. I’d expect former UTEP guard Will Hernandez to win the bench press competition.
Long snappers, kickers and punters are rarely drafted, but if Australian punter Michael Dickson can display at least respectable athleticism, he could become one of the few.
Below are the average times from the 2017 combine for each of today’s relevant positions. Be sure to bear these in mind while watching the individual drills:
2017 Combine Averages: OL & RB
| Position | 40 Yard Dash | Vertical | Bench Reps | Broad | 3-Cone | Short Shuttle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | 40 Yard Dash | Vertical | Bench Reps | Broad | 3-Cone | Short Shuttle |
| RB | 4.55 | 33.2 | 17.3 | 119.7 | 7.1 | 4.4 |
| OT | 5.32 | 26.3 | 20.9 | 104.1 | 7.8 | 4.8 |
| OC | 5.35 | 25.7 | 22.5 | 99.8 | 7.9 | 4.7 |
| OG | 5.25 | 26.9 | 26.1 | 102.7 | 8.0 | 4.9 |