Chuck Sizzle solidified his draft stash in Indianapolis.
Charlie Jones came to Indianapolis to prove to the NFL GMs that what they saw on the field in 2022 was real. After 3 years of mostly recurring kicks, Jones stormed onto the stage in 2022, playing with childhood friend Aidan O’Connell and torching the Big10 defense. He led the nation with 110 receptions after amassing a paltry 39 in his first three seasons in college football. GMs want to know if he’s a 1-year wonder playing in a system that has yet to produce a prolific NFL receiver despite swanky stats, or if he’s a legitimate NFL prospect looking for the right home after two stops has found. Its combine performance did much to calm its critics.
Charlie Jones combine performance
measurements
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 175
poor: 31 5/8
hand: 9”
Evaluation
The Brohm regime was not exactly known for releasing accurate information about men. Whoever took the measurements either had a vision problem or was enjoying a little propaganda on paper. Purdue listed Jones at 6’0″, 188. I was worried he would come in at 5’10”, so 5’11” was good for Charlie. He’s on the small side, but not so small that he can’t act as a wide receiver.
His weight was interesting. I doubt Jones ever weighed 188 pounds. Based on how he looked that season, there was no way he could drop 13 pounds unless he got into the combine like an MMA fighter/boxer/wrestler and wrestled himself completely dry. That wouldn’t make much sense because the NFL GMs would rather have him closer to 190 than closer to 180, and he had to perform well the next day. I’m curious to see what he weighs at Purdues Pro Day.
His hand size and arm length further solidified his position in the NFL. It is built like a slot receiver and will mainly play on the next level slot. All in all, its measurements were fine, apart from being slightly lighter than expected.
40-yard dash
40 time: 4.43
10 yard split: 1.51
Evaluation
Jones needed to run in the 4.4’s and did just that. His 10-yard split, perhaps more important for a slot receiver, was also excellent. The advantage Jones has over some other slot receivers is his ability to return kicks. These speed numbers further support this. He’s a real punt return prospect in the NFL. Granted, you don’t get many punt or kick returns in the NFL these days, but on the off chance a punter doesn’t get enough air under the ball, Jones has the ability to make the catch and the speed to do something to effect .
I’m not sure if those velocity numbers did anything to improve his draft slot, but it did a lot to shore up his place in the draft if that makes sense.
Jump
vert: 36.5″
Broad: 10’4”
Evaluation
Charlie has been upper midfield in the show jumping competitions, and for someone his size, that’s not a bad thing. His vert was better than 20 other receivers at the combine. His long jump was also back in the field, not bad for a 5’11” slot receiver. He had to prove he was a top athlete, and his speed and jump numbers proved he was a top athlete. Mission accomplished.
Bank
repetitions: 13
I was surprised Jones tried on the bench but the effort was fully appreciated. At 175, he was the lightest receiver showing how many times he could do 220 reps. His 13 reps were last in the receivers’ group, but the guy he tied with outweighed him by 24 pounds. Michigan State’s Ronnie Bell was the second lightest guy to attempt the weightlifting event, and he weighed 191 and managed 14 reps. Jones has a lot of power to play in the slot.
overall rating
Jones was probably a 4th or 5th round pick coming into the combine and will likely be a 4th or 5th round pick coming out of the combine. Above all, he had to show that his physical attributes matched his performance during the senior season. Basically, he had to run a 4.4 and do well in the other athletic test events, and he achieved that.
Mission Accomplished Jones. He went from a guy who wouldn’t sniff the draft to a player who would be drafted in a season. Moving from Iowa to Purdue changed the entire trajectory of his life. you love to see it
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