2011 NFL Scouting Combine: The Wide Recievers

Image: Edmund Gates

The receivers worked out on Sunday (27 February 2011) and as expected there were some very fast prospects on the field. Alabam WR Julio Jones pretty much stole the show with a fantastic performance, he will now compete with Georgia WR A.J. Green to be the first receiver selected in the 2011 NFL Draft.

Jones was much faster than anticipated, at 6' 3" 220 pounds he ran his 40-yard dash in 4.39 seconds. His broad jump was off the charts when he almost cleared 12 feet, he lost his balance and tried two more times and ended up with an amazing broad jump of 11' 3". Jones also had a decent time of 6.66 seconds in the 3-cone drill and looked smooth and fluid in the drills. People don't give Jones enough credit for his on the field performance last season (2010), despite battling injuries he recorded 78 catches for 1,133 yards and 7 TDs, including a 10 catch 199 yard, 1 TD performance against eventual national champion Auburn.

Kentucky WR Randall Cobb looked very smooth and fluid in the gauntlet and at 5' 10" 191 pounds, his 40-yard dash time of 4.45 seconds was impressive. Cobb is no workout warrior, he had an excellent 2010 season catching 84 passes for 1,017 yards and 7 TDs. He also ran the ball as a running back and wild-cat QB and rushed the ball 55 times for 446 yards and another 5 TDs.

The fastest receiver at the combine this year was Abeline Christian (Division II) Edmund Gates, who ran his 40-yard dash in 4.37 seconds. Gates had a very productive season on the field where he caught 66 passes for 1,182 yards and 13 TDs. Gates also performed excellent in the other drills, he recorded a 40" vertical jump, and a 10' 11" broad jump. He also possesses decent size at 6' 0" 192 pounds.

Speaking of late first round grades, Maryland WR Torrey Smith looked absolutely fantastic at the combine. His 40-yard dash time initially came in at 4.37 but was later downgraded to 4.43, which is still impressive. Not just a speed guy though, he has superb hands and caught everything thrown his way during the gauntlet drill. Smith weighed in at 6' 1" 204 pounds and also performed well in the vertical jump and broad jump where he recorded 41" and 10' 6" respectively. Only a junior, but Smith still had an excellent year in 2010 where he caught 67 passes for 1,055 yards and 12 TDs.

Division III Mount Union WR Cecil Shorts is an interesting prospect. He measured in at 6' 0" 205 pounds and looked very smooth and quick in the drills. He recorded a decent 6.50 seconds in the 3-cone drill. Shorts is a pretty versatile prospect playing some QB and receiver at Mount Union, he did catch 70 passes in 2010 for 1,196 yards and 18 TDs. Shorts might end up as the 2nd small school prospect drafted after Villanova's gifted offensive tackle Ben Ijalana, who carries a late first round grade.

WR Terrance Tolliver was highly rated entering the 2010 season but didn't catch the ball particularly well. Tolliver will still get drafted however due to his size and speed, he measured in at 6' 4" 212 pounds and ran his 40-yard dash in 4.52 seconds. He looked quick in the 3-cone drill where he ranked 3rd best among receivers with a time of 6.48 seconds. Tolliver also had an excellent time in the 20 yard shuttle when he ran it in 4.03 seconds.

WR Leonard Hankerson (6' 2" 209 lbs) continued his rise up the draft boards, after an excellent performance at the Senior Bowl, Hankerson ran a nice 4.43 second forty yard dash, that's pretty good for a tall receiver. Hankerson also quietly had an excellent season last year for the Miami Hurricaines. In 2010 he caught 72 passes for 1,156 yards and 13 TDs.

SMU WR Aldrick Robinson is a speed demon, he had an excellent combine recording a 4.43 second forty yard dash, 40" vertical jump, 10' 6" broad jump and an impressive 6.65 seconds in the 3-cone drill. In 2010 Robinson showed everyone he is not just a track guy either, he recorded 65 catches for 1,301 yards and 14 TDs.

Some other notable performances were WR Jonathan Baldwin who recorded a 42" vertical jump and 10' 9" broad jump. WR Austin Pettis also had some decent numbers, he recorded the fastest time among recievers n the 3-cone drill with a time of 3.88 seconds.

Check back tomorrow and I'll cover the running backs.

Robert Bryant