With the NFL Combine out of the picture, the only opportunity left for most collegiate players to make an impression across the NFL landscape is their respective pro day.
In fact, Indiana held the first official pro day Tuesday.
For some players, it’s a chance at redemption in case they didn’t perform to their expectations at the Combine. Others don’t have that worry. But some Group of Five players don’t necessarily have the same amount of eyes on them at their pro day compared to players from Power Five programs.
Maybe that means the Combine is more important to G5 players than P5 players? That might not be true. Either way, it’s an event that can have a huge impact on draft stock.
Let’s look at some players from different positions whose Combine should have a positive impact on where they’re selected.
Zack Kuntz
Perhaps the talk of the Combine outside of Anthony Richardson, Kuntz showed out and even broke a record by becoming the tallest player to ever have a vertical reach of 40 inches at the Combine. If he was under the radar last week, he’s not anymore.
The 6-foot-7, 255-pound former Old Dominion tight end was first in four drills including vertical (40”), broad jump (10’8”), three-cone drill (6.87 seconds), and bench press (23 reps). His 40 time was the second fastest (4.55) and his 10-yard split was also second (1.57) among tight ends. The only drill Kuntz didn’t finish in the top two was the 20-yard shuttle, where his 4.12 second time was good for 11th.
According to Next Gen Stats, he was the most athletic individual at the Combine:
Keaton Mitchell
It wasn’t long ago that we covered Keaton Mitchell’s ability and his outlook entering the draft. There we talked about how lethal his speed and burst are. Those same attributes were on display last weekend in Indianapolis.
The former East Carolina Pirate clocked a 1.48 in the 10-yard split, which was the top time among running backs, and timed in at 4.37 seconds in the 40-yard dash, which was the third-fastest. In a draft class with some elite running back talent, Mitchell also finished second in the broad jump (10’6”) and third with a 38-inch vertical. At 5-8, 179 pounds and for someone whose size is a question mark, it was critical for Mitchell to stand out the way he did.
Jose Ramirez
The 2022 MAC Defensive Player of the Year might have not been getting much love following his 19.5 tackle-for-loss and 12 sack season for Eastern Michigan. Following his performance at the Combine, that might change. The 6-foot-2, 242-pound defensive end looked so fluid as if he was just gliding through drills:
He also showcased his quickness, posting the top times in the three-cone (6.95 seconds) and the 20-yard shuttle (4.3). His vertical (34.5”) also ranked ninth among defensive ends.
Tre Tucker
Known for his speed, Tucker probably didn’t secure a time he would have liked in the 40 after clocking in at 4.40 seconds. Still, that left him tied for the sixth-fastest time among WRs. Tucker also posted the second-fastest 10-yard split at 1.48 seconds.
The Cincinnati standout looked good catching passes and running routes, as well. It’ll be interesting to see if Tucker carves out a returner role early on in his NFL career.
Clayton Tune
The former Houston QB was nowhere near Anthony Richardson’s level of impressive, but Tune probably earned himself some cash after his Combine performance. Tune’s 40-time of 4.64 seconds isn’t bad at all for his 6-2, 220-pound frame and his 37.5-inch vertical was also something to be noted.
Tune displayed his ability to sling the ball and his athleticism over the week, and he will probably be a late-round selection.
