Scouting Combine Report: Ruggs shoots up draft board after blazing 40
Feb 28, 2020, 2:55 PM
The 2020 NFL Scouting Combine has a new schedule, and that includes drills that are held in primetime for a large nationwide TV audience. The first day of drills was on Thursday, and they created some edge-of-your-seat action that captivated even casual sports fans.
Each year, I cap off my “All-Star Road Trip” by journeying to Indianapolis, Ind. for the Combine. After traveling to college all-star games, I get to reconnect with prospects I’ve talked to earlier in the year. I also get to meet underclassmen I have yet to talk to. I’ll catch up with friends in the scouting community, including team executives and head coaches. It’s a great time and an important (and often misunderstood) stop in the pre-draft process.
This is the 10th Combine for Broncos general manager John Elway. I’ve been here for every one of his Combines as an executive with the team and Elway has learned a lot on the journey. After a decade of coming to this event, Elway is clear on what he likes most about the Combine.
“I think it’s exciting for us too because we get to see actual numbers on all these guys. I think up to this point and time our scouts have done a good job with background and trying to figure out what the numbers are. We get the true numbers. Not only that, we get the medical side testing done and everything. It’s an exciting week because it kind of puts everything in process and the fact that we start building a team and looking to the next year. This is when we start building it,” Elway said.
Many things are in motion at the Combine. There is draft news, injury updates and even some trade talk or free-agent discussion. I’m all over it, and happy to report to you every day on The Fan.
Here is my day three recap from the Combine.
***
Just Keeps Getting Better
I find favorite players during the pre-draft process when going through and putting together my grades on prospects entering the NFL. One of my favorite players this year is Memphis running back Antonio Gibson. I loved watching him on film do his work as a runner and slot receiver for the Tigers, and I was super excited when I found out he was going to be at the Senior Bowl earlier this year.
At that game, Gibson worked as a running back even though he had more receptions than carries in 2019. He looked good during the week of practice and showed a natural ability to find space inside as a runner. When he got to the open field, Gibson was able to turn on the boost and eat up yards quickly.
He was invited to the Combine but when looking over the list of running backs I did not see his name. That’s because the league wanted him to work out as a wide receiver – something he’s capable of doing but I don’t think it’s the right fit.
I think Jim had it right, putting him at RB https://t.co/Eh2fDQJ6YW
— Eric Edholm (@Eric_Edholm) February 27, 2020
Gibson is a player without a position, but the right team is going to be able to get quite a bit out of him as a runner or receiver. He interviewed well at the Combine and told me that he considers himself best-suited to play running back at the pro level. His performance at the Combine will certainly get more scouts talking.
***
Ruggs is Gone
Alabama wide receiver Henry Ruggs did not break the record for the fastest time in the 40-yard dash on Thursday. He was close, but still fell short. That will not stop teams from getting super excited about drafting him in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, however.
In fact, don’t be surprised if Ruggs is gone by the time the Broncos pick at No. 15 overall. Wide receiver-needy teams behind the Broncos could choose to move up and take him off the board before Denver gets the chance, or teams already in front of the Broncos may decide that he’s the guy they want to pick.
Henry Ruggs 2nd 40: 4.31u. Ran 4.28u on 1st 40.
Short of the record, but still BLAZING times for the @AlabamaFTBL WR. Fastest prospect at the 2020 #NFLCombine thus far.
— NFL Draft (@NFLDraft) February 28, 2020
Whatever happens in the draft, the chances of Ruggs being available to Denver at No. 15 were reduced by his blazing time in the 40-yard dash. The Broncos had better make other plans if they want to stay with that pick or move up if he’s really their guy.
***
Did Not Back Up the Film
Laviska Shenault did not have a good day at the Combine on Thursday. Nobody expected him to run a super-fast 40-yard dash, but he should have ran better than the 4.58 that he recorded. Shenault stopped on his first attempt at the drill about 20 yards in. On his second attempt, it looks like he may have aggravated an injury.
Simply put, the results of his 40 did not match what we saw on film. Shenault is better than that. He’s faster than that, but his groin injury might have been bothering him. He said earlier in the week that he wasn’t going to participate in all the drills, but he wanted to show off his speed at the Combine. Well, that didn’t happen and now Shenault will have to make up for it at the Buffaloes pro day in March.
Laviska Shenault running a 4.59s is simply not representative of his play speed. Don’t know if it’s injury, bad start, whatever. He’s markedly faster than that.
— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) February 28, 2020
We’ll see how this impacts Shenault’s draft stock. He’s a first-round talent, but there’s a good chance now he falls to the second round due to injury concerns. No word yet on how his medical reports checked out, but expect Shenault to be one of a handful of players who has to return to Indianapolis in a few weeks for a medical re-check.
***
Local Guy Does Good
There is one local prospect who all fans in Colorado should be rooting for. Dalton Keene, the Virginia Tech tight end, played high school football in Littleton, Colo. for the Chatfield Chargers and he declared early for the 2020 NFL Draft. Keene was invited to the Scouting Combine and during the drills on Thursday, he showed why he got the invite.
He’s one of the most versatile players in this draft, and Keene can line up at tight end, H-back, fullback, running back…and I even think he can play some quarterback if needed.
Longest broad jump for a TE. Fastest short shuttle for TEs. Keene having a great #NFLCombine @1043TheFan https://t.co/cQG8Dxo9Qx
— Cecil Lammey (@CecilLammey) February 28, 2020
Keene did some good things at the Combine on Thursday. He looked to be one of the better blockers at the position, and Keene caught the ball cleanly during pass-catching drills. He may not be one of the top tight ends off the board, but NFL teams were certainly impressed when getting an up-close look at the Colorado native.
