2013 NFL Draft Preview: Biggest Losers from the Scouting Combine

2013 NFL Draft Preview: Biggest Losers from the Scouting Combine: The scouting combine is the ultimate roll of the dice for players preparing to make a jump to the NFL. A strong showing at the combine can vault a player that had a mediocre college career into the first round and make a potential first-round pick a top five selection. On the flip side, a slow 40-yard dash, a poor showing the bench press or even a bad interview can send a player tumbling out of the first round or end their NFL hopes all together. It is a risk that many players elect to take, and millions of dollars are literally at stake. With this year’s scouting combine in the books, here is a closer look at some of the players that came out on the losing end of the activities in Indianapolis last week.

Even the most dedicated Notre Dame haters have to be feeling a bit sorry for Manti Te’o at this point. Heading into the BCS title game, the inside linebacker was being heralded as a top-five pick. Well, the whole fake girlfriend thing and the on-field dismantling at the hands of Alabama pushed him into the middle of the first round. After his disaster of a combine, Te’o may not go in the first round at all. He showed up 15 pounds lighter than listed and ran a disappointing 4.82 in the 40-yard dash. Throw in a stinger that kept him from benching all together, and teams now have nothing but questions about Te’o both on and off the field.

He was one of the best pass-rushers in the country last season, but Texas A&M defensive end Damontre Moore may have destroyed his chances of being a top 10 pick. He ran a disturbingly slow 4.95 in the 40-yard dash and managed just 12 reps at 225 pounds. There aren’t a lot of teams looking for an edge rusher with the strength of a defensive back and the speed of an offensive lineman, and while Moore isn’t as bad as his combine results indicate, the numbers are nothing but red flags to scouts and general managers.

Through no fault of their own Georgia outside linebacker Jarvis Jones and Utah nose tackle Star Lutolelei both saw their stock fall after the combine. Neither player was able to work out because of medical issues, and worse yet, the draft status of both is in limbo until doctors can provide some more definitive answers. Jones is dealing with a narrowing of the spine, which is an obvious concern for teams given the physical nature of the game in general, let alone his position. Meanwhile, a potentially serious heart issue was discovered during Lutolelei’s physical, and heart issues and a 300-plus pound player aren’t exactly comforting. The good news is that a clean bill of health will basically restore both players to their previous status of potential top 10 picks, but in the meantime, their inability work out at the combine has them sliding down draft boards.

Billed as a potential shutdown corner that can also support the run defense, Mississippi State’s Johnthan Banks probably gave away his chance of being the second cornerback drafted with a lackluster showing in Indianapolis. His 4.61 time in the 40-yard dash and his 6.97 time in the three-cone drill were both among the worst of the defensive backs that ran at the combine. Not to mention the fact that he managed just 10 reps on the bench. The modest showing on the bench press would be less of a concern had he shown elite speed, but as it stands, Banks doesn’t appear quick enough to cover the top receivers and doesn’t seem to have the strength to be the powerful tackler that was supposed to set him apart from other corners.

For the last two seasons at Baylor, receiver Terrance Williams has been torching opposing defenses deep down the field, putting him on the map as a potential explosive player for NFL teams. However, he looked anything but fast and explosive at the combine. His 4.52 40-yard dash, 7.01 three-cone drill and 4.32 20-yard shuttle were all below average by receiver standards, especially for a player that was supposed to be able to stretch the field. Williams’ main selling point was his speed, and with that now in question, his stock is falling.

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