2011 NFL Scouting Combine: Tight Ends

The tight ends were on display today at the 2011 NFL Scouting Combine and we didn't have any Vernon Davis like performances. If you remember during the 2006 Combine, Davis, measuring at 6' 3" 254 pounds ran a 4.38 forty yard dash. He ended up being drafted in the first round (6th overall) and signed a 5-year 23 million dollar deal with the San Francisco 49ers. He hasn't exactly set the world on fire in the NFL, but that's a story for a different day.

The fastest tight end today was also one of the lightest, Rob Housler from Florida Atlantic is only 248 pounds, but at 6' 5" tall he has the frame to put on a few pounds. Housler ran his 40-yard dash in 4.55 seconds. He (Housler) was also the 4th best in the 3-cone with a time of 6.90 seconds and 3rd best in the vertical jump with a jump of 37 inches. The other workout warrior of the day was Nevada's Virgil Green, Green weighed in at 6' 3" 249 pounds and ran his 40-yard dash in 4.64 seconds. Green's vertical jump and broad jump were off the charts at 42 inches and 10' 10" respectively.

Wisconsin's Lance Kendricks was the top rated tight end at the combine, he could be a 2nd round draft pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. He (Kendricks) looked very smooth running his routes and catching the ball and had some decent numbers. Kendrick's 20-yard shuttle run was 3rd best among tight ends at 4.15 seconds, and his 40-yard dash time of 4.75 seconds was decent. Kendrick's broad jump measured an impressive 10' 2", which was 2nd best among tight ends. Kendrick is about the same size as the other two tight ends mentioned previously (6' 3" 243 lbs), but he looked much more athletic and fluid.

The other tight end that really stood out to me was USC's Jordan Cameron, he has very quick feet for a kid 6' 5" 254 pounds and recorded the best 3-cone time of 6.82 seconds. Cameron isn't much of a blocker, but his size/speed combination should get him drafted late. He ran his 40-yard dash in 4.59 seconds and his vertical jump was an impressive 37.5, which were second best among tight ends. His (Cameron) 20 yard shuttle was actually the best among tight ends at 4.03 seconds. Another top rated tight end that looked good at the combine was Arkansas's D.J. Williams. He is a very good route runner and has great hands. He (Williams) is about the same size as the first three mentioned (6' 2" 245 lbs) and his 40-yard dash of 4.67 seconds was decent.

The top rated tight end Notre Dame's Kyle Rudolph didn't work out as he is still recovering from a torn hamstring. Rudolph is one of the few complete tight ends in the draft at 6' 6 265 pounds.

"I'm about 75 to 85 percent but I feel great and I expect to do everything on my pro day, Rudolph said Friday.

Notre Dame's pro day will be held 7 April 2011. With a strong workout, Rudolph might make a late push into the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft. I will be covering the entire NFL Scouting Combine all this week so check back often.