Pinned
Link copied
2024 NFL Combine takeaways: Joe Alt meets expectations, Amarius Mims injured during workouts
Stay current with everything going on from the combine in Indy
INDIANAPOLIS -- The offensive linemen took to the field to close the 2024 NFL Combine and collectively it was a fine display of impressive athletic gifts for men over 300 pounds.
The strength of the offensive tackle class is now well documented, and despite not getting a 40-yard dash or any jumps from Alabama's right tackle stalwart J.C. Latham, the rest of the top-tier edge-protectors worked out fully and were nothing short of spectacular. Here are some rapid-fire takeaways:
- Notre Dame's Joe Alt met expectations. At close to 6-9 and 321 pounds, the Fighting Irish blocker was one of the finest testers on the afternoon. And while his workout wasn't legendary, relative to his immense size, his 5.05 in the 40, paired with a 1.73 10-yard split, and 9-foot-4 broad jump were tremendous
- Georgia's Amarius Mims did some freaky stuff before getting injured. The hopefully minor injury occurred on Mims' second attempt at the 40-yard dash. Before that, ran clocked a time of 5.07 in the 40-yard dash and had a springy 9-3 in the broad jump... all at nearly 6-8 and 340 pounds with arms over 36 inches. Insanity.
Here are also some quick-hitting thoughts on how prospects at other positions performed in Indianapolis this weekend:
QB, WR and RB workouts
- Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy was the talk of the day as he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.21 seconds, which broke John Ross' standing record (4.22 seconds) from 2017. Worthy ran 4.25 seconds on his first attempt, but decided he had more left in the tank ... and he did.
- Worthy's Texas teammate, Adonai Mitchell, also stood out in athletic testing and on-field workouts. It could be difficult for teams in the first round to overlook his potential.
- Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy had a day much like his career: consistent and efficient. There was nothing eye-popping about his day, but he was there to celebrate Worthy's 40-yard dash despite finishing his workout an hour earlier. McCarthy was vocal all afternoon, including the support of Notre Dame quarterback Sam Hartman and his hair -- oh, that hair --- being the only quarterback to run the 40-yard dash in Group 1.
- Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. stood out in the second group of quarterbacks. With McCarthy rising, if four quarterbacks are taken in the top 10 overall, then the next tier of quarterbacks stands to benefit the most. Oregon's Bo Nix and Penix then become the next best available quarterbacks, and that could translate into a first-round selection.
- There was not much to take away from the running back workout overall. Saturday's performances likely did not do much to impact the draft, for better or worse.
DB and TE workouts
- Clemson cornerback Nate Wiggins did not participate in the vertical or broad jumps, but he did run the fastest 40-yard dash of the night at 4.28 seconds. Wiggins suffered a hip flexor injury on his second run, however, and did not return.
- Toledo cornerback Quinyon Mitchell is widely-regarded as a likely first-round selection. He did not disappoint during testing, as his 4.33 seconds 40-yard dash was the second fastest on the night. His competition, Alabama's Terrion Arnold, ran a 4.50-second 40-yard dash, while Alabama's Kool-Aid McKinstry was unavailable due to injury.
- Texas Tech safety Tyler Owens jumped out of the stadium before suffering an injury that ended his day. Owens had a 12-foot-2-inch broad jump, which was the second best all-time, as well as a 41-inch vertical jump. The former high school track star was expected to run a sub 4.3-second 40-yard dash, but came up limp at the start of his first attempt.
- Kansas State tight end Ben Sinnott led all tight ends with a 40-inch vertical jump and a 10-feet-6 broad jump. With Brock Bowers electing not to participate, Sinnott stands to be a big beneficiary. He stacked a solid 4.68-second 40-yard dash on top of those marks.
EDGE, DL and LB
- Penn State EDGE Chop Robinson excels across the board. Robinson came into the week as the No. 21 overall prospect on our CBS Sports prospect rankings, and that'll be changing. Weighing in heavier than expected at 254 pounds and just under 6-foot-3, Robinson blistered the 40-yard dash with an official time of 4.48 seconds. He had a 10-foot-8 broad jump and a 34.5-inch vertical. Stock up.
- Alabama EDGE Dallas Turner has legendary workout. Frankly, it's hard to find a historical comparison based on size, length and burst for what Turner did Thursday evening. At just under 6-foot-3 and 247 pounds, the former monster recruit had a 40.5-inch vertical jump, a 10-7 broad jump and ran a sizzling 4.46 seconds in the 40-yard dash. Stock UP.
- UCLA EDGE Laiatu Latu disappoints. Our No. 12 overall prospect entering the combine didn't totally flop his workout, but he wasn't very close to Robinson and Turner, two of his fiercest competitors to be the first edge rusher off the board. At nearly 6-foot-4 and 259 pounds, Latu had a decent 40-yard dash of 4.64 seconds, but the jumps hinted at less explosive traits. His vertical was 32 inches and his broad was 9-foot-8
- NC State's Payton Wilson steals the show among linebackers. Despite short arms, Wilson ran 4.43 at close to 6-4 and 233 pounds. He had the same vertical as Robinson -- 34.5 inches -- and a 9-11 broad jump.
- Despite not many stellar or completely brutal workouts among the interior defensive linemen, Florida State's Braden Fiske was the finest performer of that group. At nearly 6-foot-6 and 292 pounds, he had the fastest 40-yard dash (4.78 seconds), the highest vertical (33.5 inches) and the longest broad jump (9-foot-9) at the position. His 4.37 short shuttle was insanely fast, too. Commence late first-round buzz for the former Western Michigan Bronco turned Florida State Seminole.
For real-time reaction to everything that transpired all weekend, check out the live blog below.
Updates
(139)
See New Posts
Pinned
Link copied
Importance of the last two drills
Most of these blockers can move people in the run game, but the pass-protection explosion, balance, and power separate the bad from the good and the good from the great in the NFL. You get to see some of those traits in the pass rush drop and this mirror drill.
Pinned
Link copied
Houston's Patrick Paul
Paul is one of the largest and lengthiest offensive tackles in Indianapolis -- beyond Georgia's Amarius Mims -- but he covers so much ground with his strides and actually didn't look too labored during that wave drill. Good stuff.
Pinned
Link copied
NC State's Dylan McMahon
I totally agree with Shaun O'Hara on the Wolfpack center... such a fluid athlete on film, and it showed in his wave drill. Light feet for days.
Pinned
Link copied
Washington OT Roger Rosengarten runs fastest 40-yard dash among OLs
The Huskies "other" OT is quite the explosive athlete too
Pinned
Link copied
Arizona OT Jordan Morgan
One of the best pass-protecting OTs in the class, is set to run the 40 shortly. The thickness and athleticism combination is very apparent with him on film.
Pinned
Link copied
Mini scouting report, with concerns, on Washington's Troy Fautanu
Pinned
Link copied
Pumped for Oregon's Jackson Powers-Johnson workout
JPJ is the consensus top center in this class -- and the No. 1 center on our CBS Sports Big Board right now. He measured in over 330 pounds at the Senior Bowl and on film moves like barely weighs 300.
Pinned
Link copied
Plenty of impressive on-field work today
From Notre Dame's Joe Alt to Oregon State's Taliese Fuaga to Washington's Troy Fautanu, this offensive line group has been awesome on the field today. Plenty of twitch and speed changing direction at 300-plus pounds for many of these guys.
Pinned
Link copied
Freaky broad jump from Georgia OT Amarius Mims
This jump will place Mims, who measured in at nearly 6-foot-8 and 340 pounds, in right around the 87th percentile among OTs at the combine since 1999. Dude is a specimen. Officially.
Pinned
Link copied
South Dakota State's Garret Greenfield
The Jackrabbit blocker only ran 5.23 in the 40-yard dash but had the highest vertical -- 38.5-inches -- of the entire offensive line group. Small-school sleeper to keep an eye on during the pre-draft process.
Pinned
Link copied
Penn State OL Olu Fashanu injured running 40-yard dash
Glad it appears he'll be OK by the Penn State Pro Day in a few weeks. Super talent.
Pinned
Link copied
Washington's Troy Fautanu's on-field work
Fautanu was able to demonstrate his plus lateral movement ability in that directional on-field drill. While he has to get stronger/add weight at the next level, that's where he excels, sliding those feet.
Pinned
Link copied
Crum and Bortolini dap it up
"Hell yeah."
Pinned
Link copied
On Texas OL Christian Jones
Jones ran 5.05u and 5.07u in his two 40-yard dashes. He's one of the steadier, complete blockers in this class. Definitely keep and eye on him on late Day 2 or early Day 3 as someone who can begin as a swing tackle and start -- and not be a huge liability -- by Year 2.
Pinned
Link copied
Sleeper Wisconsin OL scorches the 40-yard
Badgers blocker Tanor Bortolini cruised to two times under 5.00 in the 40-yard dash. Box checked for the center prospect. Most Wisconsin offensive linemen are bigger and lean on power over athleticism to win. Bortolini making it known he's an explosive athlete too, and he is a quality pass protector on film, something we don't see often with Wisconsin blockers not named Ryan Ramczyk.
Pinned
Link copied
Scouting OL conundrum
I love scouting offensive linemen. And I understand their importance. But it's admittedly challenging for me to evaluate them because almost all of them aren't strong enough right out of college. And some don't ever become powerful enough. While others can add weight/strength with relative easy -- like Vikings OT Brian O'Neill -- and become awesome pros. But the movement skill almost always has to be there too.
Pinned
Link copied
Taylor Lewan's hilarious combine story
Pinned
Link copied
OL broad jumps
Anything close to or higher than than 9-foot-0 for an offensive linemen is awesome
Pinned
Link copied
Joe Alt's first 40-yard dash
A 5.07u for the towering Notre Dame offensive tackle. Not brutal, not super-fast either. However, Alt being 321 pounds was impressive and a bit surprising. He looks more slender on film.
Pinned
Link copied
Georgia OT Amarius Mims' insane weigh-in
Pinned
Link copied
Familiar faces in new places
Top quarterbacks often punt on throwing at the NFL Combine opting for familiarity of throwing to their own receivers at Pro Day. Michael Penix Jr. has the luxury of throwing to one of his own in Indianapolis. In fact, Odunze is one of three Husky receivers at the Combine.
Pinned
Link copied
Texas WR Xavier Worthy has broken John Ross' NFL Combine record in the 40-yard dash with a 4.21 seconds run, officially.
Pinned
Link copied
History made?
We are still waiting on the official numbers but Xavier Worthy may have tied or broken John Ross' record of 4.22 seconds 40-yard dash.
Pinned
Link copied
New leader in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine this year
Pinned
Link copied
Notable vertical jumps from WR/QB Group 2
Pinned
Link copied
Notable broad jumps from WR/QB Group 2
Pinned
Link copied
Measuring arm strength
It comes as no surprise that Joe Milton III was at the top of the list, but it is interesting that current and former Michigan quarterbacks (Milton transferred from Michigan) were the top two.
Pinned
Link copied
Joe Milton III has a CANNON
Pinned
Link copied
Notable WR standouts running the Gauntlet drill
- Ladd McConkey (Georgia)
- Jha'Quan Jackson (Tulane)
- Jacob Cowing (Arizona)
- Luke McCaffrey (Rice)
- Keon Coleman (Florida State)
See More
Pick Six Newsletter
Get the day's big stories + fun stuff you love like mock drafts, picks and power rankings.
By pressing sign up, I confirm that I have read and agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge Paramount's Privacy Policy.
Please check the opt-in box to acknowledge that you would like to subscribe.
