The 2020 NFL Combine is about to come to a close, wrapping up this afternoon with cornerbacks and safeties. Usually the fastest group to run through the event, this display of raw speed helps close out the tired end of a long week of scouting analysis. Leading today’s event, here are the top stories:
Does Dugger drive draft desire?
Leading into this week, no “sleeper” was more actively discussed than Lenoir-Rhyne safety Kyle Dugger. The Division II player had a fantastic Senior Bowl week, and the only remaining question was if he could sustain that trajectory through the Combine all the way to the first round.
He passed through one part of the week with flying colors, including a freaky weigh-in that showed off his serious wingspan. Now is his chance to show off his athleticism—and, in the process, vault into discussion as the top safety in this class!
The fastest man, part two
We began our annual exercise of attempting to crack the Combine’s 40-yard dash record (4.22 seconds) with Henry Ruggs III (Alabama) leading the charge earlier this week. Ruggs posted a 4.27, but he’s not the only contender here. Jeff Gladney (TCU) is one of Bruce Feldman’s “freaks,” and Jeff Okudah (Ohio State) ought to blaze down the track. The dark horse, though, is Javelin Guidry (Utah), a former state champion in the 100-meter sprint who toyed with the idea of trying out for the Olympics.
Click and close
Some would argue that the general athletic tests aren’t a strong measure of a player’s true speed and agility on the football field. One test run every year at the Combine, which isn’t measured mathematically, is the click-and-close drill where players backpedal until signaled, then transition to bursting ahead for the tackle or interception. I think it’s a fantastic way to get a read on a player’s skills, especially in zone coverage, so make sure to watch for both safeties and corners running that drill.
The workouts begin at 2:00 pm EST, and are televised exclusively on the NFL Network. They can also be viewed through the NFL and NFL Network apps and through NFL.com, but you may need to sign into your TV provider’s account to watch.
For anyone tuned into the workouts, consider this your open thread to discuss the events or NFL Draft prospects as a whole. Fire away!