NFL combine - CB's winners fronm NJ.com

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By Jordan Raanan | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com The Star-Ledger
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on February 23, 2015 at 4:30 PM, updated February 23, 2015 at 5:12 PM

 

 

 

 

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NFL Scouting Combine

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It was the final day, the final group, and a lot of very, very fast men were on the field Monday at Lucas Oil Stadium. It must have been the defensive backs' turns at the NFL Scouting Combine.

The cornerback and safety positions are supposed to be two of the weaker groups in the draft. It still doesn't mean they are among the slowest. Speed wasn't the problem here ... for most.

Some of the top players, beginning with Michigan State cornerback Trae Waynes, posted blazing times in the 40-yard dash. Connecticut's Byron Jones even did something that nobody had ever seen.

Waynes wasn't alone. There were plenty of players who confirmed what many already believed with the speed and explosiveness they showed in drills. Overall, it was a pretty good day for the defensive backs in the 2015 NFL Draft.

Winners

CB Byron Jones (UConn): He didn't do much except jump out of the building, setting the Combine record with a 147-inch broad jump. He also recorded a 44.5-inch vertical leap. Jones didn't do any other tests or drills (because of a shoulder injury) but he certainly opened eyes.

CB Jalen Collins (LSU): The lure of Collins entering the Combine was his length and speed, making him the ideal press cornerback. He confirmed the thinking ‐ 6-1, 203 and 4.48 in the 40-yard dash. It's an impressive combination.

S Landon Collins (Alabama): NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock called Collins (6-feet, 228) a "Coke machine with a head on top." Running a 4.53 in the 40 at that size only solidified his standing as the top safety in the draft.

CB Trae Waynes (Michigan St.): Any doubt that Waynes should be the first cornerback selected was put to rest by his 4.31-second run in the 40-yard dash. That is freaky fast.

Losers

CB Kevin White (TCU): When a 5-foot-9 cornerback runs the 40-yard dash in 4.63 seconds, its disastrous. For some reason, the TCU guys did not run well at the Combine.

S Chris Hackett (TCU): He ran the 40 in 4.81 seconds. That was the worst of any defensive back, and made some question why he entered the draft early.