Defensive Ends at the 2008 NFL Scouting Combine

Pass rushers are always in high demand at the NFL Draft evidenced by the fact that 25 were selected in the 2007 NFL Draft with five being selected in the first round. This year should be no different and the top defensive ends were recently on display at the 2008 NFL Scouting Combine. Here are some of my observations.

Vernon Gholston from Ohio State was a man among boys. Not only did he look the part weighing in at 6’ 3” 266 pounds, but he was solid muscle. Gholston is as strong as an ox lifting 225 pounds 37 times, which was the best performance at the combine, actually tying 313 pound offensive tackle Jake Long for first place. Gholston also displayed excellent speed, quickness and leaping ability. He ran his forty at 4.67 with a 35.5” vertical jump and a 10.05 broad jump.

Chris Long from Virginia also put on quite a show. Almost as muscle bound as Gholston, Long weighed in at 6’ 3” 272 pounds and ran a 4.75 forty. Long was very strong with 34 reps on the bench press, he also recorded a 10.4” broad jump and had the fastest (among defensive linemen) 20 yard shuttle run at 4.21 seconds.

Cliff Avril from Purdue made himself some money at the combine. Weighing in at 6’ 2” 253 pounds he displayed linebacker quickness. In fact with his performance he will probably be moved to linebacker in the NFL. Avril ran his forty at lightening quick 4.51 seconds and had one of the best 3-cone times of 6.90.

Quentin Groves from Auburn was a top performer as expected. While he didn’t run a 4.45 as earlier reported, his time of 4.57 was impressive considering he weighs 6’ 3” 251 pounds and benched 225 pounds for 30 repetitions.

There were early reports that Florida’s Derrick Harvey weighed in at 291 pounds, but it was a mistake, he was actually 6’ 4” 271 pounds. Harvey didn’t run a great forty at 4.80, but he looked quick and fluid in the drills and he is a playmaker, in 2007 he recorded 17 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks.

Jason Jones from Eastern Michigan has probably seen his draft stock rise as much as anyone after his Senior Bowl performance. He continued his post season excellence with an outstanding combine performance. At 6’ 5” 273 pounds he ran a 4.71 forty and had the second fastest run of the 20 yard shuttle at 4.23. Eastern Michigan is a division 1 school and Jones finished ranked 7th in tackles for loss with 19.5 in 2007.

Chris Ellis from Virginia Tech should hear his name called very early in the 2008 NFL Draft, probably in the second round. He didn’t dispel that opinion with his performance at the 2008 NFL Combine. He measured in at 6’ 4” 263 pounds and ran a 4.71 forty. Ellis had a great season in 2007 finishing with 8.5 sacks and an amazing 22 quarterback hurries.

I am surprised there isn’t more draft buzz generated about Michigan’s Shawn Crable. He has nice size at 6’ 4.5” 245 pounds and ran a very good 4.64 forty. Crable is not just a workout warrior however; he ranked #2 in the nation with 28.5 tackles for a loss in 2007. He could be a prime candidate to be moved to outside linebacker in the NFL.

Wake Forest’s Jeremy Thompson had an excellent combine performance, measuring in at 6’ 4” 264 pounds he ran a 4.75 forty, which in itself isn’t great, but he recorded the second fastest 3-cone (6.79) and 20 yard shuttle runs (4.23).

UCLA’s Bruce Davis had a decent forty yard dash time at the combine at 4.72. Measuring in at 6’ 3” 252 pounds he is another prospect that will probably be moved to outside linebacker. A consistent performer in college he recorded 15.5 tackles for loss and 12 sacks in 2007.

The not so good:

Miami’s jumbo defensive end Calais Campbell didn’t look good at the combine, he looked soft and slow at 6’ 7” 290 pounds and ran a mediocre 5.03 forty.

USC’s Lawrence Jackson didn’t look that impressive at the combine. Measuring in at 6’ 4” 271 pounds he ran a below average 4.81 forty and a very poor 20 yard shuttle run of 4.40.