Schmidt List: D.K. Metcalf’s Combine, Run Rich Run, Toni Harris, remembering John Candy, Taco Bell saves lives

The news you need to know that will make you think, laugh and shed a tear or two.

This week’s Schmidt List begins with the NFL Scouting Combine where D.K. Metcalf stole the show with his testing. He was the big story out of Indy, but far from the only one. From there, we’ll look at a young lady, Toni Harris, who is making history and breaking down barriers. Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price helped fix a boy’s broken heart. We remember two legends who we lost far, far too soon, and finally, a story about how Taco Bell actually saved a life.

1. D.K. Metcalf lights up the Combine, but can he play?

The NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis took place the last few days and it was easily the biggest event in sports and introduced many to former Ole Miss receiver D.K. Metcalf who absolutely put on a clinic.

Metcalf created a buzz before the Combine when a shirtless photo of him went viral. He muscle-bound receiver looked more like a guy training for Mr. Universe. He was one of the player’s fans and the NFL were most excited to see, and he did not disappoint.

Metcalf ran a 4.33 in the 40 at 233 pounds and left a smoke trail in his wake as he lit up the track.

Metcalf also lit up the gauntlet where his mitts caught everything tossed his way. He vertical jumped 40.5 inches as his head barely avoided hitting the ceiling on his take off. He bench pressed 225 pounds like it was nothing.

What’s clear is Metcalf is a rare physical specimen who put himself in similar company as Calvin Johnson and Julio Jones with his combine performance at his size. Megatron and Julio are two of the best receivers over the last decade-plus, but is it fair to put Metcalf in their company as football players?

That’s the question NFL scouts and general managers have to ask themselves after his Combine. As great as Metcalf was in the aforementioned drills, he was equally non-impressive in the 3 cone and the short shuttle, finishing near the bottom of the receivers. That begs the question if Metcalf is simply a workout warrior or if he’s got the skills and numbers necessary to warrant a high pick in the NFL Draft.

Metcalf’s college stats leave a lot to be desired. In three years (21 games), Metcalf had 67 receptions, 1,228 yards and 14 touchdowns. He dominated small school competition and has one 100-yard game vs. SEC opponents, in 2017 vs. Arkansas. If not for a neck injury suffered in 2018 that ended his season, Metcalf likely would have had more, and his college production wouldn’t be so concerning.

Despite battling injury, Metcalf did make the highlight-reel catch somewhat routine during his time in Oxford as the thread below illustrates.

But it’s far too premature to say Metcalf is the next Megatron or Jones.

Megatron and Jones had single seasons with better numbers than Metcalf had during his career. And they did so in run-oriented offenses where Metcalf did so on one of the most pass-happy offenses in college football.

All of this goes to say, the Combine is just one part of the evaluation teams have to do when considering who to draft and not draft. Metcalf had a flair for the circus catch, when healthy, and lit up the combine with freakish testing numbers. He might have to drop some weight and take some yoga classes to improve his agility and flexibility to get in and out of his breaks and become more of a fluid route runner.

Metcalf can be the best receiver in this draft, but he’s got work to do to improve as a football player. I’d bet on him doing it and getting drafted somewhere in the teens.

2. Devin White is overcome with emotion

LSU linebacker Devin White joined Metcalf as former SEC stars who put on a show at the Combine. White had his moment in the spotlight on Sunday when linebackers did their drills. He showed SEC speed with a 4.42 time in the 40, the best among all linebackers. That likely solidified White’s status as the top linebacker in the class, ahead of Michigan’s Devin Bush, and a possible top 10 selection. After his time, White was overcome with emotion as he let out a lot of tears as the moment sunk in. To think about all the years of hard work he put into this and to get the results he was seeking, it’s enough to give anyone goosebumps.

3. Joey Bosa vs. Nick Bosa

One of my favorite stories in college football the last few years has been watching Nick Bosa follow in his big brother Joey’s footsteps at Ohio State. Joey was the No. 3 pick coming out in the 2016 NFL Draft and Nick has the chance to beat his big bro after a nice career with the Buckeyes and a strong showing at the Combine. Nick ran a slightly faster 40 and had one of the fastest 10-yard splits, which is really the most important for his position, and projects as the possible No. 1 pick of the Arizona Cardinals.

In fact, Nick thinks the Arizona Cardinals will be making a big mistake if they don’t take him with their pick. What’s really so cool about the Bosa Bros. is how much fun they must have when they’re together and the ongoing bragging rights and competitions they had growing up. With two younger brothers of my own, I can only imagine the amount of pride Joey feels watching his little bro chasing his dream, and while he may not publicly admit it, I bet there’s a part of him that’s happy to see him bettering what he did before him.

4. Run Rich Run

The best part about the Combine wasn’t about any of the future NFL Draft picks, but rather the job NFL Network’s Rich Eisen continues to do raising money for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. Eisen runs the 40 on the final day of the Combine in his suit and gets donations from a host of people around the world, including many NFL head coaches like Bill Belichick and Mike Tomlin, among others. Total donations are nearing $1 million.

“It’s not just about the medicine and the science,” he says. “It’s about the heart and the spirit and the love. And understanding that for kids to get better, the families have to be mentally healthy, too. “And for the families to be mentally healthy, their kids have got to get better. It’s sort of a symbiotic relationship that St. Jude pays attention to, fosters, nurtures. So that’s why raising as much money for something that is so dependent on donations is crucial.”

It’s so incredibly classy and heartwarming to see people rally behind Eisen’s efforts to raise money for St. Jude’s and run their own 40 at their workplace or home. It’s even sweeter when their kids get involved and run too. It took three tries, but Eisen hit 6.00, one of his better times, but the best number is the countless dollars raised for St. Jude’s. Bravo, Rich.

Donate to St. Jude today.

5. Toni Harris makes history

Toni Harris made history last week when she became the first female skill position player to sign a letter of intent to play college football. She will suit up next year for Central Methodist University in Missouri. The 5-7 Harris also starred in a Super Bowl commercial that helped raise her profile and the barriers she’s breaking down. She picked CMU because of her relationship with Coach David Calloway.

“I picked Central Methodist because of the resilience within the school itself and how Coach Calloway had been communicating with me before the Super Bowl stuff ever popped up,” Harris said.

“As a coach, giving someone the opportunity to go to college and assist them in getting a degree, that’s what it’s all about,” Calloway said.

Harris is an inspiration to many young girls who will look up to her and aspire to be like her one day and play college football with the boys.

6. Was Reggie Bush the greatest college running back of all time?

In news that’s sure to make you feel old, Reggie Bush turned 34 over the weekend. The former USC running back was the most electrifying running back I’ve seen in my lifetime. I didn’t get to see Herschel Walker or Bo Jackson play their college football, so for my money, Bush is the greatest college running back I’ve ever seen. The way he could take over and win games as a runner, receiver and returner is unmatched. Bush can be forced to forfeit his Heisman and USC can ban him from campus, but you can’t make fans forget about the legendary things he did on the field.

7. Carey Price helps fix a young fan’s broken heart

Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price is a wonderful human being. Price met 11-year-old fan Anderson Whitehead and gave him a heartfelt embrace that could be felt through your screen. Whitehead is Price’s biggest fan and his mother, Laura McKay, always hoped to arrange a meeting between her son and his idol. Sadly, she passed away at 44 after a fight with cancer and didn’t get to see her boy meet Price. Her family did everything they could to make a meeting happen and it happened on Feb. 23 and was one of the most genuine human interactions one could imagine seeing. Try not to cry watching this clip and you’ll fail in epic fashion.

“It was very cool,” Anderson said about meeting Price. “It’s the happiest I’ve ever been in my life. I always hoped it was going to happen, my mom always said it could happen.”

“There are no words to describe it,” Anderson’s father said about watching his son meet Price, via the Montreal Gazette. “To watch his dream come true … I thought he might just get a high-five or something from Price, but for him to get embraced like that was absolutely incredible.”

8. Remembering Jimmy Valvano

On this day in 1993, Jim Valvano aka Jimmy V delivered his legendary speech while accepting the Arthur Ashe Courage and Humanitarian Award at the ESPY Awards. No matter how many times I’ve seen this speech, it always delivers the goosebumps and the tears. The former NC State coach left his lasting message to make sure you do three things every day.

“If you laugh, you think, and you cry, that’s a full day. That’s a heck of a day. You do that seven days a week, you’re going to have something special.”

9. Remembering John Candy

March 4 marks the 25th anniversary of the passing of John Candy. One of the funniest people of my lifetime, he’s still missed today. There was no one quite like Candy who was a fixture in movies in the 80s and early 90s after starring on SCTV. Ryan Reynolds and his team put together a tribute video for the Canadian funny man who made us laugh for years and still makes us laugh when we rewatch Stripes, Uncle Buck, Planes, Trains & Automobiles and his movies to this day.

My favorite John Candy movies

1. Uncle Buck
2. Planes, Trains & Automobiles
3. Stripes
4. Summer Rental
5. The Great Outdoors

10. Taco Bell fire sauce saves lives

The wildest story from the weekend was no doubt the adventures of Oregon native Jeremy Taylor who was stranded due to a snow storm and survived five days by eating Taco Bell hot sauce packets. Taylor also warmed up his car periodically so he and his dog Ally could stay somewhat warm. After a rescue party found him five days later, Taylor joked on Facebook that he and his dog are safe and he’s thankful to all who helped find him, also adding, “Taco Bell fire sauce saves lives!”

Next time you make a run for the border, make sure you ask for extra sauce just in case you find yourself stranded in the cold and need to live off fire sauce.