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NFL Combine: Five players with questions still lingering

As Rivals.com’s NFL Scouting Combine coverage continues, we take a look at five players whose performance did not answer enough questions for scouts. Here is a look at each player’s recruitment, a glance back at their showing in Indianapolis and a take on each from Rivals.com National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell.

More NFL Combine: Mock Draft 2.0 | Faster Five | Surprises | DB stock report | QB/WR stock | DL/LB stock | RB/OL stock | Disappointments | Former five-stars

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Christian Hackenberg
Christian Hackenberg (USA TODAY Sports Images)

The skinny: The five-star from Fork Union (Va.) Military Academy was rated as the second-best pro-style quarterback and No. 24 overall in the 2013 class. Hackenberg committed to Penn State prior to sanctions levied against the program because of the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal and stuck with the Nittany Lions despite late overtures by Auburn, South Carolina and others.

Combine overview: Hackenberg has gotten somewhat of a pass because of poor offensive line play at Penn State, but questions have arose about his accuracy and he didn’t help himself during the drill portions at the combine. The former five-star sailed some balls and didn’t make it look too easy for receivers. His draft stock was not helped with his showing in Indianapolis.

Farrell’s take: Hackenberg, a former five-star, needed a big combine performance to overcome two straight years of poor film and he didn’t accomplish what he wanted. He often overthrew his receivers and never showed the improved footwork that scouts wanted. I’ve still heard everything from a late first-round reach to falling out of the draft completely, so his pro day will be huge.

Darian Thompson
Darian Thompson (USA TODAY Sports Images)

The skinny: Thompson was a three-star prospect from Lancaster (Calif.) Paraclete in the 2011 class. He committed to Boise State in November of his senior season.

Combine overview: There’s no getting around it – Thompson didn’t do well in the testing at the combine and only having 12 reps on the bench press was especially surprising. There has been talk that Thompson (and many others) were dealing with a stomach bug in Indianapolis, which means his pro day will be even more crucial.

Farrell’s take: Thompson was never a burner out of high school and made his reputation with his instincts and ball skills, but scouts want to see speed and suddenness and he didn’t show that at the combine. Will he run better at his pro day? Most likely, but will it be enough to keep him out of the middle rounds?

Scooby Wright
Scooby Wright (USA TODAY Sports Images)

The skinny: Scooby Wright was a two-star linebacker out of Santa Rosa (Calif.) Cardinal Newman in the 2013 class. Arizona was Wright's only offer when he committed in June before his senior year.

Combine overview: None of Wright’s testing numbers were all that great and his 40-yard dash was particularly concerning, especially since he’s coming off a knee injury. The Arizona linebacker had an unbelievable 2014 season where he racked up all kinds of awards because he has tremendous instincts and he’s a playmaker, but he’ll need to show more speed and burst for teams to get excited.

Farrell’s take: We knew Scooby wasn’t fast, we knew that out of high school and even in college he did all he did with great instincts. But a 4.9 40 at 6-foot tall, that’s troublesome. None of his testing was very good and he’s not a quick twitch guy, so he needs a huge jump in numbers and performance to push up the charts. That being said, he could still be a Zach Thomas kind of player who just uses instincts to overcome everything else.

Alex Collins
Alex Collins (USA TODAY Sports Images)

The skinny: The four-star running back from Plantation (Fla.) South Plantation was rated as the No. 13 running back and No. 117 overall in the 2013 class. Collins was involved in an odd signing day experience when he signed his NLI to Arkansas, only to have his mother steal the document because she wanted her son closer to home. Miami and Arkansas were the final two and he ended up with the Razorbacks.

Combine overview: Collins did not do well in the testing – whether it was about speed or power or burst - so the question remains exactly where does he fit in the NFL? There’s no question Collins had a tremendous career at Arkansas running behind a massive offensive line, but he needs to show more athleticism and agility to move up draft boards.

Farrell’s take: Collins ran a 4.59 40 and didn’t show elite explosion in much of anything, so he’s going to need to get than time down into the sub-4.5 range if he wants to be the third back off the board. That seems unlikely and there are more questions about him now than there were before the combine.

Tyler Boyd
Tyler Boyd (USA TODAY Sports Images)

The skinny: From Clairton, Pa., Boyd was rated as the No. 12 wide receiver and No. 103 in the 2013 rankings. The four-star prospect was sixth in the Pennsylvania state rankings. It was no shock at all that Boyd picked Pitt at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. The Panthers were always a favorite. Michigan State, West Virginia, Tennessee, Rutgers and Penn State were also considered.

Combine overview: Like Collins, there are now serious question marks about exactly what Boyd brings other than reliable hands. Without tremendous speed and burst, how is he going to get open against the best of the best cornerbacks in the NFL? He didn’t test well in Indianapolis and even though he has great hands, will that be enough for a team to take a chance?

Farrell’s take: I expected Boyd, a fluid guy who’s not a burner but is sudden, to run a sub-4.5 40 and a 4.2-second shuttle and he fell short of both of those. A 4.58 with average size and only 11 bench reps allows scouts to continue to question his size/speed/strength issues. His production, at least through the air, dropped significantly last year compared to his sophomore year so he’s trending down and needs a huge pro day performance.

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