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.