Friday marked the beginning of the on-field work for the NFL Combine, with running backs, offensive linemen and special teams prospects all running, jumping and lifting to prove their athleticism. The FCS had 7 prospects — 5 O-lineman and 2 RBs — in the mix, and several performed very well.
[divider]MORE: Compare Any Two FCS Players or Any Two FCS Teams[divider]
FCS PROSPECTS: Where do they project to be taken?
It's hard to pinpoint who took the biggest step forward, as several FCS prospects did well. Fordham's Chase Edmonds might be that guy, as he owned the other running backs when it came to the 3-cone drill, the 20-yard shuttle and the 60-yard shuttle. He ran a 4.55-second time in the 40-yard dash, good for 12th among RBs at the combine, and also showed he has the strength with 19 reps of 225 pounds — good for 8th among RBs. He also had the 5th best broad jump among RBs, so overall it was an impressive performance.
MCLAUGHLIN: Chase Edmonds One Of The FCS' Top Backs Ever
"I'm feeling good, I'm not going to complain too much about the results," Edmonds told HERO Sports after his combine performance. "I was trying to run a 4.52, that was my goal, and for a while a lot of the scouts said I had run a 4.5 but that got changed later. I also wanted 20 reps but they took one away from me which gave me 19. But I was really happy with the 3-cone and shuttle. My main focus when my pro day happens (at Fordham, March 8) is I want to excel with the slot routes. I want to be more like a Christian McCaffery type player and show I can be a really bad mismatch."
Coming off of the injuries that plagued him in 2017 and limited him at the Shrine Game, Edmonds just saw his draft stock rise, there is zero question of that. He proved he deserves a spot in the discussion alongside the "big names", something FCS fans have known for awhile.
Edmonds added that he won't be able to get back to New York now until Monday because of the nasty weather system that is taking place in the Northeast, and when he does he's going to work with the punters to improve his showing in returning punts just ahead of the Thursday Pro Day. He said he is just stoked nobody has given up on him.
"I don't think anybody ever dropped me, but maybe some forgot about me," Edmonds said. "When I look back on my season and being so hurt and banged up, when you try to draw wisdom from something, that's what I did. At the time I thought I was one of the most cursed people in the world. But it taught me a lot of lessons. It made my approach to this entire draft process more urgent."
In a comparative sense, there were several other showings. Basketball-to-football convert Greg Senat of Wagner has been one of the hot topics of this draft cycle. The athletic offensive tackle prospect posted the top 60-yard shuttle time in FCS history for an O-lineman at the combine. His 7.41-second time edges out Montana State's Michael Person (2011) and Northern Iowa's Brad Meester (2000) as tops for the big guys up front. One can be assured he will shoot up the lists after this weekend.
COMBINE: Greatest FCS Performances Of All Time
Brandon Parker of North Carolina A&T also had an elite performance, posting the 3rd best broad jump ever for an FCS offensive lineman at the combine, while also posting strong showings in other categories. He and Idaho State's Skyler Phillips had their bright spots on Friday.
Jacksonville State RB Roc Thomas was impressive also, showing his overall athleticism with the 4th best broad jump of the combine for RBs, along with a top 10 in the vertical.
RELATED: FCS prospects invited to the NFL Combine this weekend
On Saturday, we'll see the quarterbacks, receivers and tight ends do their business, and then Sunday it'll be defensive linemen and linebackers. On Monday the Combine wraps with all of the defensive backs.
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NEXT: 2018 FCS Combine Participant Workout Results and Measurements
