The 2008 NFL Scouting Combine is in full swing and up until today there weren't a lot of fireworks to report. A little disclaimer here, all 40 times are courtesy of the NFL Network and are unofficial, I counted maybe 15 people down on the field with stopwatches and another 40 or so in the stands, so you will see a lot of different quoted times come out. The official electronic times will be released next week. The receivers ran this morning and California WR DeSean Jackson measured in at only 5' 9" 167 pounds, but he ran a 4.31 forty yard dash. One of my sleepers prospects from Appalachian State, WR Dexter Jackson was actually the fastest receiver running a 4.27 forty. The other prospect that I have to mention without delay is small school quarterback Josh Johnson from San Diego, during the passing drills today I thought his arm was as good as anybody's, I like his quick release and his balls get on the receiver very fast, but what really got my attention was his speed, he ran a 4.40 forty, yes that's not a typo, he is blazing fast. Remember Johnson, he was the star of the East-West Shrine game.
Enough about the receivers and quarterbacks, I will cover them in more detail tomorrow. Today I want to cover the running backs and all I can say is WOW. This class of running backs will probably go down in history as the all time best to ever enter the draft. After RB Darren McFadden ran two sizzling 40 yard dashes of 4.27 and 4.33, all the talk was the report by the NFL Networks' Adam Schefter that the Dallas Cowboys are trying to work out a trade to acquire McFadden, this an old rehashed story that I reported on almost three months ago on my Dallas Cowboys NFL Team Column. This time Schefter is saying the Cowboys will throw in RB Marion Barber in the deal. McFadden's size (6' 1" 211 lbs), speed and production makes him a prime target for someone to trade up and get, but Barber is a Pro Bowl running back. It would probably take Barber, both of the Cowboys first round picks and maybe a 3rd or 4th rounder thrown in to get into that top spot that is currently owned by the Miami Dolphins.
I am not going to cover all the running backs, but here is a snapshot of some of the top dogs. The fastest running back was East Carolina RB Chris Johnson who ran two very fast forties: 4.24 and 4.29. Johnson is not huge at 5' 11" 197 pounds, but he is also an excellent receiver. If Johnson lasts until round two, he will be steal. The other two running backs that absolutely solidified a selection in the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft are Illinois RB Rashard Mendenhall (5' 10" 225 lbs) and Oregon RB Jonathan Stewart (5' 10" 235 lbs). Both of these guys are big, muscular prospects with breathtaking speed. Mendenhall ran two 40s of 4.37 and 4.43 and Stewart ran twice at 4.44 and 4.49 seconds.
There are a few other prospects that in most years would easily by first round draft picks, however, in this deep running back class they emerge as late first/early second round prospects. I really like Texas RB Jamaal Charles and Central Florida RB Kevin Smith. Charles finished the season very strong and didn't disappoint at the 2008 NFL Scouting Combine, at 5' 10" 200 pounds, he has decent size and his two 40 times of 4.36 and 4.39 shows that he has home run speed. Smith is a long strider at 6' 1" 217 pounds, but he led the nation in rushing with 2,567 yards and 29 TDs. His speed was in question coming into the combine, but he ran his first 40 at a blistering 4.43 seconds. His second run was only 4.56, but he had a bad start. The other RB from Arkansas Felix Jones (5' 10" 207 lbs) had a very good NFL Combine, his two 40 times were 4.44 and 4.47 seconds. There is nothing wrong with that time, however being talked about as a "speed guy" I thought he would run under 4.40.
Rutgers RB Ray Rice is another interesting prospect, he might slip into the 3rd round due to his size (5' 8" 199 lbs), but his production in college can't be ignored, only a junior, he scored 44 touchdowns in his last two years at Rutgers. At the combine his first 40 yard dash was an impressive 4.44 seconds, but he injured his hamstring and only ran once. West Virginia RB Steve Slaton, this time last year I had him rated as a first round NFL Draft Pick. Slaton only a junior, is a little small at 5' 9" 197 pounds and he didn't have as good of a junior year as he did as a sophomore and subsequently has seen his draft stock plummet. Slaton, however, ran pretty good at the combine, running two 40s of 4.44 and 4.45 seconds. Little known RB Chad Simpson from Morgan State made some money at the combine. His is a tad small at 5' 9" 200 pounds, but his 4.38 second forty got the attention of NFL scouts.
Not all was positive at the combine for running backs, Michigan's RB Mike Hart was a bit of a disappointment running twice at 4.67 and 4.69 seconds. One of my favorite small school prospects from Northwest Missouri State, RB Xavier Omon, didn't run real well, he ran twice at 4.59 seconds. Here are some times for a few other running backs and fullbacks:
RB Anthony Alridge: 4.33
RB Matt Forte: 4.51
FB Jerome Felton: 4.75
RB Chad Simpson: 4.38
FB Jacob Hester: 4.60
RB Jalen Parmele: 4.54
RB Dantrell Savage: 4.50
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