Seven Mountain West’s up-and-coming talents got a chance to show off their talents in Indianapolis last week. How do they compare to previous NFL Combine participants, literally?
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An interesting mix of comparisons.
The four-day NFL Combine ended a few days ago, and it wasn’t long before one of the draftnik community’s biggest tools, Mockdraftable, pulled together the results and saw how this year’s participants were doing in a historical sense.
What could it mean for the seven Mountain West football talents who took to the field at Lucas Oil Stadium? It’s important to remember that the physical profile isn’t everything, but it can provide some insight into how the NFL’s front offices view them ahead of the pro-day season next month or so.
Viliami Fehoko, DL, San Jose State
After a relatively modest performance on the bench, Fehoko’s first comps are mixed. Leal was a third-round pick in last year’s draft and Jackson was selected in the sixth, but the rest of the group didn’t affect the NFL level. Getting healthy for Pro Day in San Jose State will likely be the difference in how high Fehoko is selected on Day 3.
Jake Haener, QB, Fresno State
Haener is certainly undersized compared to the average NFL quarterback, but no one will question his toughness, and he’s displayed enough athleticism at the combine to generate more approval from his supporters. Howell and McCoy are interesting for their career arcs, but the next name on the list not featured here is also: Bryce Young from Alabama.
Tyreque Jones, DB, Boise State
NFL teams will almost certainly be intrigued by Jones’ arm length and his combination of size and speed, which likely puts him in a much better position than the group of comps listed above. Note that Jones’ comps are the weakest of the group of seven Mountain West players at this year’s combine.
Jalen Moreno-Cropper, WR, Fresno State
Now The is interesting. For those scoring at home, Moreno-Cropper’s top comps include two Biletnikoff Award winners (Westbrook and Addison) and a former first-round pick (Waddle) who set an NFL rookie record for receptions. Considering his stunning 40-yard dash time, the Bulldogs wide receiver could have made a nice chunk of money in Indianapolis and improved his standing in a crowded pass-catcher class.
John Ojukwu, OL, Boise State
Nobody talked about it, but Ojukwu had a very good combine and held its own in almost every way except overall size. That his own list of top comps includes two former first-round picks, Ramczyk and Joeckel, has almost certainly garnered some attention from professional scouts.
Kyle Patterson, TE, Air Force
Patterson’s height has been his most important calling card, but what his cap is for this year’s draft may depend on how much he can do at Falcons Pro Day. Herndon was once considered a dark horse at the position with the New York Jets, and Otton was a fourth-round pick in last year’s draft, so someone seems to be daydreaming about their physical tools on Day 3 as well.
JL Skinner, DB, Boise State
It’s really a shame that Skinner tore a pectoral muscle leading up to the Combine because, like his teammate Jones, the Combine has seen very few prospects like him. Using the former Seattle Seahawks safety chancellor as a benchmark might still be the best idea, and Skinner’s still getting drafted, but man.
