The NFL Combine is like any other pre-draft event in that it allows prospects to take extra steps to improve their draft stock. Although tape is king, the annual Combine gives a group of plucky hopefuls a chance to show off their athletic profile to a stadium of NFL scouts. And in the case of Group Of Five players who may not get as much national attention, this is a crucial part of their NFL journey.
The American Athletic Conference and Conference USA alike boast some incredible talent throughout the 2022 NFL Draft class. As such, this year’s combine could be a good time for those who love to watch smaller school prospects such as myself. Below we’ll name the five or so players with the best storylines from AAC and CUSA schools respectively.
How Fast Will Calvin Austin III Run?
Memphis receiver Calvin Austin III has been a hot name in post-Senior Bowl scouting circles after captivating onlookers with his plus route-running and foot speed. Despite dealing with some minor injuries in 2021, Austin was one of the most exciting players in the country let alone in the American Conference. Austin was a safety blanket for freshman quarterback Seth Hannigan and looks to transition to a similar role in the NFL.
But before he can reach the pros, Austin has to compete in this week’s NFL Combine. As a former tracks star, Austin has a proclivity for speed and is very confident in his speed. In an interview with Commercial Appeal recently, Austin says he expects to run somewhere in the 4.3’s which is blazing for a receiver and would do wonders for his draft stock.
Can Darrian Beavers Beat The Agility Concerns?
The Cincinnati Bearcats boasted an incredible 2021 season and their stellar defense was a big component of their overall success. Obviously one could point to their secondary as a big reason for their defensive success, however, their front seven played a significant part this season too. At the helm of the Bearcats front, was linebacker Darrian Beavers, who has become a fan favorite amongst NFL Draft nerds in his own right.
Beavers displays excellent read and react skills while playing with a high level of intensity on a down-to-down basis. However, what gives some media scouts some pause are his hip stiffness and change of direction skills. His motor and footspeed allow him to be effective at his current level, but the ability to quickly shift on a dime as a linebacker is crucial in today’s NFL.
Beavers doesn’t need to test out of his mind in order to please the general draft populace. But if he can prove that he can at least be slightly above average with his agility, then Beavers could be a top 100 lock in April’s draft.
Running Back Stock Watch
D’Vonte Price remained one of the most intriguing prospects from Conference USA in 2021 despite missing time with injury. Price had one of the best debuts this season after putting up well over 160 yards on just five carries in a route of LIU. Price wasn’t the featured guy in the Panthers offense, having not put up over 100 carries until this season, which makes him interesting from a longevity standpoint.
Price could very well move into the early fourth round of the draft providing he puts on a quality performance at the 2022 Combine. On film, Price consistently showed good change of directions skills despite being a bigger back and could really shine in the position agility drills. And while not a burner, Price’s break-away speed is impressive nonetheless and could be a sneaky player to watch in the 40-yard dash with the potential to run in 4.5’s.
At the other end of the spectrum of CUSA runners, you’ll find UTSA Roadrunner Sincere McCormick who was clearly the star of his offense. For the past two years, McCormick has put up well over 1,400 yards on the ground while accruing double-digit touchdowns as well. He’s been a favorite of yours truly throughout this process and shares a number fans across the scouting community.
McCormick has special, breakaway speed when in the open field and could be a star in the 40-yard dash. Although the 40 isn’t the end all be all in terms of scouting, finding out how fast a player is can certainly check to box in your scouting report and back up your observations from previous film studies. Despite this, McCormick has worked tirelessly to improve his straight-line speed, evidently running 22 mph last summer which the San Antoni Express-News calls his “personal best”. Be on the lookout for this Roadrunner to blaze a trail on Friday.
The Tariq Woolen Show
UTSA corner Tariq Woolen, a.k.a “Riq the Freak”, looks to put up a show in the 2022 NFL Combine. NFL Network cites Woolen as one of several candidates to run the fastest 40-yard dash after mentioning his inclusion on the Athletic’s Feldman’s Freaks List in which he has reportedly timed at a 4.34 in the 40. Woolen was also named the fasted player at the NFL Combine ever.
Woolen was a former wide receiver who switched to corner at UTSA and has been one of their more consistent defensive players. Standing at over 6-3 and 205 pounds, Woolen’s combination of size and speed make him one of the most intriguing players at this year’s Combine despite being a raw player overall. If Woolen’s testing numbers are impressive enough, it could urge teams to take a chance on him much higher than anticipated. Does this mean he will be a top 50 player? No. However, teams could be willing to bet on his athletic upside in the later day two or early day three range.
