NFL Combine 2013 Results: Tyrann Mathieu Impresses During On-Field Drills
By Josh Sanchez
Former LSU Tigers defensive back Tyrann Mathieu took the field for on-field drills at the 2013 NFL Scouting Combine with a lot of scouts eyes on him and many questions about his athleticism.
After the days workouts were over, Mathieu left a number of scouts saying, “wow,” with a top-notch performance at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Mathieu got off to a rough start at the combine after measuring only 5-foot-9, 186-pounds and then he flopped on the bench press with only four reps.
The poor bench press numbers raised more questions about Mathieu’s preparation and work ethic heading into the biggest job interview of his life, but he put those questions to rest with his on-field performance.
Another big knock on Mathieu was his long speed, so the 40-yard dash was going to be crucial for his evaluation.
When Mathieu fired off the blocks and went sprinting down the field, he clocked in with an official 4.50 second time. It was a great time for Mathieu and set the tone for the rest of his performance.
Mathieu managed a 9.75-foot broad jump, 34-inch vertical jump, 6.87 second time in the three-cone drill and a 4.14 second 20-yard shuttle. Those number erased all questions surrounding Mathieu’s athleticism.
The numbers were impressive, but perhaps the greatest attribute Mathieu displayed was his extreme confidence.
Despite performing well enough to impress a majority of the scouts, there are still those who question Mathieu’s fluidity and movement, but they cannot deny the kid as a football player.
His final obstacle will be one-on-one interviews for the remainder of the draft process and he will need to convince teams that his off-field concerns are in the rear view mirror and that he is ready to move forward as a more mature individual.
Mathieu also told Deion Sanders that he will be participating at the LSU Pro Day
We wish Mathieu the best of luck moving forward. Personally, he convinced me that he is worth a third-round selection in April’s draft.