2018 NFL Scouting Combine: Day 1 highlights and recap
By John Buhler
While Penn State’s Saquon Barkley lit it up during the NFL Scouting Combine on Friday, it was a day to forget for Oklahoma offensive tackle Orlando Brown.
Friday was the fourth day in Indianapolis for the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine. While the NFL world has been in Indianapolis since Tuesday, Friday was the first day we got to see run and jump in their underwear, which is always fun.
This was the first day that NFL Draft prospects got to partake in the 40-yard dash, the increasingly popular 3-cone and the vertical jump. While Friday was a day that Penn State Nittany Lions running back Saquon Barkley crushed it, Oklahoma Sooners offensive tackle Orlando Brown simply lacked athleticism.
Barkley is projected as a top-five pick, as the best running back in the draft class. He had a blistering 4.40 in the 40-yard dash. Only Nyhemin Hines of North Carolina State was faster on Friday. Barkley also finished with the best vertical jump on the day at 41.0 inches. All Friday did was cement that Barkley will be drafted by the Cleveland Browns, the New York Giants or the Indianapolis Colts in the top of the first round.
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As for Brown, he cratered the field in terms of not being athletic at all. Though he starred collegiately in the Big 12 for Oklahoma, he absolutely brought up the rear in several events at the combine on Friday. His 5.85 40-yard dash was the slowest on the day at Indianapolis. Jamil Demby of Maine was 0.27 seconds faster than him.
Brown apparently can’t jump either. He finished dead last in the vertical at 19.5 inches and dead last in the broad jump at 82.0 inches. Brown was four inches shorter on the vertical than the second-worst offensive lineman in Indianapolis. Barkley jumped almost two feet higher than Brown on Friday. He was a foot shorter of Nebraska’s Nick Gates for the worst broad jump among offensive linemen at the combine. At least his 3-cone wasn’t the worst Indianapolis had to offer.
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In essence, Barkley looked like a Greek God on carpet at the combine. Brown looked more like Eric Cartman. Other athletes that did well in Indianapolis on Friday include Georgia Bulldogs running back Nick Chubb and UCLA Bruins offensive lineman Kolton Miller.
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With the running backs, offensive linemen and special teams players all done in Indianapolis, only three days remain of the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine. Look for the quarterbacks, wide receivers and tight ends to strut their stuff at Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday. It’ll be interesting to see who dominates and who struggles in Day 2 tomorrow. Here’s to being entertained!