Most intriguing SEC players at the NFL Combine
To any outsider, you now understand why most good high school players want a chance to prove themselves at the SEC.
If you’re good – and good enough to go pro – then you might get invited to the NFL Combine. 74 SEC players were asked to come.
Thanks to Gamedayr for the list, without which this article wouldn’t have made it up here.
Alabama (10)
- Quinton Dial, DE
- DJ Fluker, OT
- Nico Johnson, ILB
- Barrett Jones, OL
- Eddie Lacy, RB
- Robert Lester, FS
- Dee Milliner, CB
- Damion Square, DE
- Chance Warmack, OG
- Jesse Williams, DT
MOST INTRIGUING: Eddie Lacy could be seen as the next Trent Richardson – particularly if he performs as well as he did in the SEC Championship Game, where he took the ball over. We’re also going to be intrigued by Barrett Jones (who could well be one of the steals of the draft at center when he gets picked), as well wondering whether the injuries that Jesse Williams was carrying at the end of the year will raise questions amongst NFL GMs.
Arkansas (6)
- Alvin Bailey, OG
- Dylan Breeding, P
- Knile Davis, RB
- Chris Gragg, TE
- Cobi Hamilton, WR
- Tyler Wilson, QB
MOST INTRIGUING: Knile Davis has a lot to make up for after a poor 2012 (actually, that goes for a lot of the Arkansas players, if we’re honest), and Tyler Wilson’s going to have a lot asked about his leadership skills – particularly as he didn’t excite anybody at the Senior Bowl.
Auburn (3)
- Corey Lemonier, DE
- Phillip Lutzenkirchen, TE
- Onterio McCalebb, RB
MOST INTRIGUING: McCalebb’s been a real playmaker throughout his years at Auburn. Can he show it off at Combine level? Lutzenkirchen can expect a lot of injury questions.
Florida (10)
- Jon Bostic, ILB
- Matt Elam, FS
- Josh Evans, FS
- Sharrif Floyd, DT
- Mike Gillislee, RB
- Jelani Jenkins, LB
- Lerentee McCray, OLB
- Xavier Nixon, OT
- Jordan Reed, TE
- Caleb Sturgis, K
MOST INTRIGUING: How many can we pick? Most of the players are extremely athletic, but expect Matt Elam to rocket up in people’s estimation if he has an incredible Combine. He’s the best safety in the draft, after all.
Georgia (11)
- Marlon Brown, WR
- Sanders Commings, CB
- Kwame Geathers, NT
- John Jenkins, DT
- Abry Jones, DE
- Jarvis Jones, OLB
- Tavarres King, WR
- Alec Ogletree, ILB
- Bacarri Rambo, SS
- Cornelius Washington, OLB
- Shawn Williams, SS
MOST INTRIGUING: Jarvis Jones might need an exceptional combine to stop his slide down the pecking order after questions are starting to get asked about his ability to block the run. There will be also questions from GMs about his spine – although after a relatively injury-free SEC season, should there be any questions? Also, expect Rambo and Ogletree to raise some eyebrows about their characters.
Kentucky (1)
- Larry Warford, OG
MOST INTRIGUING: Speaks for itself, doesn’t it? Warford isn’t considered to be a first round pick, so a good Combine could at least get him on the radar – unlikely though it is.
LSU (13)
- Lavar Edwards, DE
- Chris Faulk, OT
- Michael Ford, RB
- Bennie Logan, DT
- PJ Lonergan, C
- Tyrann Mathieu, DB
- Barkevious Mingo, DE
- Kevin Minter, ILB
- Sam Montgomery, DE
- Eric Reid, FS
- Tharold Simon, CB
- Spencer Ware, RB
- Brad Wing, P
MOST INTRIGUING: Easy. Mathieu. Yes, we know that he’s been out of the game for a year. But the kid was a gamechanger in 2011, and don’t think the GMs have forgotten. And staying with Patrick Peterson’s family in Florida might just have saved his professional life. We can’t wait to see what the scouts say about him in Indianapolis.
Mississippi State (3)
- Johnthan Banks, CB
- Josh Boyd, DT
- Darius Slay, CB
MOST INTRIGUING: Banks. He was a shutdown corner for MSU this season, and it wasn’t his fault that their season collapsed. He’s a projected first rounder, and we can’t wait for him to move up the pecking order after a good Combine.
Missouri
- Zaviar Gooden, OLB
- TJ Moe, WR
- Sheldon Richardson, DT
MOST INTRIGUING: TJ Moe. If his SEC Media Day was anything to go by, anyway.
South Carolina (7)
- Justice Cunningham, TE
- DeVonte Holloman, OLB
- TJ Johnson, C
- Marcus Lattimore, RB
- Ace Sanders, WR
- DJ Swearinger, SS
- Devin Taylor, DE
MOST INTRIGUING: Marcus Lattimore because of his knee, Ace Sanders because of his pure speed. Everyone in the college football world will be praying Lattimore gets through Indianapolis unscathed. Every little victory, and all that.
Tennessee (5)
- Tyler Bray, QB
- Justin Hunter, WR
- Cordarrelle Patterson, WR
- Mychal Rivera, TE
- Dallas Thomas, OT
MOST INTRIGUING: Everyone’s talking about Patterson being the No.1 receiver in the draft, and after his 2012, this is no surprise. We hope that he’ll prove himself at the Combine.
Texas A&M (6)
- Luke Joeckel, OT
- Christine Michael, RB
- Damontre Moore, DE
- Sean Porter, OLB
- Jonathan Stewart, ILB
- Ryan Swope, WR
MOST INTRIGUING: Swope because he might be a bit slow and people will make some dumb comments (when those who have actually watched Texas A&M this season will know that Swope was one of the most sure-handed receivers in college football). Oh, and Demontre Moore because some people are talking about him being a potential No.1 pick. Him and Joeckel, anyway.
Vanderbilt (1)
- Zac Stacy, RB
MOST INTRIGUING: Obviously – with only one player – Stacy. But guys, don’t look down on Stacy. Stacy broke records at Vanderbilt, and he was definitely dangerous against SEC opposition, too. What could a good combine do?