NFL Combine: Stock report for RB, OL prospects

The NFL Scouting Combine is now complete with the offensive linemen and running backs working out on the first day.

There are not drastic changes at the top since Ole Miss’ Laremy Tunsil and Notre Dame’s Ronnie Stanley remain the top two offensive tackles expected to come off the board and Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott continues to be the top player at his position.

But after interviews, workouts and more, here is a look at three players who really helped themselves and a few that took a step back after their showing on the first day of the combine. Rivals.com National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell also offers his opinion on each player:

The skinny: Henry was rated as the fifth-best running back in a loaded 2013 class and the first one outside of five-star status. From Yulee, Fla., Henry was an early Georgia commit but picked Alabama over the Bulldogs and Tennessee months later.

Combine overview: Henry weighed in at 247 pounds which is just amazing that the Heisman Trophy winner could move so fluidly at his size. But he showed off excellent speed running the 40-yard dash in 4.54 seconds and recording a 37-inch vertical. The national champion might not be the fastest running back in the draft from the standpoint of cutting and immediate explosion but at his size and with his physical attributes Henry could easily move into the first round.

Farrell’s Take: I somehow keep doubting Henry and he keeps delivering. Yes, I expected he would run and test well because he’s a workout warrior and his work ethic can’t be questioned, but he knocked it out of the park and could have put himself into the first round. The biggest surprise to me was that he didn’t measure in at closer to 6-foot-4 because every time I’ve seen him he seems to be a towering figure. That’s probably because he’s still very tall and upright when he runs, something I still think hurts him in the NFL. But again, he keeps proving me wrong.

The skinny: From Raleigh (N.C.) Millbrook, Marshall was rated as the second-best all-purpose back and No. 48 overall in the 2012 class. He picked Georgia in December of his senior season and also helped get Todd Gurley to commit to the Bulldogs over Clemson and others.

Combine overview: There are still so many questions about Marshall and his knee injury at Georgia, which essentially sidelined him for major parts of three seasons but he proved speed will not be an issue for him in the NFL. Marshall clocked a 4.31 in the 40, which could put him back on a lot of draft boards. No one is saying he’s a first-round pick but Marshall proved in Indianapolis he still has tremendous speed and could be an asset in the NFL.

Farrell’s Take: This was simply amazing. A highly-regarded recruit out of high school and part of the 1-2 punch for Georgia from North Carolina along with Gurley, Marshall’s college career was marred by injury and disappointment. So when he left early for the draft, I was puzzled but I’m not anymore. He was fast in high school but not this fast. I would have never expected a 4.31 from him even if he had a stellar career in college.

The skinny: Spriggs was rated as a three-star tight end out of Elkhart (Ind.) Concord Community. The three-star picked Indiana, his only Big Ten offer, over offers from Buffalo, Eastern Michigan, Miami (Ohio), Northern Illinois, Toledo and Western Michigan in the summer before his senior season.

Combine overview: Tunsil and Stanley seem locked in to those top two offensive tackle spots but after that Spriggs could be a guy shooting up the charts. Being a former tight end, it’s no surprise he ran well in the 40 (4.94 seconds) and had a great 9-foot-7 broad jump but Spriggs also showed power on the bench with 31 reps. The former Indiana star has power, agility, great feet and a whole lot of toughness.

Farrell’s Take: I like offensive line prospects with light frames that grow into their bodies because they retain the athleticism and agility of a smaller man. Spriggs was a tight end and worked out like one, his workout could shoot him right into first round contention. We didn’t see this coming out of high school but that’s to be expected since he was catching passes and not protecting the passer full time.

The skinny: Alexander was rated as the No. 11 offensive guard and No. 234 overall in the 2012 class. A former native of New Orleans who moved to Georgia at age 3, Alexander picked LSU over Auburn, which was considered his favorite before the four-star took his visit to Baton Rouge.

Combine overview: Forty-yard dashes for massive offensive linemen are a little ridiculous but almost all of them ran it and Alexander did not look good. He’s stiff-legged and slow (running the 40 in 5.57 seconds) and more importantly during the position drills just didn’t seem like somebody with any lateral movement. Yes, he’s strong and physical but so is everyone else in the NFL. He’ll have to move inside for sure and even then quick defensive tackles could routinely beat him.

Farrell’s Take: Alexander was a hot name on draft boards midseason for LSU and then the line became exposed as teams schemed against Leonard Fournette and dared LSU to pass. That exposed Alexander a bit as well but I still felt he could be a guy who was athletic enough to do things in space and downfield. His poor workout will turn off a lot of teams from the former four-star who was raw until his senior year of high school.

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 a bizarre Signing Day 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 the matter was not resolved for hours.

Combine overview: Collins did not run a particularly fast 40 but he’s never been a burner, so that’s not too surprising. But he also didn’t have a great broad jump, nor did he have an impressive vertical leap nor did he do well with reps on the bench press. So the question remains about Collins is this: If he’s not super fast and not super explosive and not super strong, exactly where does he fit in the NFL?

Farrell’s Take: Collins was never truly a burner in high school but he did have good speed and could break away for sure. To get into the discussion as a top two back with Elliott and Henry he needed to bust off a great time and he simply didn’t do it. Does that mean he won’t be effective in the NFL? Nope, he could still be a star, but this will hurt his draft stock.

The skinny: The Harrisonburg, Va., four-star was rated as the third-best offensive guard and No. 106 overall in the 2011 class. Turner committed to North Carolina over Virginia, Virginia Tech and many others in the summer before his senior season.

Combine overview: Turner had a bad day. There’s no other way to put it because he was supposed to establish himself as one of the more athletic interior linemen in this draft and he just didn’t do it. The North Carolina standout was slow in the 40, performed poorly in the broad jump and didn’t make it clear – as others did – that he’s ready to make immediate contributions at the highest level.

Farrell’s Take: I never saw Turner, a four-star out of high school, as an elite athlete but he did have quicker feet than what showed at the combine. He’s a road grader so long-distance speed is not an issue. His bench numbers were solid, but scouts will be concerned about that athletic ability and if he can reach the second level.