Risers and Fallers
Updated on Feb. 26, 2007
INDIANAPOLIS -- With 327 prospects in town for the Scouting Combine, millions of dollars are being earned -- and potentially lost -- during workouts, interviews, medical examinations and psychological testing.
A few prospects declined to participate in the workouts inside the RCA Dome, but the majority put their draft stocks on the line in front of coaches, scouts and front office personnel.
This week's Risers and Fallers:
| Risers & Fallers |
1.  Greg Olsen, TE, Miami (Fla.): Vernon Davis rode a spectacular workout last year into the sixth overall pick. While Olsen won't make that type of quantum leap, his performance at the Combine likely ended the race with Arizona State's Zach Miller to be first tight end selected in April. Olsen, after measuring in a shade under 6-feet-6, 258 pounds, was timed between a 4.47-4.52 seconds in the 40-yard dash, showcasing the speed to stretch defenses down the seam. Olsen, who entered the week second on many draft boards at the position and a borderline first-round pick, not only jumped ahead of Miller, but likely positioned himself as a top 20 pick. |
| 2. Jason Hill, WR, Washington State: Hill was asked how he expected to run in the 40. His answer was one word: "fast." Turns out, that was the only description necessary. Some scouts question how fast he truly is on the field, but Hill's 4.32 time was second only to renowned Kansas State speedster Yamon Figurs' 4.30 for wideouts who ran in Indianapolis. And in a draft blessed with rare talent at receiver, Hill's 18.3 yards per catch average and school-record 32 touchdowns rank among the elite. |
| 3. Michael Allan, TE, Whitworth: The only Division III prospect invited to the Combine, the odds were against Allen being able to stand out amidst so many higher profile athletes. But Allan opened eyes when he strung together impressive performances in several skills designed to show pure athleticism. Allan tied with the second fastest 40 time (4.71) and vertical jump (36 inches), and led the tight ends with a 10'3" broad jump. |
| 4. Chris Henry, RB, Arizona: Adrian Peterson and Marshawn Lynch are the established top two running backs available, but the rankings get murky after that. Henry needed to enjoy a strong performance at the Combine to gain the attention of scouts after starting only six games and rushing for 892 yards during his Wildcats career. Every team will be taking a closer look at Henry after he tied Peterson, a likely top five pick, with the best 40 time (4.40) and broad jump (10'7") among the running backs tested in Indianapolis. |
| 5. Steve Smith, WR, Southern California: Smith has been overshadowed by the likes of Dwayne Jarrett and Mike Williams throughout his career with the Trojans. Sunday was his turn to shine. Recognized more for his smooth route-running and soft hands, Smith turned in a surprising eye-popping workout at the Combine, coming through with top 10 performances among receivers in the 40 (4.44), three cone drill (6.68) and vertical jump (38"). |
1.  Zach Miller, TE, Arizona State: Not only did Olsen enjoy a spectacular workout at the Combine, Miller legitimately struggled. After running a disappointing 4.84 in the 40, Miller seemed to get down on himself and struggled in his route-running and receiving throughout the rest of his workout Saturday. Miller may have dropped out of the first round with his showing in Indy. |
| 2. Anthony Gonzalez, WR, Ohio State: With Ted Ginn still sidelined with a foot injury, Gonzalez had the opportunity Sunday to emerge from his former teammate's shadow. Instead, Gonzalez struggled mightily in keeping his feet throughout receiver drills. He repeatedly stumbled out of his breaks and wasn't helped by several poorly thrown passes that forced him to adjust awkwardly to make difficult receptions. While his workout can't fairly be classified as a reason to drop the former Buckeye, Gonzalez's inability to take advantage of the opportunity was disappointing. |
| 3. Josh Beekman, OG, Boston College: Offensive guard is among the strongest positions of the 2007 draft class. At one time Beekman, was considered one of the elite prospects available. After a very mediocre week of practice at the Senior Bowl, however, Beekman looked un-athletic and out of shape at the Combine. Once considered a potential top 50 pick, Beekman is no longer a sure first-day prospect. |
| 4. Trent Edwards, QB, Stanford: Considered by many to be the top overall prep talent when he signed with Stanford, many scouts projected a breakout senior season from Edwards. Instead, he was limited to only seven games due to a broken foot. He wasn't ready to participate in the Senior Bowl, leaving scouts to rely heavily on Edwards' performance in Indianapolis. He showed only marginal accuracy in his workout Sunday, likely anchoring him in the middle rounds. |
| 5. Tony Hunt, RB, Penn State: Hunt is viewed as one of the better big backs of the draft. The only real question scouts have about him is his straight-line speed. Rather than address these concerns, Hunt elected not to run at the Combine. Had he run poorly here, he still would have had his Pro Day on March 22 to work out for scouts again. By not participating, however, his competitiveness was questioned by scouts. Only a fraction of the scouts present at the Combine will attend Penn State's Pro Day, and Hunt has left himself with only one real chance to leave an impression. |
Rob Rang is a Senior Analyst for NFLDraftScout.com, distributed by The Sports Xchange.
