Rival Views: Who boosted their stock the most at the Combine?
Rivals.com National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell and National Recruiting Analyst Adam Gorney don’t always see eye to eye. In this edition of Rival Views, the two debate which player helped their stock the most at the NFL Combine.
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FARRELL'S VIEW: LSU WR D.J. CHARK
LSU wide receiver D.J. Chark came into the combine as a fringe top five receiver and now, after running a 4.36-second 40-yard dash and posting solid numbers in the vertical and broad jumps, he might be No. 2 behind Calvin Ridley. His on-field workout was solid as well despite letting the ball into his body a bit too much at times.
Sahquem Griffin helped himself quite a bit but I still think he’ll be a very late pick if at all, so I’m not taking him. Maryland’s D.J. Moore, NC State’s Nyheim Hines, Penn State’s Mike Gesicki and others also impressed.
GORNEY'S VIEW: UCF LB SHAQUEM GRIFFIN
Sahquem Griffin won't emerge as one of the top linebackers in this draft, far from it, but he is definitely much more than a "feel-good" story from the combine. The UCF linebacker, whose left hand was amputated when he was 4 years old, did 20 reps on the bench press and, according to NFL.com, Griffin's 4.38-second 40-yard dash was the fastest for a linebacker at the combine since 2003.
There are clearly some questions from an evaluation standpoint about wrapping up and finishing tackles, especially since bringing down players in the NFL is far different than tackling in the AAC, so I don't expect him to be a first or even early-round selection, but Griffin should move way up draft boards and be taken more seriously. He showed this weekend that he has tremendous athletic ability and obviously the want-to to become a contributor on an NFL team.
I'm not sure any player changed more opinions about exactly how valuable he could be more than Griffin at the NFL Combine.