Key Prospects and Questions for the 2017 Combine

Written by Christian Lysek

The Underwear Olympics are upon us! While some fans may consider the combine to be a boring and useless event, it is actually a great tool for both scouts and prospects. Let's take a look at some of the most important questions going into the combine and some prospects who could increase their stock with a good performance.

How tall is Mitch Trubisky?
There are some reports out there that Trubisky is only 6'1'', which is a red flag for scouts. They prefer quarterbacks to be at least 6'2'', so if Trubisky measures under that, it could cost him the first quarterback spot, which is something he holds currently. I think he will measure above 6'2'', but if he doesn't, don't be surprised if teams overreacted and push him down there board.

How will Tim Williams and Cam Robinson handle off the field questions?
Tim Williams and Cam Robinson are both Alabama boom or bust prospects. Robinson is an incredible athlete, but there were weapon charges brought against him this summer. Williams is a special pass rusher but also had gun charges brought against him, along with various drug allegations. If either can perform well during interviews, they may be able to save their plummeting stock.

How fast is Mike Williams?
Mike Williams has everything you could want in a wide receiver except for speed. Williams needs to prove he isn't the next Laquan Treadwell: a guy who cannot separate in the pros due to his lackluster speed. If Williams runs at least in the low 4.5s, his stock shouldn't fall and teams could sleep a little easier.

Will Dalvin Cook's shoulder and off the field issues hurt his draft stock?
While Fournette is my RB1, some people have placed that title on Dalvin Cook. While he has unquestionable ability, Cook has two things that may cause his stock to fall: a shoulder injury and off-field concerns. The off the field concerns are especially alarming. Teams are quite paranoid about taking the next Ray Rice or Randy Gregory, so he may slide down the board if he cannot answer questions about his behavior.

Just how fast is John Ross and will he check out medically?
John Ross can fly, but just how fast will he be. I am of the belief that if he runs a sub 4.33 40 yard dash, he could be drafted before Mike Williams and Corey Davis. The NFL values speed that much. The other question about John Ross is his injury history. His stock could take a hit and drop him into the second round if his knee becomes a concern.

Is Desmond King a corner or a safety?
This depends on King's speed. If King runs a sub 4.55, he is a corner. If not, prepare for safety questions to run wild. I personally think that his history as a lockdown corner speaks for itself, as does his value as a return man. A good run can lock him in the first round, but a bad one could drop him into the second or even third round in this deep corner class.

Will Jonathan Allen's shoulder check out?
Jonathan Allen is far and away the best defensive tackle prospect in this draft, but a shoulder injury may prevent him from going as high as he could. Injuries for defensive tackles are more concerning than other positions in my book, simply because the position requires a player to utilize every ounce of their strength and face contact on every play. If Allen's shoulder doesn't check out, he may drop out of the top ten into the teens and twenties.

Will Derek Barnett's size hurt his stock?
This is a classic case of overthinking measurables. Despite showing an elite burst and tremendous production (he broke Reggie White's sack record at Tennessee), people are saying his ceiling is not high because his arms are short. This could be one of those cases where Barnett could fall down the board and some playoff team will pick up a future pro bowler and then the rest of the league will wonder what happened.

Can JuJu Smith-Schuster save his stock?
Going into the 2016 college football season, JuJu Smith-Schuster was in consideration to be the first wide receiver taken off of the board in this years draft. A lackluster 2016 campaign has dropped him out of first round consideration, but it did not totally destroy his stock. Smith-Schuster seemed to struggle with the quarterback situation at USC and may not have taken a huge step back in between his sophomore and junior seasons. If Smith-Schuster can run a strong 40 yard dash and perform well in the jump tests, he may creep back into the first round.

Can Joe Williams prove he is past his retirement?
Utah running back Joe Williams has one of the more bizarre college football experiences. He retired partway through the 2016 season due to both physical and mental health issues. He then came back in week 7 and proceed to shred every defense he faced from that point on. In the weeks after his retirement, his lowest rushing yards game totals were 97 and 149. There is no doubt that Williams has the talent to be a feature back in someone's offense, but there are questions to if his mind and body can hold up. Williams needs to prove he is past his prior issues at the combine.

Prospects whose stock can skyrocket:

1. Obi Melifonwu, S, UCONN: Obi Melifonwu is 6'4'' and 219 lbs. He also may run his 40 yard dash in the low 4.4s. If he can test well in the explosive tests (vertical jump, broad jump, short shuttle), he could be a round 1 selection.
2. Tanoh Tpassagnon, EDGE, Villanova: Tanoh Tpassagnon is bigger than some offensive tackles in the NFL at 6'7'' and 280 lbs, plus he has less than 5% body fat. Tpassagnon is a physical freak who could move into the day 2 discussion if he destroys the combine.  
3. Adam Shaheen, TE, Ashland: If you declare for the draft early from Ashland, it is going to turn some heads. Fortunately for Adam Shaheen, so does standing at almost 6'7'', weighing 277 lbs, and possibly running a sub 4.6 40 yard dash. Shaheen has questions to answer about his competition level, but a physical beast like Shaheen can at least ensure he is taken before round 4 at the combine.
4. Shelton Gibson, WR, West Virginia: While John Ross will most likely be the fastest receiver at the combine, Shelton Gibson might not be far behind. If Gibson can run below a 4.35, he could sneak into the first three rounds of the draft.
5. Samaje Perine, RB, Oklahoma: This is a stacked running back class, and the position typically isn't filled with combine movers, but Perine could be the exception. This is a guy who can do 10 sets of 10 on the bench with 225lbs. His weight lifting prowess should also hep him in the explosive tests, and if he can put together a spectacular combine, he can move into the round 2 and 3 discussion.